The United Monarchy
King David
King Solomon
Rehboam, Jeraboam and the Split
War with Ish Boshes
David Captures the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites
War with the Philistines
Wars of Conquest
Aron Brought to Jerusalem
War with Ammon
Bathsheba
Amnon and Tamar
Abshalom’s Rebellion
Sheba ben Bichri’s Rebellion
The Evolution of the Monarchy
KING DAVID
DATES OF DAVID’S REIGN
After Saul’s Death


David mourns Saul and
his sons in Ziklag
David asks Hashem what
to do and is told to go to
Hebron and was anointed
King of Israel
◦ Ruled over the territory of
Judah

Abner-ben-Ner Saul's
general backs Ish Boshes
Saul’s son to be king and
he ruled over
◦
◦
◦
◦
Assur
Jezreel
Ephraim
Benjamin
War with
Ish Boshes
The Civil War






Map of Machanayim- Ish Boshes’
Stronghold
Abner and Ish Boshes war
against David and his forces
Abner who control the army
argues with Ish Boshes and
decides to defect to David
Yoav deviously kills Avner
against David’s order
David mourns Avner publicly
Ish Boshes is killed by traitors
trying to get close to David
David kills them when they
present him with Ish Boshes’
head
War with Ish Boshes
After Ish Boshes’ Death
The civil war lasted for two
years
 Five years later the tribes
of Israel come to Hebron
to anoint David King
 A treaty is signed to forgive
backers of Ish Boshes
 The Sanhedrin agrees and
crowns David as King

Four Room House in Hebron
Chadwick, Jeffrey R. “Discovering Hebron.” Biblical Archaeology Review, Sep/Oct 2005, 2433, 70-71. http://members.bibarch.org/publication.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=31&Issue=5&ArticleID=5 (accessed
10/21/2010)
The Nation Acclaims David King
The State of the Country




The country still has
pockets of Canaanite
settlement
David and his forces start a
campaign to remove all
Canaanite cities and is
partially successful
David fortifies the defenses
against the Philistines
The City of Jerusalem was
not conquered
The Largest Canaanite building in Israel was
found in Jerusalem it is called the “stepped
stone structure” it is probably Metzudas Tzion
Mazar, Eilat. “Did I Find King David’s Palace?.” Biblical Archaeology Review,
Jan/Feb 2006, 16-27, 70. http://members.bibarch.org/publication.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=32&Issue=1&ArticleID=4
(accessed 10/21/2010)
David Captures the city of
Jerusalem from the Jebusites
Jerusalem

Was heavily defended
by an enormous
fortress

Metzudas Tzion‫מצודת ציון‬

David’s general Yoav
infiltrated the fortress
through the water
supply

After the capture
David makes Jerusalem
his capital and center
of the
Steiner, Margreet. “David’s Jerusalem: Fiction or Reality?: It’s Not There: Archaeology Proves a
Negative.” Biblical Archaeology Review, Jul/Aug 1998, 26-30, 32-33, 62-63. http://members.bibarch.org/publication.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=24&Issue=4&ArticleID=2 (accessed 10/21/2010
David Captures the city of
Jerusalem from the Jebusites
Prelude to War

David built the Milo –‫מילוא‬
◦ it is not clear what it is but it plays an
important in the politics of Solomon's
reign
◦ As well Hezekiah's time
◦ Possibly an open space
◦ Or opening is his palace wall


Large Stone Structure in
Jerusalem
Possibly David’s Palace
Mazar, Eilat. “Did I Find King David’s Palace?.” Biblical Archaeology Review, Jan/Feb 2006,
16-27, 70. http://members.bibarch.org/publication.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=32&Issue=1&ArticleID=4 (accessed
10/21/2010)



Hiram King of Tyre built a palace
for David
As David is more firmly in control
The Philistines probably become
afraid of a United Israel
David defeated the Philistines in
Emek Refaim –‫עמק רפאים‬
He forced them to retreat to
Gezer and the remained defeated
during his reign
War with the Philistines
Wars of Conquest


