Jahwe und der Krieg

The article opens with a comprehensive overview of how the experience of war left its mark on the history of Israel. Against this backdrop, it describes how the Yahweh theology of the monarchic age centered on the cooperation between God and king in war. When the monarchy was lost in the wake of a series of political desasters, the theology of war underwent a profound transformation. Beginning with early prophetic texts from the 8th century, the loss of the monarchy was addressed by increasingly emphasizing Yahweh's sole agency in war. This development even gave rise to the idea that Yahweh will bring an end to wars worldwide.