11.6 The Lives of David and Solomon: Kings of Israel
After their travels in the wilderness, the Israelites settled once more in Canaan. The Hebrew Bible describes how they built a kingdom, called Israel, and the great First Temple during the reigns of two kings, David and Solomon.
David Expands the Kingdom of Israel
In David’s time, about 1000 B.C.E., the Israelites were at war with a rival people, the Philistines (FIH-lih-steenz). According to the Hebrew Bible, the Philistines promised to be the Israelites’ slaves if an Israelite could beat their fiercest warrior, the giant Goliath (guh-LIE-uhth).
As it is told in the Hebrew Bible, David was not yet a grown man, but he was outraged at Goliath’s mockery of God. Bravely, he stepped forward. His only weapon was a slingshot. With one mighty throw, he felled Goliath with a stone.
David’s courage and faith were rewarded when he became king of the Israelites after the first king, Saul, fell in battle. According to the Hebrew Bible, God said, “The Israelite kingdom will remain with him and with his children and his children’s children forever.”
As king, David completed the defeat of the Philistines as well as other enemies. He united the Israelites into a single nation known as Israel. He created a strong central government. He gave the new kingdom its own army, courts, and officials. David himself served as the nation’s chief priest. He was also a poet and a musician. Many of the Psalms in the Writings in the Hebrew Bible are attributed to David.
David chose Jerusalem as the capital city. Under his rule, this city became the center of Israel’s political and religious life. David brought the Israelites’ most sacred object, the Ark of the Covenant, to Jerusalem. The Ark was a wood and gold chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments. As the home of the Ark, Jerusalem became a holy city.
Solomon Builds the Great Temple of Jerusalem
After David’s death, his son, Solomon, became king about 965 B.C.E. Solomon built a magnificent temple in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant and to serve as the center of Jewish worship. According to the Hebrew Bible, he told God, “Thus all the peoples of the earth will know Your name.”
Building the First Temple in Jerusalem was King-Solomon’s major achievement. He also strengthened the kingdom of Israel by making treaties with neighboring kingdoms. And he increased foreign trade and developed industries such as copper mining and metal working. Solomon was also a poet. The Book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in the Writings in the Hebrew Bible are attributed to him.
Kings David and Solomon made major contributions to Judaism. They laid the foundation for kings to govern the Jews for more than 400 years. David established Jerusalem as a holy city. Solomon built the great First Temple of Jerusalem. Because of the acts of David and Solomon, Jerusalem would always be the most holy city to the Jews, as well as a powerful symbol of their faith.
David Expands the Kingdom of Israel
In David’s time, about 1000 B.C.E., the Israelites were at war with a rival people, the Philistines (FIH-lih-steenz). According to the Hebrew Bible, the Philistines promised to be the Israelites’ slaves if an Israelite could beat their fiercest warrior, the giant Goliath (guh-LIE-uhth).
As it is told in the Hebrew Bible, David was not yet a grown man, but he was outraged at Goliath’s mockery of God. Bravely, he stepped forward. His only weapon was a slingshot. With one mighty throw, he felled Goliath with a stone.
David’s courage and faith were rewarded when he became king of the Israelites after the first king, Saul, fell in battle. According to the Hebrew Bible, God said, “The Israelite kingdom will remain with him and with his children and his children’s children forever.”
As king, David completed the defeat of the Philistines as well as other enemies. He united the Israelites into a single nation known as Israel. He created a strong central government. He gave the new kingdom its own army, courts, and officials. David himself served as the nation’s chief priest. He was also a poet and a musician. Many of the Psalms in the Writings in the Hebrew Bible are attributed to David.
David chose Jerusalem as the capital city. Under his rule, this city became the center of Israel’s political and religious life. David brought the Israelites’ most sacred object, the Ark of the Covenant, to Jerusalem. The Ark was a wood and gold chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments. As the home of the Ark, Jerusalem became a holy city.
Solomon Builds the Great Temple of Jerusalem
After David’s death, his son, Solomon, became king about 965 B.C.E. Solomon built a magnificent temple in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant and to serve as the center of Jewish worship. According to the Hebrew Bible, he told God, “Thus all the peoples of the earth will know Your name.”
Building the First Temple in Jerusalem was King-Solomon’s major achievement. He also strengthened the kingdom of Israel by making treaties with neighboring kingdoms. And he increased foreign trade and developed industries such as copper mining and metal working. Solomon was also a poet. The Book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in the Writings in the Hebrew Bible are attributed to him.
Kings David and Solomon made major contributions to Judaism. They laid the foundation for kings to govern the Jews for more than 400 years. David established Jerusalem as a holy city. Solomon built the great First Temple of Jerusalem. Because of the acts of David and Solomon, Jerusalem would always be the most holy city to the Jews, as well as a powerful symbol of their faith.
Socrative Questions
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Use the Room Name: MRCASERTANO
Answer the questions that correspond with the above reading!
Use the Room Name: MRCASERTANO
Answer the questions that correspond with the above reading!