Kingdom of Priests – A History of Old Testament Israel

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.

• PrefacePreface to the Second Edition1. Recalling Israel's Past: Issues and StrategiesPreliminary ConsiderationsThe History of Israel and HistoriographyThe Old Testament as Historiography2. OriginsIsrael at MoabThe Purpose of TorahThe Story of the Patriarchs3. The Exodus: Birth of a NationThe Meaning of the ExodusThe Historical Setting of the ExodusThe Date of the ExodusThe Dates and Length of the Egyptian SojournPatriarchal ChronologyThe Wilderness Wandering4. The Conquest and Occupation of CanaanThe Land as Promise FulfillmentThe Ancient Near Eastern WorldThe 'apiru and the ConquestThe Strategy of JoshuaThe Date of Joshua's ConquestThe Campaign against the AnakimAlternative Models of the Conquest and OccupationThe Tribal AllotmentsThe Second Covenant Renewal at Shechem5. The Era of the Judges: Covenant Violation, Anarchy, and Human AuthorityThe Literary-Critical Problem in JudgesThe Chronology of JudgesThe Ancient Near Eastern WorldThe Judges of IsraelThe Bethlehem Trilogy6. Saul: Covenant MisunderstandingThe Demand for KingshipThe Chronology of the Eleventh CenturyThe Selection of SaulThe First Challenge to SaulThe Decline of SaulTheological ConsiderationsThe Rise of David7. David: Covenant KingshipThe Lack of Nationhood before DavidDavid at HebronChronicles and Theological HistoryJerusalem the CapitalThe Establishment of David's PowerAn Introduction to a Davidic Chronology8. David: The Years of StruggleEgypt and Israelite IndependenceThe Ammonite WarsThe Beginning of David's Domestic TroublesJerusalem as Cult CenterThe Rebellion of AbsalomDavid's Efforts at ReconciliationAdditional TroublesDavid's Plan for a TempleThe Solomonic SuccessionThe Davidic Bureaucracy9. Solomon: From Pinnacle to PerilProblems of TransitionThe Failure of the Opposition to SolomonThe Conclave at GibeonInternational RelationsThe Building Projects of SolomonCracks in the Solomonic EmpireSolomonic StatecraftSpiritual and Moral ApostasySolomon and the Nature of Wisdom10. The Divided MonarchyThe Roots of National DivisionThe Immediate Occasion of National DivisionThe Reign of RehoboamThe Reign of JeroboamThe Pressure of Surrounding NationsAbijah of JudahAsa of JudahThe Reemergence of AssyriaNadab of IsraelThe Dynasty of Baasha of IsraelOmri of IsraelJehoshaphat of JudahAhab of IsraelThe Threat of AssyriaAhab's SuccessorsThe Anointing of Hazael of DamascusJehoram of JudahThe Anointing of Jehu11. The Dynasty of Jehu and Contemporary JudahThe Reign of Jehu of IsraelAthaliah of JudahThe Role of Other NationsJoash of JudahJehoahaz of IsraelThe International SceneJehoash of IsraelAmaziah of JudahJeroboam II of IsraelUzziah of JudahThe Ministry of the Prophets12. The Rod of Yahweh: Assyria and Divine WrathFactors Leading to Israel's FallThe End of the Dynasty of JehuAssyria and Tiglath-pileser IIIMenahem of IsraelThe Last Days of IsraelThe Impact of Samaria's FallJudah and the Fall of SamariaHezekiah of JudahThe Viewpoint of the Prophets13. Fading Hope: The Disintegration of JudahThe Legacy of HezekiahManasseh of JudahAmon of JudahThe International Scene: Assyria and EgyptJosiah of JudahThe Fall of JerusalemThe Prophetic Witness14. The Exile and the First ReturnAn Introductory OverviewThe World Situation during the ExileThe Jewish People during the ExileThe World Situation during the Period of RestorationThe First ReturnProblems Following the ReturnEncouragement from the Prophets15. Restoration and New HopeThe Persian InfluenceSubsequent Returns: Ezra and NehemiahMalachi the Prophet