50 Questions
What is the concluding book of the Deuteronomistic history?
Book of Kings
The Books of Kings were written to provide a theological explanation for the destruction of which kingdom?
Kingdom of Judah
The two books of Kings present a history of ancient Israel and Judah from the death of which king?
King David
Scholars tend to treat the two books of Kings as consisting of a first edition from the late 7th century BCE and a second edition from the mid-6th century BCE. What is the approximate time span between these editions?
200 years
According to the Jerusalem Bible, into how many sections are the two Books of Kings divided?
Eight sections
Which section of the Books of Kings covers 'The Elijah cycle'?
1 Kings 17:1 – 2 Kings 1:18
Which period is covered in the section 'The two kingdoms to the fall of Samaria' in the Books of Kings?
2 Kings 14:1–17:41
What period does the Book of Kings cover from the death of King David to the release of Jehoiachin from imprisonment in Babylon?
400 years
Who tore his cloak into twelve parts and gave ten of them to Jeroboam?
Ahijah the Shilonite
What did Jeroboam do when Rehoboam declared he would treat the people worse?
Proclaimed himself king
What did Jeroboam do to prevent his tribes from defecting to the House of David?
Set up golden calves at altars at Bethel and Dan
Who prophesied the end of the House of Jeroboam?
Ahijah
Who succeeded Jeroboam?
Nadab
What did Jeroboam's wife do when his son Abijah became ill?
Went to Ahijah in disguise
What did Jeroboam do when a prophet announced the birth of a Davidic king named Josiah?
Seized the prophet
What prevented Rehoboam from amassing an army to attack the north?
The prophet Shemaiah
What did the Israelites do when Rehoboam sent a new minister of forced labour named Adoniram?
Stoned him to death
Who attempted to claim the throne with the support of Joab and Abiathar?
Adonijah
Who was anointed as king, causing Adonijah to fear for his life?
Solomon
Who was punished by Solomon for their support of Adonijah?
Adonijah and Abiathar
Who did Solomon replace with Benaiah?
Joab
Who did Solomon order to stay in Jerusalem and later put to death for leaving the city?
Shimei
With which country did Solomon make an alliance and marry the Pharaoh's daughter?
Egypt
What did Solomon ask for in a dream and was granted by God?
Wisdom
How many wives and concubines did Solomon amass?
700 wives and 300 concubines
What is the approximate time period when David probably lived?
c. 1000 BCE
What is the meaning of the phrase 'bytdwd' (𐤁𐤉𐤕𐤃𐤅𐤃) found on the Tel Dan stele?
House of David
What is known about David's life outside of biblical literature?
Little detail that is concrete and undisputed
What event led to David going into hiding?
Saul's suspicion of David trying to take his throne
What did David become famous for in the biblical narrative of the Books of Samuel?
Killing Goliath
What is the significance of the Mesha stele in relation to David?
It may also refer to the 'House of David'
According to Jewish works, when did David ascend the throne as the king of Judah?
885 BCE
What is the meaning of David's name in Biblical Hebrew?
Beloved one
Where does David take refuge after leaving the city of Keilah?
The mountainous Wilderness of Ziph
Who advises David to take the opportunity to kill Saul, but David declines?
Abishai
Where does David go to seek sanctuary when he begins to doubt Saul's sincerity?
Philistia
To whom does David appeal for sanctuary when he doubts Saul's sincerity?
King Achish of Gath
Where does David reside with permission from Achish, close to the border between Philistia and Judah?
Ziklag
Who does David raid to ingratiate himself with Achish and the Philistines?
The Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites
Who comes to believe that David had become a loyal vassal to Achish?
Achish
Who instructs David to raid the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites?
Achish
Where does David and his men raid, but lead the royal court to believe they are attacking the Israelites, the Jerahmeelites, and the Kenites?
Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites
Where did David bring the Ark of the Covenant?
Jerusalem
Who attempted to overthrow David?
Absalom
Why was David denied the opportunity to build a temple to Yahweh?
Due to the bloodshed in his reign
Who was chosen as David's successor over his eldest son Adonijah?
Solomon
In what Jewish prophetic literature is David honored as an ideal king and forefather of the Hebrew Messiah?
Jewish prophetic literature
How is David represented in post-biblical Jewish tradition?
Richly
How did early Christians interpret Jesus' life in relation to David?
As directly descended from David
In the Quran and hadith, how is David described?
As an Israelite king and a prophet of Allah
Study Notes
The Last Years of the Kingdom of Judah
- Adonijah, David's fourth son, attempts to claim the throne with the support of Joab and Abiathar, but is thwarted by Nathan and Bathsheba.
- Solomon is anointed as king, causing Adonijah to fear for his life and seek sanctuary.
- Solomon punishes Adonijah and Abiathar for their support of Adonijah, fulfilling a prophecy made to Eli in 1 Samuel.
- Solomon replaces Joab with Benaiah and Abiathar with Zadok, consolidating his power.
- Solomon orders Shimei, who cursed David, to stay in Jerusalem and later has him put to death for leaving the city.
- Solomon makes an alliance with Egypt and marries the Pharaoh's daughter.
- Solomon asks for wisdom in a dream and is granted wealth, honor, and longevity by God.
- Solomon builds the Temple and his palace over a period of twenty years, including a dedication ceremony with sacrifices and a fourteen-day celebration.
- Solomon gives twenty towns in Galilee to Hiram as thanks for his help, but they are virtually worthless.
- Solomon builds a navy, receives a visit from the Queen of Sheba, and becomes a net exporter of golden goods.
- Solomon amasses 700 wives and 300 concubines, leading to his decline as he adopts elements from their religions and builds shrines to foreign deities.
- God informs Solomon that because he has broken his commandments, the kingdom will be taken away from his son, and Solomon begins to amass enemies.
The Life and Legacy of King David
- David is anointed as king by the tribe of Judah and later by all tribes of Israel after the deaths of Saul and Jonathan
- He conquers Jerusalem, making it the capital of a united Israel, and brings the Ark of the Covenant to the city
- David commits adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrates the death of her husband, Uriah the Hittite
- His son Absalom attempts to overthrow him, leading to David's return to Jerusalem after Absalom's death
- David desires to build a temple to Yahweh but is denied due to the bloodshed in his reign
- He dies at age 70 and chooses Solomon, his son with Bathsheba, as his successor over his eldest son Adonijah
- David is honored as an ideal king and forefather of the Hebrew Messiah in Jewish prophetic literature
- He is richly represented in post-biblical Jewish tradition and referenced in the New Testament
- Early Christians interpreted Jesus' life in light of references to David, as Jesus is described as directly descended from David
- In the Quran and hadith, David is described as an Israelite king and a prophet of Allah
- The biblical David has inspired many interpretations in art and literature over the centuries
- The First Book of Samuel and the First Book of Chronicles identify David as the son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, and the youngest of eight sons
Test your knowledge of the tumultuous last years of the Kingdom of Judah with this quiz. Explore the power struggles, alliances, and key events during the reign of King Solomon, as well as the consequences of his actions as depicted in biblical texts.
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