Situation and Theology by Michael E. W. Thompson is a focused scholarly study on how Old Testament writers interpreted the Syro-Ephraimite War — the critical moment in Isaiah’s political and prophetic landscape. Thompson analyzes how historical crisis shaped theological expression, and how Israel’s prophets used real-time political danger to frame their understanding of God, covenant, and national identity.
The book blends historical analysis with close textual study, helping readers understand why passages like Isaiah 7–9 function the way they do within Israel’s story.
Significance:
Serious works on the Syro-Ephraimite War are rare, and Thompson’s study has become a valuable resource for students of Isaiah, prophetic literature, and Old Testament historical theology. Almond Press titles from this era were printed in small academic runs, making surviving copies highly collectible. This volume is ideal for seminarians, preachers, and scholars who need deeper context for the Immanuel prophecies and the political theology of 8th-century Judah.