THE UNITED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL 1030 BC(?) – 931 BC

DAVID’S REIGN Anointed “king” soon after Saul began to rule After Saul’s death, named king of Judah (south) After the death of Saul’s son Ishbosheth, David was named king of Israel (north), uniting north and south Chose Jerusalem as his capital Began a series of military conquests Centralized the government Reign characterized by moral, domestic and foreign crises Received divine promises (2Sm.7)

DAVID AS KING OF THE SOUTH David anointed king of Judah (south) (2 Sam.2) Saul’s son Ishbosheth placed on the throne of the north by Abner, Saul’s general Civil war between north and south (2 Sam 3) Abner decided to defect to David but was killed by David’s general, Joab Without Abner, Ishbosheth had no support and was assassinated by two generals who were subsequently executed by David (2 Sam 4) The leaders of the north came to David to make him king (2 Sam.5) David now reigned as king of all Israel

DAVID AS KING OF ISRAEL Took control of Jerusalem and brought the ark and tabernacle into the city Wanted to build a temple but was prohibited Received divine promises of an eternal kingdom (2 Sam 7) Committed atrocious sins and crimes (2 Sam11) Adultery with Bathsheba Murder of Urriah Suffered rebellions even within his own family Absalom – David was forced to flee Jerusalem (2Sam 14-19) Sheba – from the north (2Sam 20) Adonijah – David named Solomon as successor (1 Kings 1)

HEBREW POETRY Characteristics Figurative language – similes and metaphors Parallelism – poetic form that seeks to balance thought Appeals to the emotions

PARALLELISM Robert Lowth Parallelism is “that phenomenon whereby two or more successive poetic lines strengthen, reinforce, and develop each other’s thought . . . the follow-up lines further define, specify, expand, intensify, or contrast the first.” Robert Lowth The Promise and the Blessing, p. 235.

TYPES OF PSALMS Hymns (8, 96) Laments (3-7) Didactic (1, 119)

SOLOMON’S REIGN After David died, he consolidated his reign by killing or exiling his enemies Prolific writer-Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon Domestic policies – Built the temple, a palace, and fortified cities Used forced labor Created a bureaucracy and imposed taxes International policies – A peaceful reign (except at the end) Forged alliances by marriages Developed a vigorous international trade Marked by apostasy in his later years

SOLOMON’S WISDOM Attested by his decisions Recognized by others A wise request (1 Kings 3:1-15) A wise ruling (1 Kings 3:16-28) Recognized by others The biblical witness (1 Kings 4:29-34) Literary legacy (Proverbs and Ecclesiastes) The Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10)

SOLOMON’S LITERARY LEGACY

PROVERBS Attributed to Solomon (1 Kgs.4:32) and others Called wisdom literature due to its content A collection of short sayings and passages that teach one how to life a successful life. Key themes: The basis of wisdom: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (9:10) The accessibility of wisdom (8) The benefits of obtaining wisdom “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding”. (3:13) The difference between the fool and the wise “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” (12:15) The need for instruction for life

Ecclesiastes Perhaps written at the end of Solomon’s life Describes the futility of many things in life, including the pursuit of wisdom Concludes that apart from God, life really has no meaning: “Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”(Ecl. 12:13) Song of Songs Perhaps a collection of wedding songs Speaks of the mysteries of human love Describes the endurance of true love: “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” (Song 8:7)