After defeating
Philistines David turns
to expansion
David defeated
◦ Moab
◦ Hadadezer king of
Zobah
◦ Aram of Damascus
◦ Edom
◦ Amalek (mentioned in
the Gemorah)
Wars of
Conquest
Jerusalem Religious as the
Center

The Aron was brought to
Jerusalem
◦ First attempt stopped by the death
of Uzzah
◦ Amid proper prayer, and fanfare the
Aron is brought to Jerusalem


David wishes to build the Beis
Hamikdsah but is not permitted
The Beis Hamikdash could only
be built after all of Israel’s
enemies were defeated and
David had not yet brought about
complete peace
Jerusalem in David’s Era
Mazar, Eilat. “Did I Find King David’s Palace?.” Biblical Archaeology Review, Jan/Feb 2006, 16-27, 70.
http://members.bib-arch.org/publication.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=32&Issue=1&ArticleID=4 (accessed
10/21/2010)
Aron Brought to Jerusalem
War with Ammon






Citadel of Amman
The City of Rabbah
Harrison, Timothy P. “The Amman Citadel: An Archaeological Biography: “Rabbath of the
Ammonites”.” Archaeology Odyssey, Mar/Apr 2002, 10-19. http://members.bibarch.org/publication.asp?PubID=BSAO&Volume=5&Issue=2&ArticleID=4 (accessed
10/21/2010
David sends a diplomatic mission
to Hanun the son of Nachash
The Ammonite advisors probably
seeing that David’s kingdom was
growing large and dangerous
rejected the diplomatic mission
The Ammonites then hired
Arameans to help attack Israel
David defeats the Arameans and
drove them off
The next year he begins a
campaign against Ammon and
besieges Rabbah but David stays
in Jerusalem
After the incident with
Bathsheba David’s army took the
city
Bathsheba






David in Jerusalem
Hashem Punishes David
‫עבירה גוררת עבירה‬
David stayed back instead of
leading his troops
He is tempted by seeing
Bathsheba washing
She was divorced but it was still
not right to take her
Uriah her former husband
disobeyed David’s orders and so
was deserving the death penalty
David orders him to be placed at
the front of the line to be killed




The first son he fathered by
Bathsheba died
His son Amnon rapes his
daughter Tamar
Abshalom kills Amnon and
then rebels
Adonijah claims to be King
in David’s old age
Bathsheba
Amnon and Tamar

Tamar was the daughter of
Maacha and David
◦ Maacha was an ‫אשת יפת תואר‬
and was not Jewish at the time
that David fathered Tamar
◦ Since Tamar was not born Jewish
she is not Halachicly related to
Amnon
Amnon; Tamar’s half brother is
infatuated with her and rapes
her
 After raping her he is
disgusted by her and sends
her away in disgrace






Abshalom takes in Tamar after
she is raped
Abshalom arranges for Amnon to
be killed
After the murder Abshalom flees
to Geshur
After David recovers from the
news of the murder he is
prevailed upon by Yoav to bring
Abshalom back to Jerusalem
David kept Abshalom under
house arrest in Jerusalem and
would not see him
Abshalom’s Rebellion
Abshalom’s Conspiracy
In the words of ‫תנ"ך‬
‫ שמואל ב פרק טו‬

Samuel I 15

(2) And Abshalom would rise up, and stand besides
the path to the gate; and it was when any man that
would have a suit due to come to the king for
judgment the Abshalom called to him and said:”from
what city are you?” and he said “of one of the tribes
of Israel is your servant”

(3) And Abshalom said “your claim is correct and
good but none of the kings judges will hear you.

(4) And Abshalom said “who will appoint me judge in
the land and every man who has a dispute of a suit
will come to me than I will do justice for him

And it would be, when a man cam near to prostrate
himself before him that he put forth his hand and
took hold of him and kissed him.

