Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Charles David Isbell" <cisbell AT home.com>]

I think it is only fair to accept the reality that in the 20th century, well
before the founding of the State of Israel  in 1948, the world at large used
the term "Palestine" throughout to refer to the territory in question. So I
see no valid reason for offense at this use of the term.  I regularly have
Arab/Muslim Palestinians in classes, and some of them refer to themselves as
citizens of "Israel," though most prefer to be called Palestinians.  I
think the young people are the hope in this matter.  But for the ancient
period, I personally would be comfortable  with the term "Canaanite."  I
would be interested to hear if any on the list feel that even this term is
too loaded  with biblical overtones.
SOAPBOX ALERT:
It is a sign of our tense times that even as scholars we must speak
guardedly of an ancient era so as not to prejudice anyone coming to the
issue from a clearly late and politically charged perspective.  And I would
also state that I think we as scholars might be able to find a small patch
of common ground in the hope that all Jewish and non-Jewish citizens of
modern Israel might somehow be able to solve this admittedly knotty problem
in some fair and balanced manner.  I admit freely that the correct solution
is well beyond my own competence, but I am glad that both sides are at least
talking.
I often note for my students (generally about 90% Christian, 5-8% Muslim,
2-5% Jewish) that the person who murdered Prime Minister Rabin was not an
extremist Muslim but an extremist Jewish student of "torah" [what a
bastardization of the term!].  Likewise, those who murdered the courageous
President of Egypt, Sadat, were not Jews, but Muslim extremists who I
believe knew nothing of the great monotheistic faith known as Islam.  The
murderers of both men hated them for their temerity in talking to the
"enemy."  These are two equally dangerous and unacceptable ends of the same
tunnel that must be categorically denounced.  So I offer a small prayer for
those who seek an equitable peace through negotiation.  Should they succeed,
'im yirtzeh ha-shem/'inshallah, I think the result would be nothing but
salutary for our discipline of biblical studies.
Stepping down from the soapbox, apologizing in advance for bending the list
rules,
Charles
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim West" <jwest AT highland.net>
To: "Biblical Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Cc: <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2000 10:54 AM
Subject: Re: BAR- what rubbish


> At 10:46 AM 2/25/00 -0600, you wrote:
> >Jim,
> >Thanks for your response.  I note your estimate of Whitelam, and confirm
> >that you have properly understood my own very different evaluation.  I
wrote
> >privately to Niels that I actually agree with Whitelam's call for a study
of
> >history of the region free from the categories of biblical scholarship.
I
> >think, however, that choosing a term that was forced upon a defeated
Israel
> >by an angry Roman Empire in the 2nd century CE is an inflammatory choice
for
> >discussing late Bronze and Iron Age evidence.
>
> That is an interesting point Charles.  You are right that the term
> "Palestine" is problematic because it does have political connotations as
> strong as the term "Israel".  I am at a loss to find a replacement term
for
> either.  What should we call the place?  The people?  Canaan?
>
>
> >My concern is with inflammatory and politically motivated rhetoric on
EITHER
> >side.  As I said, I myself criticized Shanks, but I would think that E.
W.
> >Said (who is the most often quoted scholarly source in Whitelam's book)
has
> >certainly presented his views as negatively as anyone I know on the
opposite
> >side of the political fence.
>
> That is tragic- and regrettable- but even if the facts are presented
poorly,
> the remain in essence facts.
>
> 19 Adar 5760
>
> Jim
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Jim West, ThD
> jwest AT highland.net
> http://web.infoave.net/~jwest
>
>
>
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