The historical books of the Bible span hundreds of years of the Israelite's history, beginning with their conquest of the Promised Land and carrying on through the rule of judges and the reign of kings. This volume also records the eventual defeat of Israel by the Babylonians and their return from exile many years later to rebuild the holy city of Jerusalem. Throughout these events is a continuous cycle of disobedience, judgment and repentance, depicting the consequences of sin but also the infinite mercy of God for the truly penitent.