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

__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.

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.

This revised edition of a proven textbook offers an up-to-date articulation of a conservative evangelical position on Old Testament history.

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

Merrill, Eugene H.

Cover

Title page

Copyright page

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 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

From the origins and exodus to the restoration and new hope,Kingdom of Priestsoffers 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.

Explores the history of ancient Israel from Old Testament texts as well as from the literary and archeological sources of the Ancient Near East.

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.

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