The Source by James Michener

Michener uses the unifying device of an archeological dig at a fictional site in Israel to probe the history of the region from beginnings of agriculture to modern times (as of the book's writing, though now nearly 50 years behind). However, I for one failed to fall in love with it as much as so many other people have.It is interesting, but the persistent theme is the development of humanity's view of religion. I personally thought it was perhaps a little simplified, but that probably couldn't be helped.I do say that it's given me a much deeper and broader understanding of the area, and of the history of the Jews, than I had previously. I'm not entirely certain of the accuracy of everything, but I'm sure I do have a better overall context.For example, I never dreamed that before it was conquered by the Roman Empire, that Israel was run by the Greeks, and that Greek ideals were at one time the outside influence the orthodox battled to keep their religion. Somehow I'd thought t
hat between the end of the exile in the desert and being conquered by the Romans that the Jews controlled Israel, and that's not true at all.Some of the stories seem to be kind of a whitewash. There's a proto-Moses figure who comes out of the desert and moves into the nearest town nonviolently. However, the real heirs of Moses did not seem to wrestle with the concept of nonviolence. God gave them Jericho and then the rest of the area, so they conquered the Canaanites by force and that was that.It also filled in some of the gaps regarding Jews after Christianity began. I've always been hazy on how they were driven from Israel into Europe.Some of it has me shaking my head. Michener seems to praise the effort by Jewish holy men compiling a huge set of laws called the Talmud. I just couldn't believe it. What a waste of time and effort. I'm sure they needed some laws, especially dietary restrictions, in the desert. But add huge layers of bureaucracy?Michener makes some social com
mentary on the current (back then) state of Israel and the Jews, including an implication criticizing the refugee status of Palestinians who left in 1948. I'm sure he'd be appalled at the lack of progress in their situation since then.However, his look at the ignorance and cruelty of the Crusaders is enlightening. I have to believe that when he pictures them killing local Jews before setting out to free the Holy Land, and then once they get there, killing local Christians who tried to join them, because they were dressed the same as local Muslims, is pertinent.As I write, Iran is itching for a military showdown with Isreal and Helen Thomas is being chastised for telling Jews to leave "Palestine" and go back to their homes in Germany and Poland. These events make it obvious this region of the world is still a dangerous one full of extreme emotions that are not likely to calm down soon.

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