The author identifies and analyzes six distinct land ideologies found in the Hebrew Scriptures that have influenced his readers. (preface) In his book the earth does not only refer to the physical realities where there is soil and rocks, where plants grow and where humans build their cities. Earth refers to a social symbol with a range of meanings in which we construct its meanings for ourselves. (p.1) It may be a subtle distinction between theology and ideology; biblical theology is doctrine and discourse about God expressed within a biblical literary unity that reflects the living faith of a given community, and biblical ideology is a broader complex of images and ideas that may employ doctrines, theological traditions or symbols to justify and promote the social, economic, and political interests of a group within society. (p.10) Evidence that both are closely related can be found in biblical prophets such as Jeremiah or Amos. The author took five basic categories of analysis to explore the interests ideologies of the earth. ; Dominant images of the land, Position of God (what is God's position in relation to the land?), Place of power in the land (place of power and interest), Charter justifying the right to the land (who is justified in claiming it and why? ), Rights on/of the land (what rights do people have on the land?) (p.14) Land as a source of wealth: a royal ideology This justifies the king's right to control and govern the kingdom and fundamentally "to this The ideology of the land is the concepts of the land as a source of wealth, the divine right of the monarch to appropriate that wealth, and the right of the monarch as God's representative to have dominion over all the land as an empire.”(p. 17 ) The author ...... middle of the paper ...... respects the ownership of the land that YHWH owns. YWH is a local landowner and the land is YHWH's extended sanctuary (p.99) The Land as Host Country: An Immigrant Ideology Abraham immigrated with his family to Canaan to settle. During Abraham's journey to the land, he did not have to deal with hostile indigenous peoples; it is written "They left to go to the land of Canaan and arrived in the land of Canaan." (Gen. 12:5) (p.118) Abraham shared the land through generous grants, peaceful negotiations, or legal purchase. Abraham found God in the sacred places. Abraham's rights and responsibilities were not those of a monarch or conqueror, but involved recognizing YHWH as a host deity, teaching Abraham's family justice, establishing peaceful relations with the people of the land, and fair treatment with the country itself.(p.132)