"This book focuses on the motif of "divine rejection" in the Hebrew Bible and on the significance of this motif in ancient Hebrew thought. The evolution of the theme of divine rejection is traced from its function in ancient Near Eastern literature through the various sections of the Hebrew Bible. By attending to the significance of the motif, the reader is invited into an awareness of the fact that unlike the contemporary society, the Hebrew people did not minimize suffering and pain, but recognized the God-who-rejects and confronted this God with rage, personal and corporate. This research attempts to make a contribution to the field of Old Testament theology while exploring the theological assumptions attached to the motif of divine rejection as it was believed, experienced, and proclaimed by the ancient Israelite community. "--BOOK JACKET.