These instances show clearly enough the use of ‘kingdom’-language in our period. It was a regular means of expressing the national hope, invoking in its support the belief that Israel’s god was the only god—in other words, using Jewish monotheism and covenant theology in the service of eschatology. Israel’s god would bring to pass the restoration from exile, the renewal of the covenant. Because he was also the creator god, this event could not adequately be described without the use of cosmic imagery. Israel’s victory over the nations, the rebuilding of the Temple, the cleansing of the Land:
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