Places in the Parasha - Biblical Geography and Its Meaning

Author: Professor Yoel Elitzur

For the past two hundred years, adventurers, scholars, and other curious travelers have made their way to the Land of Israel to see and experience the places written about in the Bible. Many have tried to locate landmarks mentioned in the Bible, but were not always successful. Yet the encounter with the biblical texts in the places where the events actually took place has always inspired the hearts of those who read and study Tanakh, and offers exciting new possibilities for appreciating and understanding the biblical text.

This unique work, Places in the Parasha, is the brainchild of Professor Yoel Elitzur, a leading expert in the fields of Bible and Talmud, biblical and historical geography, and Hebrew and Semitic languages. Here he analyzes archaeological and linguistic findings, peruses historical sources, and explores the derivation and meaning of names – all in an attempt to offer geographic identifications and linguistic solutions to the riddles of the Tanakh. The Garden of Eden and the Ai, Goren Ha-Atad and Mount Sinai, Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, and even Azazel are some of the places discussed in the chapters of this book, presented in the order of the weekly parashot.

Published in partnership with YU Press, the material is presented concisely and clearly, with abundant maps and pictures, allowing even those who are not involved in the world of biblical research to experience the insights and revelations in this impressive work, and strengthen their connection to the Land of Israel.