(6) And Abshalom did the same to all the Israelites
that came to the king for judgment. And Abshalom
stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
‫)ב) ו ְִה ְשכִ ים אַ ְב ָׁשלֹום וְעָׁ ַמד עַ ל יַד ֶּד ֶּרְך הַ ָׁשעַ ר‬
‫ַוי ְִהי כָׁל הָׁ ִאיש אֲ ֶּשר י ְִהיֶּה ּלֹו ִריב לָׁ בֹוא אֶּ ל‬
‫ֹּאמר אֵ י‬
ֶּ ‫הַ ֶּמלֶּ ְך לַ ִמ ְשפָׁ ט וַיִ ְק ָׁרא אַ ְב ָׁשלֹום אֵ לָׁ יו וַי‬
‫ֹּאמר ֵמאַ חַ ד ִש ְבטֵ י י ְִש ָׁראֵ ל‬
ֶּ ‫ִמזֶּ ה ִעיר אַ ָׁתה וַי‬
:‫עַ ְב ֶּדָך‬
‫טֹובים‬
ִ ‫ֹּאמר אֵ לָׁ יו אַ ְב ָׁשלֹום ְראֵ ה ְדבָׁ ֶּרָך‬
ֶּ ‫(ג) וַי‬
:‫ּונְ כ ִֹּחים ְוש ֵֹּמעַ אֵ ין ְלָך ֵמאֵ ת הַ ֶּמלֶּ ְך‬
‫ֹּאמר אַ ְב ָׁשלֹום ִמי י ְִש ֵמנִ י שֹּפֵ ט בָׁ אָׁ ֶּרץ וְעָׁ לַ י‬
ֶּ ‫(ד) וַי‬
‫ּומ ְשפָׁ ט‬
ִ ‫יָׁבֹוא כָׁל ִאיש אֲ ֶּשר י ְִהיֶּה ּלֹו ִריב‬
:‫ו ְִהצְ ַד ְק ִתיו‬
‫ְשלַ ח אֶּ ת‬
ָׁ ‫(ה) וְהָׁ יָׁה ִב ְק ָׁרב ִאיש ְל ִה ְש ַתחֲ ֹות לֹו ו‬
:‫יָׁדֹו וְהֶּ חֱ זִ יק לֹו ְונ ַָׁשק לֹו‬
‫(ו) ַויַעַ ש אַ ְב ָׁשלֹום כ ַָׁדבָׁ ר הַ זֶּ ה ְלכָׁל י ְִש ָׁראֵ ל אֲ ֶּשר‬
‫ָׁיבֹּאּו לַ ִמ ְשפָׁ ט אֶּ ל הַ ֶּמלֶּ ְך ַו ְי ַגנֵב אַ ְב ָׁשלֹום אֶּ ת לֵ ב‬
:‫אַ נְ ֵשי‬
Abshalom’s Rebellion





King Abshalom
The Conspiracy in Brief




Abshalom breeds dissent by
courting people who have
complaints either about the
government of with another Jew
and claims that he will be on his
side
Abshalom also makes the claim
that David favors his family and
the tribe of Judah over the other
tribes
Abshalom also includes some of
David’s close advisors in his
conspiracy
He also begins his rebellion in
Hebron a Judah stronghold to
keep the allegiance of the people
of Judah







David is forced to flee from
Jerusalem with most of his advisors
and his general
He takes with him the Aron
Abshalom takes Jerusalem and
marries David’s concubines who
were left in Jerusalem
Abshalom and his advisors start to
rule the land as king
They need to eliminate David and
his forces who are hiding in
Machanayim
Hushai a friend of David infiltrated
the conspiracy and became a close
advisor to Abshalom
Hushai advised waiting to attack
David and his forces
Abshalom’s Rebellion
Forest of Ephraim







