PREFACE
The history of Israelites began with the call of Abraham and Abrahamic
covenant in which Isaac and Jacob were inclusive, and which informs the
biblical reference to God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jacob’s
name became Israel and from Israel came the twelve sons which later
became the twelve tribes of Israel. Under the leadership of Moses, God
rescued the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and brought them into the
wilderness, from where (after 40 years) they were given the land of Canaan
as an everlasting possession.
Having gained Canaan land, and living in peace, the Israelites began to sin
against God. As punishment for their sins, they were usually subjugated by
the remnants of Canaanites who made their existence unbearable for some
time. Upon realisation of her sins, Israel would repent and call on God for
deliverance. Out of pity, God, would raise up Judges to deliver them. After
deliverance and restoration of peace, they would begin to sin against God
even more than ever before. This was Israelites’ pattern of existence until
the time of Samuel, under whom they demanded for a king who would rule
them. This demand paved the way for the institution of monarchy in Israel.
The story of Israel from the period when she gained a king to the time
when she went into exiles is what the author intends to narrate in the eight
chapters of this book. In the first chapter of the book, the author, explains the
terms monarchy and prophet, as well as the characteristics of the prophets
of Israel. The religion of the Canaanites (Baalism), and its influences on
the religion of Israel (Yahwism) were also examined. In chapter two of the
book, the author presents the Judges of Israel, namely: Eli and his sons
(Hophni and Phinehas); and Samuel and his sons, (Joel and Abiah). The
set of circumstances that finally served to unite the Israelite tribes were
expounded.
The institution of monarchy was the subject matter of chapter three. Here, the
author identifies Samuel as the king maker. Moreover, the advantages and
disadvantages of theocracy and monarchy were elucidated. The kings of the
United Kingdom of Israel, namely Saul, David and Solomon, were properly
identified in chapter four. Their individual strengths and weaknesses as well
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as their contributions to the development of the United Kingdom of Israel
were revealed in this chapter.
Historians often refer to the Northern kingdom (Ten Tribes) of Israel as
kingdom of Israel or simply as Israel, or as the ‘kingdom of Samaria’,
whereas the Southern kingdom of Israel (with Two Tribes) is called
kingdom of Judah or simply Judah. Israel went into Assyrian exile before
the Babylonian captivity of Judah; hence, the stories of the nineteen kings
of Israel is taken up first but divided into two chapters, that is, chapters five
and six.
In chapter five, the achievements and failures of kings Jeroboam, Nadah,
Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash
were explained together with the prophetic roles of Elijah, and Elisha in the
history and religion of Israel. In chapter six, the stories of the remaining
kings of Israel, specifically Jeroboam II, Zachariah, Shallum, Menhahem,
Pekahiah, Pekah, and Hosea, and their achievements and failures were
presented together with the roles of prophets such as Amos and Hosea in
Israel. The factors that led to the fall and Assyrian captivity of Israel were
clarified.
Similarly, the stories of the twenty kings of the southern kingdom called
Judah were told in two chapters, specifically chapters seven and eight.
In chapter seven, the achievements and failures of kings Rehoboam,
Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Queen Athaliah, Joash,
Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz were expounded. In Chapter eight,
the successes and failures of kings Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah,
Jehoahaz, Jehoiakin, Jehoichin and Zedekiah were revealed together with
roles of Isaiah and Jeremiah in Judah. The factors that eventually led to
the Babylonian captivity of Judah were demonstrated in this chapter, which
closes with the contributions of Ezekiel among the Jews in Babylon.
In narrating these stories, the author, for the sake of convenience, adopts
pedagogical approach in which the objective of each chapter is first
specified, followed by pre-test, content of the chapter, summary, post-test
and citations of references. Whatever the academic rigor invested in a
book such as this, it may not be free from some errors either of omission or
commission. In view of this, any error found in this book is therefore, the
sole responsibility of the author. With prayer and best wishes, the book is
sent forth to the readers, especially students of religious studies in general
and Christian religious education in particular.
Janet Iko Salubuyi (PhD)
Head of Department/Christian Religion Studies
Principal Lecturer, Niger State College of Education Minna