In Old Testament times, God established a covenant with the Israelites, making them his chosen people. He offered then protection and support, in exchange for their loyalty and fidelity to him. The goal of this special relationship was that the Israelites would become an example for the whole world of being in right relationship with God. They were to be a light to the nations, and through their example, the other nations would come to worship God as well.
God also offered the Israelites the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, where they could build their society. As they entered Canaan, the land was divided among eleven of the twelve tribes of Israel. One tribe, the Levites, did not get land, because they became the priestly tribe, whose inheritance was the Lord himself. However, the possession of the land was contingent on fidelity to the Lord.
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Image Credit: The Crucifixion, Italian, c. 1320, from Wikipedia Commons.
