Monarchy Period
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Transcript of 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