monarchy period

Monarchy Period

Historical Books

• Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings provide history of Israel

• Known by scholars as Deuteronomistic History

• Theological bias

Settling in Joshua and Judges

• Evidence of new settlement in the highlands

• Some distinctive architecture: 4 room house and layout

• Some distinctive pottery• Merneptah’s stele (1207) mentions

Israel• Question: How did they settle in

Israel?

Return to Canaan

• Return under Joshua’s leadership

• Wage war against other groups• Philistines in the east are

particularly threatening• Control iron

Religion and Society During this Time

• Judges (Elders) ruled over each tribe

• Laws from the Pentateuch• Mosaic Covenant

Question of Kingship

Two Groups:• Group A: Monarchy is a gift from

God

• Group B: Monarchy is an insult to God’s authority

Period of the Monarchy

I. The United Monarchy (ca. 1020-920 BCE)I. Saul (1 Sam 13-31)II. David (2 Sam 1 – 1 Kings 2:11)III. Solomon (1 Kings 2:12 – 11:43)

II. The Divided Monarchy (920-722 BCE)(1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings 17)

III. Judah alone (722-587 BCE)(2 Kings 18 – 25)

Saul

• 1 Samuel 13-31• Great military leader• Saul tries to keep the nations

together• High disapproval ratings• Does not follow Religions Laws• Emotionally unstable

Saul’s Suicide

• Summons spirits from the dead before going into battle against Philistines

• Is outnumbered • Realizes all hope is lost• Commits suicide

David (1000 – 961)

• 2 Sam 1 – 1 Kings 2:11• Court Musician• Samuel Anoints him king• Learns from Saul’s mistakes• Conquers Jebusite city: Jerusalem• Retrieves Ark of the Covenant• Defeats Philistines• Golden Period in Hebrew History

King Solomon

• 1 Kings 2:12 – 11:43• Built Temple to house the Ark

of the Covenant• Heavy taxation• Known for his wisdom• 922, Solomon dies, David’s

Empire divided

(1) Kingdom

• David’s Line will have a kingdom

• Kingdom is different from owning plot of land

• Ps 89:27

(2) Dynasty

• David’s descendents will continue to rule

• Keeping it in the family

(3) Adoption

• David anointed• Made him an adopted Son of

God• 2 Samuel 7:14

(4) Unlimited

• David’s Dynasty will be EVERLASTING• Reach the “Ends of the Earth”

(5) Jerusalem

• God established Jerusalem as spiritual centre of Covenant

• Citadel of Zion

(6) Temple

• Sign of the Covenant• Building where God physically

resides within• All people are invited

(7) Wisdom

• God will give the wisdom to govern

• Gives Solomon the knowledge needed to rule

• Understand the Law