The novel concerned a boy growing up in Palestine during the Second World War.

Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada,

Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.

Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa.

Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah.

Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah.

Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.

Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor.

Azor became the father of Sadoc. Sadoc became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud.

Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob.

And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,

And Aram begat Aminadab and Aminadab begat Naasson and Naasson begat Salmon

And Solomon begat Roboam and Roboam begat Abia and Abia begat Asa

And Asa begat Josaphat and Josaphat begat Joram and Joram begat Ozias

And Ozias begat Joatham and Joatham begat Achaz and Achaz begat Ezekias

And Ezekias begat Manasses and Manasses begat Amon and Amon begat Josias

And Zorobabel begat Abiud and Abiud begat Eliakim and Eliakim begat Azor

And Azor begat Sadoc and Sadoc begat Achim and Achim begat Eliud

And Eliud begat Eleazar and Eleazar begat Matthan and Matthan begat Jacob

Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers.

Abraham begat Isaac and Isaac begat Jacob and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren

Boy, that Mickey Spillane, boy, he could write.

Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah and Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri and Zimri became the father of Moza.

Ahaz became the father of Jarah and Jarah became the father of Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri and Zimri became the father of Moza

And Ahaz begat Jehoadah and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri and Zimri begat Moza,

And Ahaz begat Jarah and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri and Zimri begat Moza

Arpachshad became the father of Shelah. Shelah became the father of Eber.

and Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab,

and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became the father of Salmon,

and Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed,

and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.

Arpachshad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber.

and Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz,

and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse

Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.

Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad,

and Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed,

and Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah,

and Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah,

and Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Shallum,

and Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father of Elishama.

Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, Phinehas became the father of Abishua,

and Abishua became the father of Bukki, and Bukki became the father of Uzzi,

and Uzzi became the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth,

Meraioth became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,