Book of the Wars of Yahweh, lost document referred to and quoted in the Old Testament (Num. 21:14ff.). The book is probably a collection of early Israelite war songs including hymns of victory, curses, mocking songs, and other literary genres recounting the victories of Yahweh, the God of Israel, over his enemies; it indicates that biblical books rely on both written and oral tradition. Similar to the Book of Jashar, the Book of the Wars of Yahweh is not identical with it, according to most scholars.

Quick Facts
Date:
1020 BCE - 721
Key People:
Samuel
David
Saul
Solomon
Ahab
Related Topics:
Judaism
Bible
Ten Lost Tribes of Israel
Ephraim
Dan
On the Web:
The History Files - Israel (Canaan) (May 13, 2025)

Israel, either of two political units in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament): the united kingdom of Israel under the kings Saul, David, and Solomon, which lasted from about 1020 to 922 bce; or the northern kingdom of Israel, including the territories of the 10 northern tribes (i.e., all except Judah and part of Benjamin), which was established in 922 bce as the result of a revolt led by Jeroboam I. The southern kingdom, ruled by the Davidic dynasty, was thereafter referred to as Judah. The later kingdom’s history was one of dynastic instability, with only two prolonged periods of stable government, under Omri (reigned 876–869 or c. 884–c. 872 bce) and Ahab (c. 874–c. 853 bce) and the Jehu dynasty (c. 842–746 bce). In the 8th century bce the northern kingdom was overrun by the Neo-Assyrian empire, with Samaria, the capital, falling in 722/721.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Zeidan.