Our Jewish Heritage
Dr. Lenore C. Kipper, Judaic Studies Director Emerita
The First Book of Kings
The book of Kings was divided into two parts. Together, they tell the history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, from the time of King Solomon and the building of the first Temple to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians. This covers a time frame from about 960 BCE until 586 BCE. I believe Kings is not an objective historical account. While it provides some factual information, it is written from a religious perspective that supports the Davidic line. The book focuses on trends and developments that support that point of view. It tries to explain that the Israelites flourished when they lived in accordance with the laws of Torah and met with disaster when they didn’t. It tells us why the events happened.
Solomon becomes King
King David was old and dying, and his oldest son, Adonijah, was planning to declare himself king. However, there was opposition from some, especially Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan, who wanted Solomon to become king. David agreed with them, and after David died, King Solomon found ways to assert his absolute power. Solomon was famous for his building projects, his wisdom, his alliances, and the unification and expansion of the kingdom. He inherited a vast geographical kingdom, from the Euphrates in the north to Gaza, to the southern port of Etzion Geber, now Eilat, on the Red Sea. The weakness of Assyria and Egypt enabled Solomon to keep the kingdom peaceful. He entered into several political marriages. At that time, having many wives was allowed. The marriage of the daughter of the Pharaoh was especially important. He arranged economic and trade agreements with the state of Sheba and King Hiram. With Phoenician help, Solomon builds a fleet of ocean vessels and a navy. He controlled all the important trade routes, the Way of the Sea, and the King’s Highway. He fortified the cities like Megiddo, Hazor, and Gezer, which were along the main trade routes. Solomon reigned for forty peaceful years.
Building the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple
King Solomon’s most significant building project was the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah (where Caliph Omar built the Mosque many centuries later). It took seven years to build. The Temple was to serve as the central sanctuary for all the tribes. It would emphasize the importance of Jerusalem as the center of political and religious life of the Israelites. The Temple was dedicated at the time of Sukkot.
The text describes Solomon’s prayer:
“I have built for You, O Lord, a lofty Temple to dwell in, a place for You to abide in forever. God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below.” Then he blessed the community. “May God maintain the cause of His people, Israel, as every day shall require, so that all the nations of the earth may know that the Lord is God, there is none else. ”
Discontent in the Kingdom
Solomon’s extensive construction projects soon began to drain the kingdom’s resources. He had to impose heavy taxes and forced labor on the people. The Israelites were required to spend one month in three on labor projects. He also allowed his many foreign wives to build altars for their pagan gods. The text tells us:
“When he grew old, his wives influenced him to worship their gods, and he did not remain loyal to the Lord… “Since you have not obeyed My Covenant…l will surely rend the kingdom from you…l will not do this during your lifetime for the sake of David, your father, I will rend it out of the hand of your son.”
The rebellion began with Jeroboam, of the tribe of Ephraim, who, after Solomon died, led the ten northern tribes to break off from the Kingdom.
Jeroboam and Rehoboam
After the death of Solomon, the Book of Kings describes the permanent division of the Israelites. The leader of the northern kingdom, Israel, was Jeroboam, and the leader of the southern kingdom, Judah, was Rehoboam, Solomon’s son. He refused to lighten the tax burden and forced labor that his father had imposed on the northern tribes, so Jeroboam led the ten tribes in revolt and established a capital at Shechem (Nablus in the West Bank territory). But he also allowed divine pagan images to be erected at Dan and Bethel. This was the beginning of the threat to the belief in Adonai and the worship of the Canaanite God, Baal. Rehoboam remained king over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Jerusalem continued to be the political and religious center. The division weakened both kingdoms, and during the tenth and ninth centuries BCE, they only united when a great power threatened them (Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia).
King Solomon Remembered in Tradition
From the very beginning, we read that Solomon asked God for a wise and understanding heart so that he might rule the people.
Tradition tells us that Solomon was a master of wise sayings. According to the writer of Kings, Solomon authored 3,000 proverbs. The Book of Proverbs is ascribed to Solomon, and so is The Song of Songs. Some scholars believe that the book of Ecclesiastes refers to Solomon. It is possible that Solomon had wise men and poets in his court who contributed to these literary books.
The period of the divided kingdoms was very complicated, and it was hard to keep track of all the kings during this time. However, it is also the time of the rise of the prophets who delivered their moral messages to the people and the kings. More about the Books of Kings next month.
B ‘Shalom,
Lenore