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Revision as of 03:30, 10 May 2005
The Kingdom of Israel (Hebrew מַלְכוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל, Standard Hebrew Malḫut Yisraʾel, Tiberian Hebrew Malḵûṯ Yiśrāʾēl) according to the Bible, was the Kingdom proclaimed by the Israeli nation around 1021 BCE. The nation itself was formed back in 1312 BCE as the Israelites left Egypt during the Exodus.
United Monarchy
The existence of the United Monarchy is disputed by modern historians. This section describes the account given in the Old Testament.
Around 1050 BCE, the twelve tribes of Israel united to form the Kingdom of Israel. Saul was the first King of Israel. He unified the tribes under a single Israelite authority, but, according to the Torah, due to his disobedience to God, he ruled for only two years.
David, the second King of Israel, established Jerusalem as Israel's national capital 3,000 years ago. Before then, Shilo had been capital of Israel.
David succeeded in truly unifying the Hebrew tribes, and set up a monarchical government. He embarked on successful military campaigns against Israel's enemies, and defeated bitter foes such as the Phillistines, thus creating secure borders for Israel. David built up an established centralised government in Jerusalem, a standing army, judiciaries across the land, and a sophisticated infrastructure.
Under King David, Israel grew from Kingdom to Empire, and its sphere of influence - militarily and politically - in the Middle East expanded greatly, controlling a number of weaker client states around it.
The third King of Israel, Shlomo, (meaning "one who peace is his" in Hebrew) or "Solomon" in English, was portrayed as a wise leader in the Torah. Solomon constructed the First Temple in Jerusalem. His reign was a time of peace for Israel.
Following Solomon's death, tensions between the northern part of Israel containing the ten northern tribes, and the southern section dominated by Jerusalem and the southern tribes reached a boiling point, and in 920 BCE, Israel split into two kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. See also History of ancient Israel and Judah.
Soon after the death of Solomon, the prophecy of Ahijah (1 Kings 11:31-35) was fulfilled with the division of the kingdom. Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, was scarcely seated on his throne when the old jealousies between Judah and the other tribes broke out anew, and Jeroboam was sent for from Egypt by the malcontents (12:2,3).
Rehoboam insolently refused to lighten the burdensome taxation and services which his father had imposed on his subjects (12:4), and the rebellion became complete. The Tribe of Ephraim and all Israel raised the old cry, "Every man to his tents, O Israel" (2 Samuel 20:1). Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:1-18; 2 Chronicles 10), and Jeroboam was proclaimed king over all Israel at Shechem, with the Tribe of Judah and the Tribe of Benjamin remaining faithful to Rehoboam. War continued, with varying success, between the two kingdoms for about sixty years, till Jehoshaphat allied himself with the house of Ahab by marrying his daughter Athaliah. The sons of Ahab were slaughtered by Jehu following his Coup d'état.
Extent of the Kingdom
The area of Solomon's kingdom, excluding the Phoenician territories on the shore of the Mediterranean, did not much exceed 34,000 km² (13,000 square miles). The kingdom of Israel encompassed about 24,000 km² (9,375 square miles). Shechem was the first capital of this kingdom (1 Kings 12:25), afterwards Tirza (14:17). Samaria was subsequently chosen as the capital (16:24), and continued to be so till the destruction of the kingdom by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:5). During the siege of Samaria (which lasted for three years) by the Assyrians, Shalmaneser V died and was succeeded by Sargon II of Assyria, who himself thus records the capture of that city: "Samaria I looked at, I captured; 27,280 men who dwelt in it I carried away" (2 Kings 17:6) into Assyria. Thus after a duration of two hundred and fifty-three years the kingdom of the ten tribes came to an end. They were scattered throughout the East, and are known as the Lost ten tribes of Israel.
" Judah held its ground against Assyria for yet one hundred and twenty-three years, and became the rallying-point of the dispersed of every tribe, and eventually gave its name to the whole race. Those of the people who in the last struggle escaped into the territories of Judah or other neighbouring countries naturally looked to Judah as the head and home of their race. And when Judah itself was carried off to Babylon, many of the exiled Israelites joined them from Assyria, and swelled that immense population which made Babylonia a second Judah".
After the deportation of the ten tribes, the deserted land was colonized by various eastern tribes, whom the king of Assyria sent thither (Ezra 4:2, 10; 2 Kings 17:24-29).
The Kings of Israel
For this period, most historians follow either the chronology established by William F. Albright or Edwin R. Thiele, both of which are shown below. All dates are BCE.
