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The United Monarchy. King David King Solomon Rehboam, Jeraboam and the Split י"ח מרחשון תשע"א October 26, 2010. Last week . King David. Solomon’s Succession Solomon’s Administration International Relations Trade Construction Foreign Enemies Jeroboam’s Revolt.
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The United Monarchy King David King Solomon Rehboam, Jeraboam and the Split י"ח מרחשון תשע"א October 26, 2010
Last week King David
Solomon’s Succession Solomon’s Administration International Relations Trade Construction Foreign Enemies Jeroboam’s Revolt King Solomon970-930 BCE- according to historians
Adonijah’s Claim Securing the Throne • David’s oldest son Adonijah saw himself as David’s and allied with many of David’s officers • He brings Korbanos and has himself proclaimed King • Nathan the Prophet and Bathsheva inform David to the plot and David publically crowns Solomon as his successor • David gives Solomon instructions to kill Yoav and other of his advisors • This is because Yoav and the other advisors wielded too much power and Solomon would not be able to rule in his own right • Solomon follows David’s instructions and secures his position • He also marries the Daughter of Pharaoh to secure an ally • He also appoints ministers over the districts of his kingdom • It is a detailed list and plan for administration of the kingdom Solomon’s Succession
Israel in the History of the World • Egypt is weak which allows Israel to expand its control over the Levant • Marriage to The Daughter of Pharaoh • Pharaoh gives Gezer as a dowry to Solomon • Trade Agreements with Many Nations • Phoenicia especially Hiram of Tyre • Sheba • Ophir • Tribute Collected • מלכים א פרק ה • (א) וּשְׁלֹמֹה הָיָה מוֹשֵׁל בְּכָל הַמַּמְלָכוֹת מִן הַנָּהָר אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים וְעַד גְּבוּל מִצְרָיִם מַגִּשִׁים מִנְחָה וְעֹבְדִים אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה כָּל יְמֵי חַיָּיו: • Taxes From Control of the Trade Routes International Relations
Bureaucracy • Solomon had a cabinet of advisors mostly made up a David’s cabinet and their sons • The territory was larger than at the beginning of David’s reign and included more urban areas • The bureaucracy became larger and more important • The country was divided into 12 districts each charged with paying for the royal upkeep for one month a year • 2 governors married Solomon’s daughters Solomon’s Administration
Wilkinson, T. J. “Excavating the Land of Sheba.” Archaeology Odyssey, Nov/Dec 2001, 44-51, 57-58. http://members.bib-arch.org/publication.asp? • Phoenicia • Trade agreement with Hiram the king of Tyre • To Israel: Wood, Technology, Ivory • To Tyre: Wheat, Olive Oil, Cities, Gold • Ophir – through the Red Sea • Partnership with Hiram of Tyre • They brought back: Almug (wood or coral) Gold, Ivory, Zoo animal such as Monkeys and Apes • Probably the Area of Somalia and Somaliland • Sheba • Queen came on Camel so probably southern Arabia • Traded Gold and Spices Trade
obert B. Wright Gezer gate. In 1 Kings 9:15, we read that Solomon fortified “Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer.” In this view from inside Gezer, we see six chambers (three on each side) of a monumental gate dated to the tenth century B.C.E. Nearly identical gates have been discovered at Hazor and Megiddo, and for decades, archaeologists have believed that all three gates were evidence of Solomon’s handiwork—mighty public works constructed by a powerful central authority. Recently, however, excavators at Megiddo have redated the gate at their site to the ninth century B.C.E., nearly 100 years after Solomon. In renewed excavations at Hazor, the excavator confirms the tenth-century date of that gate. Lemaire, André. “The United Monarchy: Saul, David and Solomon.” Ancient Israel, 1999, 91-120, 310-318. http://members.bib-arch.org/publication.asp? Military Construction • Modernized the Army • Chariots and Horses • The Horses Were Imported from Egypt • Defensive fortifications and Garrisons – the 12 governors were responsible to provision the army based in their territory • Built a Wall Around Jerusalem • Rebuilding Canaanite Cites • Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer • Constructed Garrisons in Syria • All the Store Cities in Hamath • Hamth-Zobah • Tadmor (Palmyra) Construction
Artists rendition of the First Beis Hamikdash Public Buildings • The Beis Hamikdash • Built lavishly with the help of Hiram of Tyre • As well as Hiram a coppersmith to work with the Bronze • To have hewn stone foundation and overlaid wood frame • The Royal Palace • Pillared House lavishly described • Who Would Do the Work • The construction shows that there was an abundance of wealth in the country • However, it became impossible to pay for the work necessary • The Navi tells us that the solution was a corvee or forced labor tax • In one place it says that it was only on non-Jews in another it says both Jews and non-Jews the mepharshim explain that the Jews were the overseers not laborers but still resented the tax Construction
