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In The Land, the Bible and History: Toward the Land That I Will Show You, Assumptionist Father Alain Marchadour and Jesuit Father David Neuhaus, Catholic biblical scholars and residents of Jerusalem, present a Catholic perspective of the Holy Land through the ages.

All land is God's land, yet the theological, political and social issues all stem from the ancient promise to the Jewish people of a specific geographical plot of land. The author of this promise is God. The writers ask if this promise gives the Jewish people exclusive rights to the land today and where does this leave the Palestinians who currently live in the land.

Using the Bible as the primary source, the first part of the book considers many biblical texts to highlight the relationship of Israel's dwelling in the land to her faithfulness to the covenant. The land promised to ancient Israel already had inhabitants and the authors underscore the difficulties of theological reflection wherein God drives out others and directly orders their destruction in favor of Israel (Dt 7:16-22)

The authors point out that the land "takes on a different meaning and undergoes an important evolution and transformation, marked as it is, by the person of Jesus Christ."

Jesus himself is rooted in the land from his birth, public ministry and death in Jerusalem. Jesus of Nazareth relates to the land in a different way than merely geographical, which opens up the social and political dimension of the territory for theologian and believer.

Significant space is given to the patristic thought of the church fathers which adds a historical layer to the theological development of the "land ownership" dilemma.

The focus of the latter half of the book is Pope John Paul II's 1984 apostolic letter "Redemptionis Anno." The authors also consider many of the Catholic Church's recent documents pertaining to Israel and Jewish-Christian relations.

Fathers Marchadour and Neuhaus successfully frame the question of the theology of the land in a way that gives theological perspective and hope to all the shareholders in the Holy Land.

Zachary Karabell's book, Peace Be Upon You: The Story of Muslim, Christian and Jewish Coexistence, offers a refreshing and timely perspective on the historical coexistence between Jews, Christians and Muslims in an age when hatred and discrimination seem to be escalating, if not the norm.

With honesty and clarity the author acknowledges the conflicts both past and present between the three major monotheistic religions. Karabell's historical research and ability to bring the stories of centuries past to life is lively and thought-provoking. During periods when one major religion ruled he gives specific instances where there were compromises which allowed for religious freedom and expression.

A more thoughtful consideration of the events surrounding the Holocaust and commentary on the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions would have assisted many who are interested in the progress and ongoing work of the church and the present state of interreligious dialogue worldwide.

Karabell writes passionately about religious coexistence throughout history and his accentuation of the positive aspects gives hope while not diminishing the suffering of the victims.

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Wright is a member of the Commission for Interreligious Affairs in the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., and the author of Jesus in the House, published this year by St. Anthony Messenger Press.

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The Land, the Bible and History: Toward the Land That I Will Show You, by Alain Marchadour and David Neuhaus. Fordham University Press (New York, 2007). 232 pp., $40. Peace Be Upon You: The Story of Muslim, Christian and Jewish Coexistence, by Zachary Karabell. Alfred A. Knopf (New York, 2007). 343 pp., $26.95.