Identity and Territory - by Eyal Ben-Eliyahu (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The book examines the role of territory in Jewish identity in antiquity and, more specifically, the role of Jewish perceptions of space and place in identity. The time period covered extends from the Second Temple period to the first centuries CE. The examination relates to a variety of approaches to the land, its borders, and its holy places as expressed by Jewish writers of the period, located both inside and outside of the land. The book's central assertion is that the territory's status and scope and the way in which sacred spaces are perceived all depend on Jewish identity in all of its complexity and diversity"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Throughout history, the relationship between Jews and their land has been a vibrant, much-debated topic within the Jewish world and in international political discourse. Identity and Territory explores how ancient conceptions of Israel--of both the land itself and its shifting frontiers and borders--have played a decisive role in forming national and religious identities across the millennia. Through the works of Second Temple period Jews and rabbinic literature, Eyal Ben-Eliyahu examines the role of territorial status, boundaries, mental maps, and holy sites, drawing comparisons to popular Jewish and Christian perceptions of space. Showing how space defines nationhood and how Jewish identity influences perceptions of space, Ben-Eliyahu uncovers varied understandings of the land that resonate with contemporary views of the relationship between territory and ideology.

From the Back Cover

"Eyal Ben-Eliyahu has produced a sophisticated treatment of Jewish conceptions of the boundaries of the land of Israel and its internal geography, from the Hebrew Bible to the end of antiquity. This book deftly demonstrates how the Jewish discourse of space was shaped--and reshaped--at the dynamic intersection of communal memory, scriptural exegesis, demographic change, and the shifting structures of empire."--Ra'anan Boustan, Research Scholar in the Program in Judaic Studies, Princeton University

"This novel, original, and comprehensive work is a pioneering, long-awaited attempt to apply the spatial theory of history, prominent in the humanities and social sciences, to Jewish studies. Through scholarly erudition and shrewd analysis, this book brilliantly illuminates the reciprocal relations between territory and identity in post-biblical Jewish society."--Vered Noam, Professor of Talmud and Second Temple Literature, Tel Aviv University

Review Quotes

"This book and its author should be commended for intellectually and thoughtfully investigating, using mainly religious sources, a topic with major ramifications throughout history."

-- "Journal of Religious History"

"The sheer array of topics covered in this review manifests the richness of this volume. Ben-Eliyahu masterfully covers a wide-reaching selection of texts, raising fundamental theoretical issues for the study of Judaism in particular and late antiquity at large."-- "Hebrew Studies"

"A significant contribution to recent scholarship pertaining to Judean nationalism, Jewish identity, and diaspora studies."-- "Association for Jewish Studies"

"Ben-Eliyahu has written a fascinating book on how Jewish identity in antiquity is shaped by a territory, and the holy sites within this territory, and how these in turn shape this identity. It is a recommended read for historians of early Judaism and early Christianity."-- "Journal for the Study of Judaism"

"In this erudite monograph Ben Eliyahu surveys various texts--ranging chronologically from the second temple period through early rabbinic and early Christian writings--in order to analyze, compare, and contrast how the land of Israel and areas in it (like the territory of Judah or its capital Jerusalem) were imagined. Recommended."-- "CHOICE"

"This book is highly recommended for its thorough research, the original application of the spatial theory of history to Jewish studies, its extensive notes and bibliography, and the large number of ancient Jewish and other texts that are covered."-- "H-Net Reviews"

"This book offers a judicious and exhaustive reading into the fluctuating perceptions of the territorial space known by multiple names to various communities. It successfully elucidates the importance of the geographical approach to the very ancient history of communities living in the land that today is known as Israel and Palestine. . . . this is a valuable, critical contribution to the discussion on Jewish conceptions of space. Its approachable language enables a wider public, unfamiliar with the formidable corpus the book tackles, to take part in the conversation."-- "Journal of Historical Geography"

About the Author

Eyal Ben-Eliyahu is Professor of Jewish History at the University of Haifa. He is the author of Handbook of Jewish Literature from Late Antiquity and Between Borders: The Boundaries of Eretz-Israel in the Consciousness of the Jewish People.