A history of Israelite religion from patriarchal times to the beginning of the Christian era. The material is arranged chronologically beginning with a discussion of what can be reconstructed of the religion in the pre-Davidic periods of the patriarchs, of Moses and of the Judges. The major portion of the book is then devoted to the period of the monarchy and includes a treatment of such topics as God, his self-revelation, his relation to gods, angels and spirits, and his relation to the world in creation and history; also man, his psychology, worship, sacrifices, rulers and understanding of death and Sheol. Developments in many of these same themes during the Exile and post-exilic Judaism are traced in the final portion of the book, with special attention to the new understanding of the law, Satan, resurrection, apocalyptic, and the various parties and movements, including the Essenes.