Gen 15: Why the Borders of the Land Keep Changing

Guest: Dr. Aubrey McClain - In Genesis 15, God promises Abraham a land stretching “from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.” But elsewhere in the Torah, the borders of the Promised Land look very different. Why?

We explore how biblical borders are about far more than geography. They reveal theological ideas about covenant, identity, holiness, and Israel’s partnership with God.

The conversation examines the multiple territorial descriptions found throughout the Pentateuch, the meaning of the Transjordan, and why Scripture preserves differing visions of the land. Rather than contradictions, these shifting maps may reflect different spiritual and political ideals within the biblical tradition.

Among the questions explored:

• Why does Genesis 15 describe such expansive borders?
• Why do other biblical passages define the land differently?
• What role does the Transjordan play in biblical thought?
• Are biblical borders descriptive, aspirational, or theological?
• What does it mean for Israel to “collaborate with God in defining territory”?

The conversation stems around Dr. McClain's work,  The Transjordan in Biblical Literature: A Critical Spatial Approach.