We all know about King David and King Solomon, but what about the kings Omri and Uzziah? Of the more than fifty monarchs who sat on the throne of the Jews for over 1000 years, most of us can recall only a few. What we do remember about them has been colored by legend and embellishment. In Kings of the Jews, Norman Gelb tells us the real stories of them all. And in doing so, he reveals how a remarkably resilient people survived divisions, discord, and conquest to forge a vibrant identity that has lasted to the present day.
Kings of the Jews explores some of the most dramatic periods in Jewish history: those of the united Israelite kingdom under David and Solomon, the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the Babylonian exile, and the destruction of the Second Temple and the Roman conquest of Jerusalem.
With the Logos Bible Software edition, you have unprecedented access to the most important scholarly material on ancient Israelite studies. The powerful search tools in your digital library help you locate the specific material relevant to your study. All references to the Old Testament are directly linked to the Hebrew texts in your library, along with your preferred English translations. These advanced tools make the Logos edition of this important work on the monarchy of Israel an important addition to the libraries of scholars, pastors, and students of the Old Testament.
- Provides a history of the Jewish monarchs between 1020 BCE and 70 CE
- Illustrates what Jewish life was like
- Includes illustrations, maps, chronologies, and index
Praise for the Print Edition
. . . a total of fifty-two men and two women served as monarchs between the years 1020 BCE and 70 CE. Their stories are told in this well-researched account by historian Gelb. . . . This useful narrative recalls the contributions of Israel’s many kings and brings them back to life.
An accomplished writer, journalist, and historian, Norman Gelb has written a fair-minded history of the kings of the Jews of ancient times. . . . I cannot praise this book too highly.
—Walter Abish, MacArthur Fellow
He set out to offer contemporary readers an instructive and readable account of what happened to the Jews during the 1,000 years before the Common Era and the first 70 years of the Common Era. He has fully succeeded in meeting this laudable objective.
—National Jewish Post and Opinion
This riveting exploration is a testament to the remarkable resilience of the Jewish people as they survived and thrived despite divisions, discord, and conquest, forging a vibrant identity that continues to endure.
—The Lookstein Center
Gelb offers his readers a clear sufficiently detailed narration of the history of the ancient monarchs for people who want a general understanding of the history of Judaism and its national leaders.
—The Jewish Eye
Norman Gelb paints a vivid picture of Jewish life during the time of each monarch’s reign. . . .
—International Journal of Jewish Education Research
- Title: Kings of the Jews: The Origins of the Jewish Nation
- Author: Norman Gelb
- Publisher: Jewish Publication Society
- Publication Date: 2010
- Pages: xix, 246
About Norman Gelb
Norman Gelb graduated from Brooklyn College and did graduate work in history at the University of Minnesota and the University of Vienna. After reporting from Berlin for the Mutual Broadcasting System, he was transferred to London, where he began his history-writing career. He is the author of several highly acclaimed books.