Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel / Edition 2

by Eugene H. Merrill

Overview

From the origins and exodus to the restoration and new hope, Kingdom of Priests offers a comprehensive introduction to the history of Old Testament Israel. Merrill explores the history of ancient Israel not only from Old Testament texts but also from the literary and archeological sources of the ancient Near East. After selling more than 30,000 copies, the book has now been updated and revised. The second edition addresses and interacts with current debates in the history of ancient Israel, offering an up-to-date articulation of a conservative evangelical position on historical matters. The text is accented with nearly twenty maps and charts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801031991
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/01/2008
Edition description:	2nd Edition
Pages:	554
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.13(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Eugene H. Merrill (PhD, Bob Jones University; PhD, Columbia University) is distinguished professor of Old Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas, where he has taught since 1975. He is also distinguished professor of Old Testament interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Merrill is the author of a number of books, including A Historical Survey of the Old Testament, Everlasting Dominion: A Theology of the Old Testament, and a commentary on Deuteronomy.

Table of Contents

Preface
Preface to the Second Edition
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 of Judah
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