<Dl> <Dd> See, I have given you this land . Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers--to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--and to their descendants after them . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> See, I have given you this land . Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers--to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--and to their descendants after them . </Dd> <P> It took a long time before the Israelites could subdue the Canaanite inhabitants of the land . The furthest extent of the Land of Israel was achieved during the time of the united Kingdom of Israel under David . The actual land controlled by the Israelites has fluctuated considerably over time, and at times the land has been under the control of various empires . However, under Jewish tradition, even when it is not in Jewish occupation, the land has not lost its status as the Promised Land . </P> <P> Traditional Jewish interpretation, and that of most Christian commentators, define Abraham's descendants as Abraham's seed only through his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, to the exclusion of Ishmael and Esau . This may however reflect an eisegesis or reconstruction of primary verses based on the later biblical emphasis of Jacob's descendants . The promises given to Abraham happened prior to the birth of Isaac and were given to all his offspring signified through the rite of circumcision . Johann Friedrich Karl Keil is less clear, as he states that the covenant is through Isaac, but notes that Ishmael's descendants have held much of that land through time . </P>

Who did the israelites fight for the promised land