| Albright dates | Thiele dates | Common/Biblical name | Regnal Name and style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The House of Saul | ||||
| c.1021–1000 | Saul | שאול בן-קיש מלך ישראל Shaul ben Qysh, Melek Ysr’al |
Killed in battle | |
| c.1000 | Ish-boseth (Ishbaal) |
איש-בשת בן-שאול מלך ישראל Ish-boshet ben Shaul, Melek Ysr’al |
Assassinated | |
The House of David | ||||
| c.1000–962 | David | דוד בן-ישי מלך ישראל Daud ben Yeshy, Melekh Ysr’al |
Son-in-law of Saul, brother-in-law of Ish-boseth | |
| c.962–c.922 | Solomon | שלמה בן-דוד מלך ישראל Shelomoh ben David, Melekh Ysr’al |
Son of David by Bathsheba, his rights of succession were disputed by his older half-brother Adonijah | |
| c.922 | Rehoboam | רחבעם בן-שלמה מלך ישראל Rehovam ben Shelomoh, Melek Ysr’al |
Became king of Judah | |
| Israel was divided into northern (Israel) and southern (Judah) kingdoms | ||||
The House of Jeroboam | ||||
| 922–901 | 931–910 | Jeroboam I | ירבעם בן-נבט מלך ישראל Yeroboam ben Nebat, Melek Ysr’al |
|
| 901–900 | 910–909 | Nadab | נדב בן-ירבעם מלך ישראל Nadab ben Yeroboam, Melek Ysr’al |
Assassinated |
The House of Baasha | ||||
| 900–877 | 909–886 | Baasha | בעשא בן-אחיה מלך ישראל Baasa ben Achiy’a, Melek Ysr’al |
|
| 877–876 | 886–885 | Elah | אלה בן-בעשא מלך ישראל ’Alah ben Baasa, Melek Ysr’al |
Assassinated |
The House of Zimri | ||||
| 876 | 885 | Zimri | זמרי מלך ישראל Zimry, Melek Ysr’al |
Servant of Elah, ruled for 7 days |
The House of Omri | ||||
| 876–869 | 885–874 | Omri | עמרי מלך ישראל Omry, Melek Ysr’al |
Captain of the Hosts. "Khumri" in some foreign records, founder of a new dynasty. |
| 869–850 | 874–853 | Ahab | אחאב בן-עמרי מלך ישראל ’Ach’ab ben Omry, Melek Ysr’al |
Sent troops against the Assyrians in the Battle of Karkar, 853; killed in siege |
| 850–849 | 853–852 | Ahaziah | אחזיהו בן-אחאב מלך ישראל ’Achazyhu ben ’Ach’ab, Melek Ysr’al |
|
| 849–842 | 852–841 | Joram | יורם בן-אחאב מלך ישראל Yoram ben ’Ach’ab, Melek Ysr’al |
Assassinated |
The House of Jehu | ||||
| 842–815 | 841–814 | Jehu | יהוא בן-נמשי מלך ישראל Yehu’a ben Nimshi, Melek Ysr’al |
See Note 1 |
| 815–801 | 814–798 | Jehoahaz | יהואחז בן-יהוא מלך ישראל Yeho’achaz ben Yehu’a, Melek Ysr’al |
|
| 801–786 | 798–782 | Jehoash (Joash) |
יואש בן-יואחז מלך ישראל Yeho’ash ben Yeho’achaz, Melek Ysr’al |
Jehoash paid tribute to King Adad-nirari III of Assyria (810–783). |
| 786–746 | 782–753 | Jeroboam II | ירבעם בן-יואש מלך ישראל Yeroboam ben Yeho’ash, Melek Ysr’al |
Israel at the height of its power |
| 746 | 753 | Zachariah | זכריה בן-ירבעם מלך ישראל Zachariah ben Yeroboam, Melek Ysr’al |
Assassinated |
The House of Jabesh | ||||
| 745 | 752 | Shallum | שלם בן-יבש מלך ישראל Shallum ben Yabesh, Melek Ysr’al |
|
The Last Houses of Israel | ||||
| 745–738 | 752–742 | Menahem | מנחם בן-גדי מלך ישראל Menochem ben Gady, Melek Ysr’al |
|
| 738–737 | 742–740 | Pekahiah | פקחיה בן-מנחם מלך ישראל Pekahyah ben Menahem, Melek Ysr’al |
Assassinated |
| 737–732 | 740–732 | Pekah | פקח בן-רמליהו מלך ישראל Pekah ben Ramalyhu, Melek Ysr’al |
Assassinated |
| 732–722 | 732–722 | Hoshea | הושע בן-אלה מלך ישראל Hoshe ben ’Alah, Melek Ysr’al |
Deposed. See Note 2 |
Notes
1. Jehu: Considered by Theiele to be a contemporary of the Assyrian King Shalmaneser III (858–824) to whom he paid tribute to him. This is based on an inscription on The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III which says that Jehu son of Omri paid tribute. This dating is opposed by some because it disagrees with an earlier date required by a stricter reading of the biblical record. The dissenting scholars point out that all Israelite kings were called "son of Omri" whether they were of the Omrite dynasty or not, that the date of the inscription is in question, and that Assyrian kings frequently "stole" accomplishments from their predecessors to increase their own glory in the eyes of history. The obelisk is the earliest depiction of an Israelite in ancient history.
2. Hoshea: Paid tribute to the Assyrian King Shalmaneser V (727–722) but rebelled in 725. Shalmaneser besieged the capital, Samaria, but died shortly before the fall of the city. His brother Sargon II (722–705) completed the siege with success in 722, making Judah the sole Hebrew kingdom. The ten tribes were exiled to other parts of the Assyrian Empire and never heard from again. A small group of people fled south to assimilate into Judah.