a catastrophic battle sets in motion events that birth israel's first monarchy, but the king's fecklessness puts the fate of the nation in doubt. can israel's fledgling kingdom survive attacks from without and rivals within? no one escapes the palace intrigue, divided loyalties and tribal battles that characterized life 3,000 years ago. in the events leading to the crowning of israel's first king, tragedy befalls a cursed family of priests, endangering the worship of yahweh. during the king's fragile reign, the rise of a charismatic hero drives a wedge between brothers, the sons of eldad, metalsmiths-turned-soldiers from mizpah. this first book in the age of the kingdom series follows several generations of multiple families against the backdrop of israel's united monarchy through both biblical and non-biblical characters.