Rashi describes yehuda as "retzua arucha uketzar", a long thin strip. The maps I've seen of Yehuda, show more of a box type area- from yerushalayim to the southern border of Eretz Yisroel.How does the din of tzafon darom fit? It would seem east west is better?
eli tendler, baltimore, MD
The territory of Yehuda in the east-west axis is (from the coast to the Jordan River) about 90 kilometers. From north to south in the days of the second Beis Hamikdosh I would say that it stretched from Shechem in the north (at best) to Chevron in the south, a total of approximately 60 KM. Please note that in those days the Jewish population of Judea did not extend further south than Chevron, unlike the case in the days of the first Beis Hamikdash. When we mention "Yehuda" during the first Beis Hamikdash period we are referring to the territory allocated to the tribe. The concept "Yehuda" in the second Beis Hamikdash period applies to the area populated by Jews in the southern portion of Eretz Yisroel. So it does seem to fit Rashi's description.
Kol tuv
Yehuda Landy