Each of the four chapters of the book focuses on a different aspect of the division between Judah and Israel: between the Northern and Southern prophets, between the Jacob and Abraham narratives, between the Exodus and the Zion traditions and the circumstances of unification.

Each of the four chapters of the book focuses on a different aspect of the division between Judah and Israel: between the Northern and Southern prophets, between the Jacob and Abraham narratives, between the Exodus and the Zion traditions and the circumstances of unification.

The period of Biblical history known as the Divided Kingdom or the period of the Kings and the Prophets refers to the time when the nation of Israel broke into two rival kingdoms—Israel in the north and Judah in the south—each governed by its own succession of kings. During this period of monarchical rule, God sent many prophets with the purpose of keeping the government of His covenant people in line with His commandments and righteous laws. Besides the prophets which were anointed to address particular situations, there was an unbroken line of written prophets from Joel (chronologically) to Daniel who were sent to deliver words of judgment, warning, instruction and hope for the future. In order to appreciate the intricate fabric of this complex period one has to weave together three books of history—I and II Kings and II Chronicles—and all the prophets from Isaiah to Zephaniah. Kingship ended under Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian dominion when the last king of Judah was taken captive to Babylon. The entire nation's captivity officially ended in 536 BC when Cyrus, the first Persian emperor, released the captives to return to their homelands and rebuild what Babylon had destroyed. As we study the accounts of Biblical and secular history we discover the magnitude of the hand of God operating throughout the heathen world and, more intimately, in the midst of Israel's many trials and aberrations. Our faith is strengthened as we recognize that it is the hand of the same God who controls our current world affairs in the global events of these days. The intent of this book is to guide the student as well as the most dedicated pastors and teachers through this dynamic period in simplicity and historical accuracy, and in so doing, reinforce our faith as we face the mounting turbulence in our own generation.

Tudor Parfitt examines a myth which is based on one of the world's oldest mysteries - what happened to the lost tribes of Israel? Christians and Jews alike have attached great importance to the legendary fate of these tribes which has had a remarkable impact on their ideologies throughout history. Each tribe of Israel claimed descent from one of the twelve sons of Jacob and the land of Israel was eventually divided up between them. Following a schism which formed after the death of Solomon, ten of the tribes set up an independent northern kingdom, whilst those of Judah and Levi set up a separate southern kingdom. In 721BC the ten northern tribes were ethnically cleansed by the Assyrians and the Bible states they were placed: in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan and in the city of Medes. The Bible also foretold that one day they would be reunited with the southern tribes in the final redemption of the people of Israel. Their subsequent history became a tapestry of legend and hearsay. The belief persisted that they had been lost in some remote part of the world and there were countless suggestions and claims as to where.

This is the extended and annotated edition including * an extensive annotation of almost 10.000 words about the oracles in religion * an interactive table-of-contents * perfect formatting for electronic reading devices THE Sibyls occupy a conspicuous place in the traditions and history of ancient Greece and Rome. Their fame was spread abroad long before the beginning of the Christian era. Heraclitus of Ephesus, five centuries before Christ, compared himself to the Sibyl "who, speaking with inspired mouth, without a smile, without ornament, and without perfume, penetrates through centuries by the power of the gods." The ancient traditions vary in reporting the number and the names of these weird prophetesses, and much of what has been handed down to us is legendary. But whatever opinion one may hold respecting the various legends, there can be little doubt that a collection of Sibylline Oracles was at one time preserved at Rome. There are, moreover, various oracles, purporting to have been written by ancient Sibyls, found in the writings of Pausanias, Plutarch, Livy, and in other Greek and Latin authors. Whether any of these citations formed a portion of the Sibylline books once kept in Rome we cannot now determine; but the Roman capitol was destroyed by fire in the time of Sulla (B. C. 84), and again in the time of Vespasian (A. D. 69), and whatever books were at those dates kept therein doubtless perished in the flames. It is said by some of the ancients that a subsequent collection of oracles was made, but, if so, there is now no certainty that any fragments of them remain.

Have you ever heard the saying, "A Kingdom divided against itself cannot stand?" Throughout history, we have seen this happen time and time again. With the simple idea in mind that if you divide a nation from within, it will fall.Israel was a nation that dwelt safely within its land; until King Solomon went after idols and married women who worshiped other gods.That was the beginning of the fall in the division of the Kingdom of Israel. From that moment forward, YAHUAH started a series of events that resulted in the Kingdom being removed from King Solomon; Since then, we have had a history of these Kingdoms being broken off and going their separate ways, with Judah being found faithful to the covenant of YAHUAH and Israel being found wayward and going after idolatry and going after idols.Take a look at 1st Kings 11:11, which reads, "Wherefore YAHUAH said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant."Disobedience to this covenant in this "law" that YAHUAH gave us will bring peace and obedience or division and rebellion. At the end of days, YAHUAH promises that these two Kingdoms will no longer be separated. In the future, the House of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel, the "two wives" will become one house again under the Messiah.