This is a remarkable book.... The author is concerned to study the problem of international relations in the Near East, particularly in Israel, and to see if any patterns emerge which have relevance for the modern discussion....
Perhaps the crucial period for anyone to study the prophetic position toward power politics is in the message of Isaiah during the 8th century. Here is a complex of material calling for literary, historical, and theological judgment. Gottwald moves through the difficulties with great sensitivity, avoiding the usual oversimplifications and easy harmonizations.
This book should serve a wide audience. It will be most useful to Biblical specialists, but beyond this, it offers a solid foundation for non-specialists who are interested in the general subject of political ethics.
-- Brevard Childs, The Andover Newton Quarterly