The Jews In Their Land

perhaps the most significant feature of this lavish volume is its presentation of the continuing story of the Jewish people within the borders of their own land. It is written by an eminent team of archaeologists, historians, and states- men, under the personal editorship of David Ben-Gurion. Two former presidents of Israel are among the contributors. Zalman Shazar has supplied a foreword and Izhak Ben-Zvi is author of a section on the "Ottoman Rule." Other contribu- tors are such well-known authorities as Yohanan Aharoni, Eliahu Auerbach, Yehoshua Guttmann, Menahem Stern, and Benzion Dinur. Beginning with a geological des- cription of the country, the book moves on to offer new and challenging views of such controversial issues as the Exodus from Egypt, the writings and character of the Prophets, the desperate struggle for survival in a land overrun by successive great powers: Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Muslims, Cru- saders, Mamelukes, and Turks. The concluding section, written by Ben- Gurion himself, records the birth of modern Israel. From his special view- point, Israel"s first prime minister portrays the dreams and dramas of Jews fighting for their identity and independence as a nation.