About the Book
The incredible saga of Jewish history as seen through the eyes of its monarchs.
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 illustrations, maps, chronologies, and index.
Praise
A total of 52 men and two women served as monarchs between the years 1020 B.C.E. and 70 C.E. 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.
—Publishers Weekly
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.
—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.
—Jewish Eye
Norman Gelb paints a vivid picture of Jewish life during the time of each monarch’s reign . . . This riveting exploration is a testament to the remarkable resilience of the Jewish people as they survived and thrived despite divisions, discord, and conquest.
—International Journal of Jewish Education Research
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 and recipient of the PEN/Faulkner Award
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.
