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Kingdom of priests : a history of Old Testament Israel
2008
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This revised edition of a proven textbook offers an up-to-date articulation of a conservative evangelical position on Old Testament history. - (Baker Publishing Group)

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. - (Baker Publishing Group)

Author Biography

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. - (Baker Publishing Group)

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Kingdom of Priests provides a comprehensive introduction to the history of Old Testament Israel. Now updated and revised, this volume 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.

"Kingdom of Priests has served several generations of students and colleagues with distinction, so it is with delight that I welcome this second edition. Judiciously updated throughout, its most important improvement is the engagement of recent historiographical discussions, including a burgeoning literature among evangelicals. I am pleased to recommend it."--David M. Howard, professor of Old Testament, Bethel Seminary

"The second edition of Eugene Merrill's now classic Kingdom of Priests is a model of the seamless relationship of Old Testament history and theology. While technically a history of Israel, updated and refurbished by the latest biblical research, this book illustrates by its structure, style, and content that OT history was written for theological purposes. But history is not the unwitting servant of theology; rather, they stand alongside one another as co-servants of the message of redemption."--C. Hassell Bullock, professor emeritus of Hebrew Bible, Wheaton College

"In Kingdom of Priests, Eugene Merrill follows a sound methodology that uses explicitly stated and well-reasoned principles in analyzing Old Testament events. He demonstrates how the 'facts' of Old Testament history emerge only after sound hermeneutics that give attention to issues of style, genre, and rhetorical strategies are applied to the biblical text. Merrill provides historical background for each biblical book and period of Israel's history and gives up-to-date information from extrabiblical sources regarding nations and rulers with whom Israel often found itself in conflict. This work is a crowning achievement of a distinguished career devoted to the study of Old Testament history and is destined to become the standard evangelical treatment of biblical history for decades to come."--Mark F. Rooker, senior professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary - (Baker Publishing Group)

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Table of Contents

Illustrations 9
Preface to the Second Edition 11
Preface to the First Edition 13
Abbreviations 15
1. Recalling Israel's Past: Issues and Strategies
19
Preliminary Considerations
19
The History of Israel and Historiography
20
The Old Testament as Historiography
33
2. Origins
37
Israel at Moab
37
The Purpose of Torah
38
The Story of the Patriarchs
41
3. The Exodus: Birth of a Nation
73
The Meaning of the Exodus
73
The Historical Setting of the Exodus
74
The Date of the Exodus
83
The Dates and Length of the Egyptian Sojourn
92
Patriarchal Chronology
96
The Wilderness Wandering
96
4. The Conquest and Occupation of Canaan
110
The Land as Promise Fulfillment
110
The Ancient Near Eastern World
111
The 'Apiru and the Conquest
119
The Strategy of Joshua
125
The Date of Joshua's Conquest
136
The Campaign against the Anakim
138
Alternative Models of the Conquest and Occupation
138
The Tribal Allotments
147
The Second Covenant Renewal at Shechem
157
5. The Era of the Judges: Covenant Violation, Anarchy, and Human Authority
160
The Literary-Critical Problem in Judges
161
The Chronology of Judges
166
The Ancient Near Eastern World
171
The Judges of Israel
177
The Bethlehem Trilogy
197
6. Saul: Covenant Misunderstanding
207
The Demand for Kingship
207
The Chronology of the Eleventh Century
210
The Selection of Saul
212
The First Challenge to Saul
217
The Decline of Saul
219
Theological Considerations
226
The Rise of David
228
7. David: Covenant Kingship
239
The Lack of Nationhood before David
239
David at Hebron
244
Chronicles and Theological History
249
Jerusalem the Capital
250
The Establishment of David's Power
253
An Introduction to a Davidic Chronology
259
8. David: The Years of Struggle
266
Egypt and Israelite Independence
267
The Ammonite Wars
268
The Beginning of David's Domestic Troubles
277
Jerusalem as Cult Center
279
The Rebellion of Absalom
284
David's Efforts at Reconciliation
288
Additional Troubles
289
David's Plan for a Temple
291
The Solomonic Succession
296
The Davidic Bureaucracy
298
9. Solomon: From Pinnacle to Peril
302
Problems of Transition
303
The Failure of the Opposition to Solomon
306
The Conclave at Gibeon
307
International Relations
308
The Building Projects of Solomon
311
Cracks in the Solomonic Empire
315
Solomonic Statecraft
317
Spiritual and Moral Apostasy
327
Solomon and the Nature of Wisdom
329
10. The Divided Monarchy 331
The Roots of National Division
331
The Immediate Occasion of National Division
335
The Reign of Rehoboam
339
The Reign of Jeroboam
341
The Pressure of Surrounding Nations
346
Abijah of Judah
347
Asa of Judah
348
The Reemergence of Assyria
351
Nadab of Israel
353
The Dynasty of Baasha of Israel
354
Omri of Israel
355
Jehoshaphat of Judah
357
Ahab of Israel
361
The Threat of Assyria
364
Ahab's Successors
365
The Anointing of Hazael of Damascus
368
Jehoram of Judah
369
The Anointing of Jehu
370
11. The Dynasty of Jehu and Contemporary Judah 372
The Reign of Jehu of Israel
373
Athaliah of Judah
374
The Role of Other Nations
375
Joash of Judah
378
Jehoahaz of Israel
381
The International Scene
382
Jehoash of Israel
384
Amaziah of Judah
385
Jeroboam II of Israel
387
Uzziah of Judah
390
The Ministry of the Prophets
392
12. The Rod of Yahweh: Assyria and Divine Wrath 404
Factors Leading to Israel's Fall
405
The End of the Dynasty of Jehu
405
Assyria and Tiglath-pileser III
406
Menahem of Israel
408
The Last Days of Israel
409
The Impact of Samaria's Fall
412
Judah and the Fall of Samaria
415
Hezekiah of Judah
422
The Viewpoint of the Prophets
433
13. Fading Hope: The Disintegration of Judah 444
The Legacy of Hezekiah
444
Manasseh of Judah
446
Amon of Judah
449
The International Scene: Assyria and Egypt
449
Josiah of Judah
454
The Fall of Jerusalem
459
The Prophetic Witness
466
14. The Exile and the First Return 481
An Introductory Overview
481
The World Situation during the Exile
487
The Jewish People during the Exile
493
The World Situation during the Period of Restoration
499
The First Return
503
Problems following the Return
505
Encouragement from the Prophets
507
15. Restoration and New Hope 509
The Persian Influence
510
Subsequent Returns: Ezra and Nehemiah
514
Malachi the Prophet
526
Bibliography 529
Scripture Index 535
Subject Index 547

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