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