Introduction -- The Patriarchs and Matriarchs -- Israel's emergence -- The monarchical period part 1 : the changing evaluation of sources -- The monarchical period part 2 : the first kings and the beginnings of permanent government )the united monarchy( -- The monarchical period part 3 : the Iron Age kingdoms of Israel and Judah -- The exilic or neo-Babylonian period -- The postexilic or Persian period -- Afterword : what is the future of Israel's past?