DAVID AND HIS KINGDOM

Death of Saul & rise of David completed transition from judgeship to monarchy. Book of 2 Samuel marks this transition. 2 Sam. 1: 1-16 – David greets news of Saul’s death w/ anger at the messenger, who claimed to have killed Saul. David has him executed because he killed “the Lord’s anointed.” 2 Sam. 2: 1-11 – David officially becomes king of Judah (south); Israel (north) under brief reign of Saul’s son Isbosheth/Isbaal.

SOME OF DAVID’S NOTABLE ACTS: Relocating capital of Israel to Jerusalem 2 Sam. 5: 1-10 – David becomes king of all Israel. Moved capital of kingdom from Hebron to Jerusalem Smart move – Jerusalem was bypassed at time of conquest & was not “claimed” by any tribe. A “neutral” site that didn’t show favoritism for north or south or any particular tribe. Jerusalem came to be known as “the city of David”

Oxford Annotated Bible, pg. 453

SOME OF DAVID’S NOTABLE ACTS: 2. Bringing the Ark to Jerusalem 2 Sam. 6:1-23 – David was determined to bring the Ark to reside in Jerusalem. Brought it from confederate sanctuary of Shiloh to “tent-shrine” in Jerusalem. David donned the robe (& garb) of a priest and danced before it as it entered the city

SOME OF DAVID’S NOTABLE ACTS: 3. Centrality of Power throughout Israel A result of the first two – moving capital to Jerusalem & bringing Ark to Jerusalem. Royal Theology – view that Yahweh had made a special covenant with David, promising to establish David’s throne through all generations.

SOME OF DAVID’S NOTABLE ACTS: 4. NOT building the temple (and that’s OK) 2 Sam. 7: 1-29 – David wanted to build a permanent temple to Yahweh. God told David’s prophet & spiritual advisor Nathan that now wasn’t the time & that time would belong to David’s son Solomon. David was fine with this and praised God.

SOME OF DAVID’S NOTABLE ACTS: 5. Great military success 2 Sam. 8: 1-18 – David decisively defeated Philistines, arch nemesis of Saul’s reign. They never surface again as enemies of Israel. Israel controlled more land under David’s rule than at any other point in its history.

SOME OF DAVID’S TROUBLES: 1. David & Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:1-12:15) Bathsheba becomes pregnant by David. David calls her husband Uriah home from battle. Encourages him to go home and “wash his feet.” ??? (vs. 8) Uriah refused to break rules of sexual abstinence for soldiers during holy war. David had Uriah sent to the front lines to be killed – then he married Bathsheba.

SOME OF DAVID’S TROUBLES: https://www.pbs.org/video/empires-kingdom-of-david-rivers-of-babylon/, 37:00 – 40:21

SOME OF DAVID’S TROUBLES: 1. David & Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:1-12:15) 2 Sam. 12: 1-15 – Nathan confronts David with a parable that implicates him. Famous line in vs. 7 – “You are the man!” This event seemed to be the genesis of David’s other troubles – the son of Bathsheba was born ill and died soon after.

SOME OF DAVID’S TROUBLES: 2. Trouble in the House (2 Sam. 13: 1-39) David seemed to have trouble controlling his children. Story of Amnon raping Tamar, his half-sister. Absalom, one of David’s sons and Tamar’s full brother, had Amnon killed.

SOME OF DAVID’S TROUBLES: Absalom, Absalom! Absalom did a lot to undermine his father. Told people privately that he would serve them better if he were king. 2 Sam. 15: 7-12 – After four years, Absalom gathered followers at Hebron & proclaimed himself king. Rather than fight his son, David fled Jerusalem, but still kept in touch with what was going on back home.

SOME OF DAVID’S TROUBLES: Absalom, Absalom! 2 Sam. 17:24-19:8 – David eventually fought Absalom to regain his kingdom. David asked those on the front lines to “deal gently” with Absalom. In the chase, Absalom caught in tree branches & left hanging for dead. When David hears the news, he weeps bitterly. See vss. 18:33b. Similar mourning for Saul in 1:11-27

EVALUATION OF DAVID: Ranked with Moses in his importance to the Israelite history because he took a disorganized people & transformed them into a powerful nation. Dramatically changed face of Israel forever. People were no longer bound together by covenant allegiance (to Yahweh), but bound together politically by contract between people and their king.

