That environmental factors affect our daily lives is disputed by no one. But can environment, climate and topology play a part in the development of a religious community? Hillel, professor emeritus of environmental studies at the University of Massachusetts and senior research scientist at Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research, says yes. He comes to the subject immersed in the lore of ancient Israel, from his grandfather's instruction to his own years living in modern Israel. He sees the Jewish belief system as an amalgam of ideas emerging from an interplay of human beings with both the land and its peoples, "absorb[ing] all the cultural strands... from all the ecological domains of the ancient Near East... and assimilat[ing] them into their own culture." He divides sacred history into seven "domains," dispensations based not on some theological construct but rather on the terrain in which the Israelites lived. What emerges is a largely naturalistic explanation of Israel's beliefs and laws, with a strong emphasis on the impact of culture and environment on the evolving Jewish religion. Hillel recounts, in a richly detailed and beautifully told manner, the origins of the Hebrew Bible in a new and satisfying way.
(Jan.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
This is a book to supplement and fill in details of natural history that are generally absent or neglected in standard hisotrical studies. It is well illustrated and the bibliography is extensive.
(
The Master's Seminary Journal 9/12/05)
That environmental factors affect our daily lives is disputed by no one. But can environment, climate and topology play a part in the development of a religious community? Hillel, professor emeritus of environmental studies at the University of Massachusetts and senior research scientist at Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research, says yes. He comes to the subject immersed in the lore of ancient Israel, from his grandfather's instruction to his own years living in modern Israel. He sees the Jewish belief system as an amalgam of ideas emerging from an interplay of human beings with both the land and its peoples, "absorb[ing] all the cultural strands... from all the ecological domains of the ancient Near East... and assimilat[ing] them into their own culture." He divides sacred history into seven "domains," dispensations based not on some theological construct but rather on the terrain in which the Israelites lived. What emerges is a largely naturalistic explanation of Israel's beliefs and laws, with a strong emphasis on the impact of culture and environment on the evolving Jewish religion. Hillel recounts, in a richly detailed and beautifully told manner, the origins of the Hebrew Bible in a new and satisfying way. (Jan.)
(
Publisher's Weekly 11/1/05)
Hillel recounts, in a richly detailed and beautifully told manner, the origins of the Hebrew Bible in a new and satisfying way.
(
Publishers Weekly 6/9/2006)
With all the commentaries and books on the Hebrew Scriptures that have appeared over the years, it would seem nearly impossible to write something unique and illuminating. Yet this is precisely what Hillel has done by providing an environmental and ecological analysis of the text.
(
Library Journal 7/1/2006)
Engrossing... Hillel offers new perspectives on biblical views of the environment.
(
Wispas 11/19/2006)
The results are fascinating.
(Edward Rothstein
New York Times Vol. 12 No. 2 '07)
Hillel... offers us a quintessential resource for understanding the role of nature in Jewish cultural and religious movements.
(Daneil Orenstein
Jerusalem Report Spring 2007)
Hillel takes a fresh and invigorating approach to biblical exegesis... A detailed ecological analysis of the Bible.
(Josie Glausiusz
Forward Nov/Dec 2006)
Hillel's contribution is truly distinctive, insightful and provocative.
(Sandee Brawarsky
The Jewish Week Autumn 2007)
[ The Natural History of the Bible] should be of equal interest to the student of ecology and the student of theology.
(Sir Ghillean Prance
The Times Higher Education Supplement Aug/Sept 2008)
A highly stimulating new take on an old question, and deserves to be widely read.
(John Barton
Times Literary Supplement )
It definitely belongs on the shelves of those interested in the development of biblical culture.
(Rabbi Rachel Essermang
The Reporter )
Daniel Hillel's The Natural History of the Bible is a very good read and deserves a place on the shelf.
(Alon Tal
Environmental History )
Fascinating because of its fine prose, important because of its scope.
(
Kansas City Star )
An informed and readable entrance into a profound world.
(Harvey E. Goldberg
The European Legacy )
The Natural History of the Bible is one beautiful book.
(Jeanne Kay Guelke
Environmental Ethics )
I highly recommend this book.
(Rabbi Louis A. Rieser
Church and Synagogue Libraries )
Daniel Hillel has done a magnificent job and contributed substantially both to Biblical scholarship and to the understanding of the ecology of the area. But he goes much deeper than simply interpreting the Bible's ecological setting. Hillel allows us to understand better the minds of those who were recording the events in Egypt, the return to Canaan, David and Solomon, and the various interpretations of Jerusalem, as well as the meaning of these events. So well presented and so informative.
(Peter H. Raven, Home Secretary of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and former president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science )
A refreshing, detailed and stimulating account of an important aspect of ancient Israelite development.
(Hilary Marlow
Journal of Jewish Studies )
For anyone concerned about the origins of the Hebrew Bible... this is a fascinating book that can be highly recommended.
(Antoinette Bosco
The American Catholic )