The Navi’s Description of Solomon's Last Years Erich Lessing The Bubastite Portal. In the fifth year of the reign of Rehoboam, “King Shishak of Egypt … took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 12:2–4). Scenes depicting the military exploits of Pharaoh Sheshonk I (c. 945–924 B.C.E.)—biblical Shishak—decorate a doorway in the forecourt of the Great Temple of Amun at Karnak, in Thebes. Horn, Siegfried H., McCarter, P. Kyle, Jr. “The Divided Monarchy: The Kingdoms of Judah and Israel.” Ancient Israel, 1999, 129-199, 319-334 • Turned Away from Hashem • Too many horses • Too many wives who caused him to worship ע"ז the גמ' explains that Solomon did not worship ע"ז but since he did no properly stop his foreign wives from worshiping it is written as if Solomon himself worshiped ע"ז • Jeroboam was one of Solomon’s govoners over the area of Joseph He rebuked Solomon for"בָּנָה אֶת הַמִּלּוֹא סָגַר אֶת פֶּרֶץ עִיר דָּוִד אָבִיו" There is a Disagreement as to what it means • It could mean that he put up barriers between the people and the King • Or he destroyed a large empty space for the palace of Pharaoh’s daughter • After the rebuke Solomon wanted to Jeroboam for his rebellion but Jeroboam ran to Egypt • New Dynasty in Egypt Shishak was the new Pharaoh and was not friendly to Solomon Solomon’s Later years
Solomon’s Reign • Many of the cites and fortified villages were built around this time • The period had an economic boom and the beginning of a more urban society • Peace and internal stability gave rise to increased trade and prosperity • There was more emphasis on developing craftsmen , merchants, and administrator of the Royal Army • There were more luxury goods on the market and at a cheaper price • Such as precious stones • Higher quality pottery • Due to the wealth and ease of living the population probably doubled over the course of David and Solomon’s Reign • Religion became centralized at the Beis Hamikdash in Jerusalem • This was new and different to the other tribes who had been used to having the Mishkan at Shiloh of for the last 50 years in Nov and Givon when Bamos were permitted • The Monarchy was stronger and the aristocracy did not wield much control but the people in the lower end of society were not completely satisfied with their position Summary
Split of the Kingdom Jeroboam’s New Alters Prophesy of Iddo Prophecy of Ahijah The War with Shishak Rehoboam and Jeroboam
Crisis • Ahija Hashiloni • Had anointed Jeroboam as the man who would split the kingdom • He did this during Solomon’s lifetime but he would not rule until the reign of Rehaboam • Jeroboam had potential • The meeting at Shechem • Went to Shcem to project power over the people • Advice of the Younger Advisors • Advice of the Older Advisors • Jeroboam • Returned from Egypt to be the spokesman of the rebellion Division of the kingdom
Different Reactions • When Shishak invaded in the 5th year of Rehaboam’s reign • Rehaboam paid a large tribute • He gave over the golden shields that his father had placed in the Beis Hamikdsh and gave them to Shishak • Jeroboam’s reaction is not mentioned the Navi but the inscription on the temple of Karnak tells us that Shishak destroyed many of the North’s cities Shishak’s Invasion
New Religion? hoto by David Harris/Collection Israel Museum This molten calf was discovered by chance on a high ridge near Mt. Ebal, in northern Samaria. Subsequent excavations revealed what the excavator, Amihai Mazar, identified as a hilltop cult site—a biblical bamah, or “high place”—dating to the 12th century B.C.E., when Israel was emerging in Canaan. Measuring 5 inches tall by 7 inches long, this bronze is the largest figurine of a calf ever found in the Levant. Its empty eyesockets probably once held inlays of glass or semiprecious stones. The small hump on its back, above the forelegs, identifies this as a Zebu bull (Bos indicus), a species that originated in India but was present in the Near East as early as the fourth millennium B.C.E. Hurowitz, Victor. “The Golden Calf.” Bible Review, Apr 2004, 28-32, 47 • In order to prevent the people from returning to Jerusalem and delegitimize his own kingdom • Jeroboam made two temples one in Dan on in Bethel • At them people worshiped Golden Claves • Jeroboam had two sons Nadab and Abihu like Aaron to give the religion legitimacy • He moved Sukkos from Tishrei to MarCheshvan • Should not be understood as a new religion rather a return to older traditions that started after Matan Torah but and were still in the culture of those who were worshiping ע"ז in Israel weather Jew or non-Jew • Dan was already the center for Pesel Micha • He never repudiated his belief in Hashem and the calves were ways of worshiping Hashem • This is typical Syncretistic Worship Jeroboam’s Claves
From the Split the Two Kingdoms were at War • Rehaboam builds fortresses along the Egyptian border • Abijam (son of Rehaboam) defeated Jerobaoam in battle on • דברי הימים ב פרק יג • וַיִּרְדֹּף אֲבִיָּה אַחֲרֵי יָרָבְעָם וַיִּלְכֹּד מִמֶּנּוּ עָרִים אֶת בֵּית אֵל וְאֶת בְּנוֹתֶיהָ וְאֶת יְשָׁנָה וְאֶת בְּנוֹתֶיהָ וְאֶת עפרון עֶפְרַיִן וּבְנֹתֶיהָ: • Nadab son of Jeroboam was assassinated by Baasha one of his senior officers while Israel was at war against the Philistines at Gibbethon • The Navi does not elaborate but it seems likely that he was because of the military weakness of the state of Israel brought about by Shishak’s invasion that Israel was not able to hold on to important cities such as Bethel and was under threat by the Philistines War Between the States
War Between the States • Killed the rest of Jeroboam’s family to allow him uncontested rule • Established a new capital in Tirzah • The Navi tells us that there was constant warfare with Judah against Asa the Tzadik king of Judah • Asa sent a bribe to Ben-Hadad and asked him to inviate Israel which he did which allowed Asa and Judah to attack Israel’s south Baasha and Asa
