Traversing river valleys, steppes, deserts, rain-fed forests,
farmlands, and seacoasts, the early Israelites experienced all the
contrasting ecological domains of the ancient Near East. As they
grew from a nomadic clan to become a nation-state in Canaan, they
interacted with indigenous societies of the region, absorbed
selective elements of their cultures, and integrated them into a
radically new culture of their own. Daniel Hillel reveals the
interplay between the culture of the Israelites and the
environments within which it evolved. More than just affecting
their material existence, the region's ecology influenced their
views of creation and the creator, their conception of humanity's
role on Earth, their own distinctive identity and destiny, and
their ethics.
In "The Natural History of the Bible," Hillel shows how the
eclectic experiences of the Israelites shaped their perception of
the overarching unity governing nature's varied manifestations.
Where other societies idolized disparate and capricious forces of
nature, the Israelites discerned essential harmony and higher moral
purpose. Inspired by visionary prophets, they looked to a singular,
omnipresent, omnipotent force of nature mandating justice and
compassion in human affairs. Monotheism was promoted as state
policy and centralized in the Temple of Jerusalem. After it was
destroyed and the people were exiled, a collection of scrolls
distilling the nation's memories and spiritual quest served as the
focus of faith in its stead.
A prominent environmental scientist who surveyed Israel's land
and water resources and has worked on agricultural development
projects throughout the region, Daniel Hillel is a uniquely
qualified expert on the natural history of the lands of the Bible.
Combining his scientific work with a passionate, life-long study of
the Bible, Hillel offers new perspectives on biblical views of the
environment and the origin of ethical monotheism as an outgrowth of
the Israelites' internalized experiences.
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