© Columbia University Press
The Natural History of the Bible: An Environmental Exploration of the Hebrew Scriptures
Paper, 376 pages,
ISBN: 978-0-231-13363-0
$24.50
/ £14.50
January, 2006
Cloth, 376 pages,
ISBN: 978-0-231-13362-3
$34.00
/ £20.00
"Hillel recounts, in a richly detailed and beautifully told manner, the origins of the Hebrew Bible in a new and satisfying way." — Publishers Weekly
"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
"Engrossing... Hillel offers new perspectives on biblical views of the environment." — Wispas
"The results are fascinating. " — Edward Rothstein, New York Times
"Hillel... offers us a quintessential resource for understanding the role of nature in Jewish cultural and religious movements." — Daneil Orenstein, Jerusalem Report
"Hillel takes a fresh and invigorating approach to biblical exegesis... A detailed ecological analysis of the Bible." — Josie Glausiusz, Forward
"Hillel's contribution is truly distinctive, insightful and provocative." — Sandee Brawarsky, The Jewish Week
"[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
"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
"This book will fascinate anyone interested in the history of human interactions with the Earth, and anyone interested in the development of religious thinking. It is that rarest of things, a book with something vast and new to say. What an achievement!" — Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature
"Daniel Hillel's book is a masterful treatment of the interaction of nature, culture, and religion over several millennia in the Fertile Crescent. Hillel's scientific background and his close knowledge of the Hebrew Bible makes for fascinating reading. This is an indispensable book for anyone interested in the complex development of religious sensibilities in relation to landscape. Fresh, innovative, and unique—indeed, a tour de force!" — Mary Evelyn Tucker, Bucknell University, author of Worldly Wonder: Religions Enter Their Ecological Phase
"A marvelous, masterful work and an authoritative journey by one of our most competent environmental scientists into the natural history of the Hebrew scriptures. This work occupies a special niche in the ever-deepening and expanding literature on Judaism and the natural world. The historical sweep of Hillel's analysis of the ecological domains of Torah and his careful citation of Biblical references make this book a critical addition to any library on religion and ecology." — John Grim, professor of religion and coordinator of the Forum on Religion and Ecology
"Daniel Hillel's new book is a tour de force. He eloquently and seamlessly melds a passionate love of the Bible with meticulous and far-reaching scholarship in an astounding array of scientific, literary, and cultural disciplines. It will surely transform studies of the Bible, religion, and environmental history. Just as surely, it will touch the hearts of all who read it." — Joan G. Ehrenfeld, Rutgers University