Kings & Prophets 01 A Mystery - Eyewitness Bible Series

The Old Testament books from Ruth to Malachi comprise about half the pages of the Bible, yet they cover only the six-century period of the kings of Israel to the return from exile in Babylon, about 1050 BC to 430 BC.

The overall history of this period is fairly easy to understand. The Israelites choose to be ruled by an earthly king instead of by God. The kings lead the Israelites to regional political power under King David, and then into a decline so severe that the nation is subjugated and taken into exile. The kings lead the people from worshiping only God to worshiping idols and the gods of the area people. Their unfaithfulness to God causes him to punish them in hopes they will decide to fulfill their covenant with him.

At the beginning of this period, the Israelites occupy and control a portion of land where we find modern-day Israel and Palestine. Under King David, the Israelites conquer and control the entire region. By the end of the period, a small number of Israelites, under the rule of the Babylonians, occupy only Jerusalem and the surrounding area.