Chronicle of the Old Testament Kings: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Ancient Israel

by J.W. Rogerson

Covering a span of 1,500 years, Chronicle of the Old Testament Kings charts all the leaders of Israel from the Ancestors—the physical and spiritual founders of the nation—through the united monarchy under David and Solomon, to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, Persian and Greek rule and, finally, Roman domination. Chronicle of the Old Testament Kings searches through the mists of tradition to reveal the historical figures behind familiar names such as Moses, David, and Solomon. Did they exist? What is known about them? The rulers are placed in the context of their own world and brought vividly to life, complete with their outstanding feats and their equally notable failings. We are also introduced to less-known but fascinating figures, such as Ahab and his Ivory House; Hezekiah, who withstood the might of the Assyrians; and Judas Maccabeus, who restored Jewish independence. Although leaders of a people dedicated to God, they frequently lapsed into morally questionable behavior, resulting in criticism and censure from Prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Elijah.

Key features of the book include:

• data files for every ruler, listing important information such as the meaning of their names, their lineage, wives, and children, and Bible references;

• portraits of rulers, genealogical trees, full-color maps, and illustrations taken from a huge range of sources;

• special features, including the Exodus, the Philistines, the Exile, Solomon's Temple, and the Dead Sea Scrolls;

• timelines providing at-a-glance visual guides to reigns and events.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Religion

Hardcover

First published October 17, 1999

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful reference to have on hand when reading Old Testament. I get terribly confused by/about O.T. history/kings and this book not only has the reign-by-reign record of the rulers of ancient Israel but also includes many helpful maps, diagrams, pictures, and gives a breakdown of the major historical periods. Again, it isn't up to high research standards but it's good enough for anything I might need to know when I'm reading my Bible. It's also colorful, browse-able and beautifully organized--a booklady's dream afternoon dally.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable and interesting. The author does a very good job making sense of some very confusing material. The format of informing the reader of what the bible says and then comparing that to informaiton from sources outside the bible and the current scholarly thoeries on the discrepancies and missing information works well. The biggest problem in the book is that it needs to be updated. Archaeological finds that have come to light since publication have confirmed some information and proven some theories wrong.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully produced and well written account of the history of ancient Israel bringing together evidence from Scripture, other historical sources and archaeology. I have found it an invaluable aid to my ongoing daily reading of the Old Testament and will continue to use it for reference in my future reading of the Bible.

[Hilde Helseth · Rating 5 out of 5]

'48. A book from your TBR list chosen at random'

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll be honest this dragged for me, not as good as the Egyptian Kings.