I. Introduction -- II. Israel's religion against the background of the religions of the Ancient East -- Israel and the surrounding world -- Some parallel phenomena that illustrate the relationship -- Cohesive and distinguishing aspects of the ancient Semitic religions in general -- The religion of Egypt -- The religion of Babylon -- The Phoenician-Canaanite religion -- The Aramaean religion -- The religion of some Transjordanian peoples -- The Edomites -- The religion of the North Arabian tribes -- The character of Israel's religion -- III. Religious life at about the year 1000 -- Yahweh, the God of Israel -- Holy places -- Some social factors -- IV. The Prehistory -- V. Yahweh -- VI. The victory of Yahwism -- VII. New forms of life, state and religion -- VIII. The great prophets -- IX. Reformation and downfall -- X. Regeneration and recovery -- XI. Centralization and disintegration.