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 traditio-historical methods to
define the meaning of land and see how such meanings are shaped by various traditions
embedded in the text.
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgment
Abbreviation
1. Introduction
2. Historical Events Leading to the Tripartite Relationship : A Brief Survey
2.1 Definition of `Tripartite Relationship'
2.2 The Creation Event and Primeval History
Account (Gen. 1-11)
2.3 Divine Relation and Promises to the Ancestors
2.4 The Exodus Event
2.5 The Sinai Event and Covenant Making
2.6 The Giving of Law at Sinai and Conditions for
Living in the Land
2.7 Wilderness Event
2.8 Settlement
2.9 Monarchy and Enlarging of Borders
2.10 The Exile and the Loss of Political
Governance
2.11 Post Exile and the Return to the Land
Conclusion
3. The Understanding of Land in the Book of Amos
3.1 Amos, the Prophet
3.2 Historical Context of Amos' Period
3.3 Exegetical Studies on the Tripartite
Relationship in Amos
3.4 Tradition of Brotherhood Covenant (Amos
1:9-10)
3.5 Kinship Tradition (Amos 1:11-12)
3.6 The Torah Tradition (Amos 2:4-5)
3.7 The Exodus, Wilderness and Conquest Traditions
(Amos 2:6-16)
3.8 Covenant Tradition (Amos 4:6-13)
3.9 Covenant and Wilderness Tradition (Amos
5:21-17)
3.10 Theophany, Creation and Exodus Traditions
(Amos 9:5-8)
3.11 Land Promise & Giving Tradition (Amos
9:11-15)
3.12 Amos' Theology of Land
4. The Understanding of Land in the Book of Hosea
4.1 Hosea, the Prophet
4.2 Historical Context of Hosea
4.3 Covenant and Creation Traditions (Hosea 2:2-13
[MT 2:4-15])
4.4 Covenant Tradition (Hosea 2:16-23 [MT 18-25])
4.5 Covenant Tradition (Hosea 4:1-3)
4.6 Covenant Tradition (Hosea 5:8-11)
4.7 Covenant, Torah and Exodus Traditions (Hosea
8:9-13)
4.8 Covenant-Torah Tradition (Hosea 10:13b-15)
4.9 Covenant Tradition (Hosea 14:4-7 [MT 14:5-8])
4.10 Hosea's Theology of Land
5. The Understanding of Land in the Book of Micah
5.1 Micah, the Prophet
5.2 Historical Context of Micah
5.3 Theophany Tradition (Micah 1:2-7)
5.4 Sinai Covenant Tradition (Micah 2:1-5)
5.5 Zion Tradition (Micah 3:9-12)
5.6 Torah-Zion Tradition (Micah 4:1-5)
5.7 Zion Tradition (Micah 4:11-13)
5.8 Zion and Exodus Traditions (Micah 7:8-20)
5.9 Micah's Theology of Land
6. The Understanding of Land in the Book of Isaiah (Chs 1-39)
6.1 Isaiah, the Prophet
6.2 Historical Context of Isaiah's Period
6.3 Authorship Debate
6.4 Covenant and Remnant Traditions (Isaiah 1:4-9)
6.5 Torah Tradition (Is. 2:5-9)
6.6 Covenant Tradition (Is. 3:12-15)
6.7 Covenant Tradition (Isaiah 5:1-7)
6.8 Remnant and Creation Traditions (Isaiah
5:8-10)
6.9 Remnant Tradition (Isaiah 11:11-12)
6.10 Zion Tradition (Isaiah 33:7-12)
6.11 Isaiah's Theology of Land
7. Conclusion : Theology of Land in the Eighth Century Prophets
7.1 Meaning of Land
7.2 Traditions and Tripartite Relationship
7.3 Conclusion
7.4 Role of Churches Today
Bibliography
Kiyeho Sema is the Principal of Living Bible College, Dimapur,
Nagaland. He has done his Master of Theology (M.Th) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in
Biblical Studies, Old Testament from South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies,
SAIACS. He is also the author of `Tungkupu Amos: A Commentary on the Book of Amos' (2016).
He has served as Youth Secretary of Nagaland Christian Revival Church, Suemi Association
and General Secretary of Nagaland Christian Revival Churches Council.
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