EVALUATION OF DAVID: Three areas of David’s influence: Established Jerusalem as capital city – centralization of God’s people in a geographic location along with Ark. Established monarchy, “House of David.” Lasted 400 years but influence felt much longer. Left significant mark on poetic literature of the day through numerous psalms he wrote. Very musical guy.

SOLOMON

1 & 2 Kings tell full story of Davidic Dynasty, beginning with death of David & rise of his son Solomon. “Unlike Saul & David, Solomon’s claim to leadership was based not on ‘charisma’ (God’s spirit) but solely on his birth & political influence..”

THE OLD ORDER PASSES (1 Kings 1:1-2:12) David not able to serve as king due to old age. Adonijah, David’s oldest surviving son, vies for throne. Nathan & Bathsheba conspire to force David to name Solomon his replacement. Once David dies, Solomon moves to consolidate power & get rid of rivals: Adonijah – had him put to death (2:24) Abiathar the priest – exiled to north (2:27) Joab, David’s military leader who supported Adonijah – had him killed while hiding out in temple

MAIN THINGS SOLOMON KNOWN FOR WISDOM AND RICHES 1 Kings 3:1-15 – Solomon prayed to God & asked for wisdom to govern God’s people rather than riches. This pleased God, so God gave Solomon both. 1 Kings 10: 1-10 – Word of his wisdom spread outside Israelite nation & caused him to gain celebrity status. Queen of Sheba came from North Africa to marvel at his wisdom

MAIN THINGS SOLOMON KNOWN FOR WISDOM AND RICHES (read) 1 Kings 3: 16-28 – Famous story of Solomon’s wisdom with two women who claimed the same child. What does he propose to do? vs. 28 – word of his wisdom spreads all over Israel. Solomon regarded as the patron of Israel’s wisdom movement

MAIN THINGS SOLOMON KNOWN FOR BUILDING THE TEMPLE (1 Kings 5-8) Fulfilling command to build temple that was given to David, although David was instructed not to be the one to actually build it. 1 Kings 5:1-8 – Preparations for building the temple. Solomon tapped into many of his father’s allies to get the needed supplies.

MAIN THINGS SOLOMON KNOWN FOR BUILDING THE TEMPLE (1 Kings 5-8) Took seven years to build. Of all Solomon’s building projects, this one was the most important. Interesting fact – temple designed by Phoenician (Canaanite) architects & bore little resemblance to Israel’s Mosaic heritage. Ark of the Covenant was the only true “point of contact” with Hebrew history & tradition.

OUTSIDE VIEW FROM FRONT

ALTAR ->

Altar – where congregation gathered Holy of Holies – “Meeting place” between God & humanity

SEEDS OF SOLOMON’S DOWNFALL (1 Kings 9:15-23, 11:1-43) Forced labor for all the building projects: Enslaved many Israelites, which sowed seeds of social unrest. Extremely large harem – mostly as a status symbol. 700 wives and 300 concubines Tolerance of foreign gods – brought about mostly by vast diversity of women in his harem

SEEDS OF SOLOMON’S DOWNFALL (1 Kings 9:15-23, 11:1-43) 11: 26-40 – the prophet Ahijah tore Jeroboam’s cloak into twelve pieces to symbol the fracturing of the one kingdom under Solomon. He gave ten pieces to Jeroboam, who was from the north, telling him he would be the leader of the ten tribes, leaving only two to Solomon’s house.

CONTRAST OF DAVID & SOLOMON: Began as shepherd Came to throne after leading tough life of warrior Remained loyal to traditions of Tribal Confederacy even as he organized Israel into monarchy Never perceived as being cut off from the people he served.

CONTRAST OF DAVID & SOLOMON: “Born to the purple” Never knew anything but sheltered, extravagant life of palace. Ruled with absolute power Cared little about sacred & social institutions of Tribal Confederacy Very cut off & removed from people