"From the River to the Sea”: The History of Hatred Against the Jewish People

THE PHRASE “From the River to the Sea” has ignited controversy in modern political discourse, often interpreted by critics as a call for the eradication of the Jewish state. Yet, this slogan is not an isolated cry—it echoes a long, tragic history of hatred toward the Jewish people that spans millennia. To understand today’s conflicts—especially the growing hostility from nations like Iran—we must trace the deep roots of antisemitism from the Bible to the present.

Biblical Origins of Hatred

The earliest record of animosity toward the Jews is found in the pages of Scripture. Even before Israel was a nation, the patriarch Abraham was told, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse” (Genesis 12:3). This prophetic warning implied there would be nations and peoples that would rise to "curse" Abraham’s descendants—and so it has been.

In Exodus, Pharaoh enslaved the Hebrews, fearing their numbers and influence (Exodus 1:9-10). Later, in the Book of Esther, Haman, a Persian official, plotted to annihilate the Jews: “There is a certain people... whose laws are different... it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them” (Esther 3:8). This age-old accusation—that Jews are different, disloyal, and dangerous—has been recycled through generations.

Babylon, Greek, Roman, and Early Islamic Antisemitism

Beginning with the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BC, where the Jewish people were first uprooted from their homeland to the Hellenistic period, Jewish resistance to pagan culture led to violent repression, including the desecration of the Temple under Antiochus Epiphanes (2 Maccabees 6).

Rome under the Roman Empire continued the persecution, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and the expulsion of Jews from Judea. Roman historian Tacitus scorned the Jews’ monotheism and customs as “sinister and revolting.” Early Christian theology often blamed Jews for Christ’s death, laying a theological foundation for centuries of persecution.

With the rise of Islam, Jewish communities lived under "dhimmi" status—tolerated but inferior. Though some caliphates allowed relative peace, others like the Almohads of North Africa forced conversion or death. Muhammad’s early conflicts with Jewish tribes in Arabia—especially the execution of the Banu Qurayza—fueled later Islamic antisemitism.

Medieval and Modern Hatred

Medieval Europe institutionalized antisemitism. Jews were accused of blood libel, poisoning wells, and causing plagues. Expelled from many European nations, they were often confined to ghettos. The Crusades saw massacres of entire Jewish communities. Martin Luther, a pivotal figure in the Reformation, later wrote venomously about Jews, calling for the destruction of synagogues and homes. He wrote:

“Verily, a hopeless, wicked, venomous and devilish thing is the existence of these Jews who for fourteen hundred years have been, and still are, our torment and misfortune… Know, Christian, that next to the devil, thou has no enemy more cruel, more venomous and violent than a true Jew”. ("The Jews and their Lies”, 1543)

By the 19th and 20th centuries, antisemitism had evolved into a racial ideology. In Tsarist Russia, pogroms terrorized Jewish communities. This hatred reached its horrific climax under Adolf Hitler, who viewed Jews as subhuman. The Nazi regime exterminated six million Jews in the Holocaust—a genocide so vast and cruel that it shocked the world’s conscience.

Arab Hatred and the Modern Era

Following Israel’s rebirth in 1948, many Arab nations rejected its existence. Jews were expelled en masse from Arab lands, many fleeing to the new state. Since then, Israel has fought numerous wars with its neighbors, often in defense of its survival. The chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” implies the destruction of Israel from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea—leaving no room for the Jewish state.

Iran, formerly known as Persia—the same empire where Esther saved her people—now funds and arms terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, vowing to wipe Israel off the map. Its leaders call the Holocaust a myth and call for Israel’s destruction. The current war between Israel and Iranian proxies underscores the enduring, irrational nature of this hatred.

A Spiritual Battle

The Jewish people’s survival through millennia of persecution is nothing short of miraculous. Despite being scattered, hunted, and hated, they’ve maintained their identity and returned to their ancestral land. Biblically, Israel remains at the heart of God’s plan: “He who touches you touches the apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8).

Antisemitism is not merely political—it is spiritual. It represents rebellion against God’s covenant, a hatred for His chosen people, and a desire to thwart His purposes. The world’s targeting of the Jews, and now of Israel, is foretold in Scripture. But so is their final vindication and redemption.

Thus, from Pharaoh to Haman, from Hitler to Hamas, the hatred of the Jews has followed a tragic and persistent path. The cry of “From the river to the sea” is but the latest slogan in a long war against a people chosen by God. Understanding this history helps us stand with truth, pray for peace, and await the day when nation will no longer rise against nation—and Jerusalem will be a praise in all the earth.