King David and Solomon FINAL

"And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him" (2 Samuel 5:10)

• David made the old Canaanite fortress of Jerusalem his capital, a politically neutral site
• He moved the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, making it a strong political and religious center to enhance national unity

David made the old Canaanite fortress of Jerusalem his Capital

• David wants to build a Temple but Yahweh refuses; he will build a house or dynasty that will last forever instead.
• This covenant is one of four major covenants in the Old Testament; Unlike the general covenant of Sinai, this was linked to a particular dynasty
• After exile, revised to expectation for Messiah or messianic kingdom

A vivid, first hand account of the intrigues of David's Court

• His personal failures and family troubles foreshadow the civil war that will split his kingdom
• David spies Bathsheeba.
• David is confronted by the Prophet Nathan

• David confesses his sin, but it does not remove the consequences of his disobedience
• His affairs set off a chain reaction of troubles in his house and kingdom (Amnon rapes Tamar, Absalom murders Amnon, and Absalom leads civil war)
• The turmoil will not end until David's united kingdom is divided at the death of Solom

• The king's power is not absolute
• He is answerable to God

A psalm of David when the prophet Nathan came to him, after David had gone into Bathsheba

• There is intrigue, murder, and rebellion among his sons
• He ends up as a pathetic, old man, unable to get warm, even though a young concubine shares his bed

King David is succeeded by Bathsheba's second son, Solomon

• Instead of wealth and riches, Solomon prays for wisdom
• Two prostitutes dispute death of a son
• Associated with the Wisdom literature (Proverbs and Song of Solomon)
• Queen of Sheba came 1,500 miles (perhaps from modern Yemen) to meet him

Through heavy taxation and trade, he made Israel a world power

• Built great temple to Yahweh as a symbol of his wealth and devotion
• The temple hallowed God's name but could not contain God's glory

700 Wives and 300 Concubines turned his heart away from the Lord

• Excessive Taxation
• Forced Labor: Embodied the best of the kingship through great accomplishments and the worst with a great cost

At Solomon's death, the northern 10 tribes rebelled under Jeroboam and became Israel

Benjamin and Judah, remained under Solomon's son, Rehoboam, and became Judah

• After the Civil War, 1 and 2 Kings records the reigns of the two kingdoms
• Most receive a failing grade from the Deuteronomistic Historian
• 3.5 centuries of judgment and decline lead to the fall of both Israel and Judah