Book Description

How did two separate peoples become one? All the signs are that the creation of a unified Israelite kingdom under King David had failed to erase the differences between the Northern and Southern tribes. This book sets out to highlight these essential differences between Judah and Israel as they appear in various parts of biblical literature. Each of the four chapters of the book focuses on a different aspect of evidence. The first studies the prophet narratives, to elicit the differences between Northern and Southern prophets. The second chapter examines the differences between the Jacob narratives, which are based on mostly Northern traditions, and the Abraham narratives. The third chapter deals with the evidence of traditions: the Exodus tradition, which is essentially Northern, versus that of Zion and the House of David. The final chapter relates the reunification to the initiative of King Hezekiah.