Kingdom of Priests · A History of Old Testament Israel by Merrill, Eugene H. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title page Copyright page Contents Illustrations Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition Abbreviations 1. Recalling Israel’s Past: Issues and Strategies

Preliminary Considerations The History of Israel and Historiography The Old Testament as Historiography

2. Origins

Israel at Moab The Purpose of Torah The Story of the Patriarchs

3. The Exodus: Birth of a Nation

The Meaning of the Exodus The Historical Setting of the Exodus The Date of the Exodus The Dates and Length of the Egyptian Sojourn Patriarchal Chronology The Wilderness Wandering

4. The Conquest and Occupation of Canaan

The Land as Promise Fulfillment The Ancient Near Eastern World The ‘Apiru and the Conquest The Strategy of Joshua The Date of Joshua’s Conquest The Campaign against the Anakim Alternative Models of the Conquest and Occupation The Tribal Allotments The Second Covenant Renewal at Shechem

5. The Era of the Judges: Covenant Violation, Anarchy, and Human Authority

The Literary-Critical Problem in Judges The Chronology of Judges The Ancient Near Eastern World The Judges of Israel The Bethlehem Trilogy

6. Saul: Covenant Misunderstanding

The Demand for Kingship The Chronology of the Eleventh Century The Selection of Saul The First Challenge to Saul The Decline of Saul Theological Considerations The Rise of David

7. David: Covenant Kingship

The Lack of Nationhood before David David at Hebron Chronicles and Theological History Jerusalem the Capital The Establishment of David’s Power An Introduction to a Davidic Chronology

8. David: The Years of Struggle

Egypt and Israelite Independence The Ammonite Wars The Beginning of David’s Domestic Troubles Jerusalem as Cult Center The Rebellion of Absalom David’s Efforts at Reconciliation Additional Troubles David’s Plan for a Temple The Solomonic Succession The Davidic Bureaucracy

9. Solomon: From Pinnacle to Peril

Problems of Transition The Failure of the Opposition to Solomon The Conclave at Gibeon International Relations The Building Projects of Solomon Cracks in the Solomonic Empire Solomonic Statecraft Spiritual and Moral Apostasy Solomon and the Nature of Wisdom

10. The Divided Monarchy

The Roots of National Division The Immediate Occasion of National Division The Reign of Rehoboam The Reign of Jeroboam The Pressure of Surrounding Nations Abijah of Judah Asa of Judah The Reemergence of Assyria Nadab of Israel The Dynasty of Baasha of Israel Omri of Israel Jehoshaphat ofJudah Ahab of Israel The Threat of Assyria Ahab’s Successors The Anointing of Hazael of Damascus Jehoram of Judah The Anointing of Jehu

11. The Dynasty of Jehu and Contemporary Judah

The Reign of Jehu of Israel Athaliah of Judah The Role of Other Nations Joash of Judah Jehoahaz of Israel The International Scene Jehoash of Israel Amaziah of Judah Jeroboam II of Israel Uzziah of Judah The Ministry of the Prophets

12. The Rod of Yahweh: Assyria and Divine Wrath

Factors Leading to Israel’s Fall The End of the Dynasty of Jehu Assyria and Tiglath-pileser III Menahem of Israel The Last Days of Israel The Impact of Samaria’s Fall Judah and the Fall of Samaria Hezekiah of Judah The Viewpoint of the Prophets

13. Fading Hope: The Disintegration of Judah

The Legacy of Hezekiah Manasseh of Judah Amon of Judah The International Scene: Assyria and Egypt Josiah of Judah The Fall of Jerusalem The Prophetic Witness

14. The Exile and the First Return

An Introductory Overview The World Situation during the Exile The Jewish People during the Exile The World Situation during the Period of Restoration The First Return Problems following the Return Encouragement from the Prophets

15. Restoration and New Hope

The Persian Influence Subsequent Returns: Ezra and Nehemiah Malachi the Prophet

Bibliography Scripture Index Subject Index Notes