Study of the Land in the Old Testament: Theological Traditions and Socio-Historical Events

What is the meaning of "land"? Does it refer to an agricultural land or a dry land without cultivation or a living territory or a political nation or a cosmic earth? Kiyeho Sema begins his arguments with a premise that the land theology of the eighth century prophets is basically a tripartite relationship and that such tripartite understanding is shaped by and rooted in various historical and religious traditions of ancient Israel. To substantiate the arguments, he has selected some key texts for exegetical inquiry by employing the form critical and traditional-historical methods to define the meaning of land and see how such meanings are shaped by various traditions embedded in the text.