7 Questions
Who anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David?
Samuel
What eventually led to the Split of the Northern and Southern Tribes?
The death of Solomon
Which kingdom was conquered by the Assyrian Empire in the 8th century BCE?
House of Israel
Who succeeded Solomon as king?
His Son
Which kingdom maintained its independence for a time against the Assyrian Empire?
House of Judah
What was Samuel's role in ancient Israel?
Judge
Who succeeded David as king?
Solomon
Study Notes
The Hebrew Kingdom: An Epic Saga from the Exodus to the Persians
The intricate chronicles of ancient Israel span a period of more than a millennium, from the dawn of the Hebrew Kingdom at the time of Moses' daring escape from Egypt to the era of the Persian Empire — a time of renewal and transformation for the Jewish people.
Early Kings
Shortly after the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt, the prophet Samuel anointed the first two kings, Saul and David, ushering in the period of the United Monarchy. David's son, Solomon, succeeded him and ruled with wisdom and grandeur, overseeing the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, solidifying the Hebrews' connection to the land and their faith in God.
The Split
The United Monarchy was shattered by the death of Solomon, and his son Rehoboam's stubbornness precipitated a civil war, dividing the kingdom into the House of Israel (later called the Northern Kingdom) and the House of Judah (the Southern Kingdom).
Assyrians
The once-mighty kingdoms of Israel and Judah were engulfed by the Assyrian Empire, which conquered the Northern Kingdom in the 8th century BCE and deported the majority of its population. Judah maintained its independence for a time, but King Hezekiah's rebellion against Assyrian King Sennacherib led to the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem and the threat of total destruction.
Babylonia
The Assyrian Empire crumbled, and Babylonians rose to become the new regional power. In 586 BCE, Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II besieged Jerusalem and destroyed the First Temple, exiling the elite of Judah to Babylon. Yet, a remnant of Jewish people remained in the land of Judah.
Persians
After the Babylonians fell to the Persian Empire, Cyrus the Great issued a decree in 539 BCE allowing the Jewish exiles to return to the land of Judah. The arrival of Zerubbabel and Ezra marked the beginning of the Second Temple Period, paving the way for the reestablishment of Jewish culture, religion, and traditions.
From the time of the Exodus through to the rise of the Persian Empire, the story of the Hebrew Kingdom is one of resilience, devotion, and, at times, tragic consequences. This narrative continues to captivate and inspire us to this day.
Test your knowledge on the epic saga of the Hebrew Kingdom, spanning from the Exodus in ancient Israel to the rise of the Persian Empire. Explore the reigns of Saul, David, Solomon, the split into Northern and Southern Kingdoms, the Assyrian and Babylonian conquests, and the return of Jewish exiles under Cyrus the Great.
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