Then before the attack he sends word
to David about the plan
The battle took place in the forest of
Ephraim and David defeated
Abshalom’s forces
20,000 men were killed
Abshalom is caught fleeing from the
Battle by his hair in a tree
Yoav kills Abshalom against David’s
orders
After the battle David finds out the
news that his son is dead and begins to
mourn
David is forced by Yoav to go out and
celebrate the victory with his men
The Death of Absalom
by Gustave Dore
Abshalom’s Rebellion
Abshalom’s Defeat Leads to Dissention Between Israel and Judah

Shmuel II 19

(41) And the king went over to Gilgal and Chimhan
went over with him; and all the people of Judah
brought the king over, and also half the people of
Israel. (42) And, Behold all the men of Israel came to
the kin and they said to the king, “Why did our
brothers the men of Judah steal you away; by having
brought the king and his household over the Jordan,
and all of David’s men with him?” (43) And all the
men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because
the king is near to me; why are you angered over this
matter?” (44) And the men of Israel answered the
man of Judah and he said “I have ten parts in the king
and am therefore closer to David than to you. Why
then did you slight me? Now was not my word the
very first to return my king?” and the words to the
men of Judah were harsher than the words of the
men of Israel
‫ שמואל ב פרק יט‬
‫ (מא) ַו ַי ֲעבֹּר הַ ֶּמלֶּ ְך הַ גִ ְלגָׁלָׁ ה וְכִ ְמהָׁ ן‬
‫ְהּודה ויעברו‬
ָׁ ‫עָׁ בַ ר ִעמֹו ְוכָׁל עַ ם י‬
‫הֶּ ע ֱִבירּו אֶּ ת הַ ֶּמלֶּ ְך ְוגַם חֲ צִ י עַ ם‬
‫ (מב) ו ְִהנֵה כָׁל ִאיש י ְִש ָׁראֵ ל‬:‫י ְִש ָׁראֵ ל‬
‫ֹּאמרּו אֶּ ל הַ ֶּמלֶּ ְך‬
ְ ‫בָׁ ִאים אֶּ ל הַ ֶּמלֶּ ְך וַי‬
‫ְהּודה‬
ָׁ ‫ַמדּועַ גְ נָׁבּוָך אַ חֵ ינּו ִאיש י‬
‫ַו ַיע ֲִברּו אֶּ ת הַ ֶּמלֶּ ְך וְאֶּ ת בֵ יתֹו אֶּ ת‬
‫ (מג) ַויַעַ ן‬:‫הַ י ְַר ֵדן ְוכָׁל אַ נְ ֵשי ָׁדוִד ִעמֹו‬
‫ְהּודה עַ ל ִאיש י ְִש ָׁראֵ ל כִ י‬
ָׁ ‫כָׁל ִאיש י‬
‫ָׁקרֹוב הַ ֶּמלֶּ ְך אֵ לַ י וְלָׁ ָׁמה זֶּ ה חָׁ ָׁרה ְלָך‬
‫עַ ל הַ ָׁדבָׁ ר הַ זֶּ ה הֶּ אָׁ כֹול אָׁ כ ְַלנּו ִמן‬
)‫ (מד‬:‫הַ ֶּמלֶּ ְך ִאם נִ ֵשאת נִ ָׁשא לָׁ נּו‬
‫ְהּודה‬
ָׁ ‫ַויַעַ ן ִאיש י ְִש ָׁראֵ ל אֶּ ת ִאיש י‬
‫ֹּאמר עֶּ ֶּשר יָׁדֹות ִלי בַ ֶּמלֶּ ְך ְוגַם‬
ֶּ ‫וַי‬
‫ֹּלתנִ י וְל ֹּא‬
ַ ‫ּומדּועַ הֱ ִק‬
ַ ‫ְב ָׁדוִד אֲ נִ י ִמ ְמָך‬
‫הָׁ יָׁה ְדבָׁ ִרי ִראשֹון ִלי ְלהָׁ ִשיב אֶּ ת‬
‫ְהּודה ִמ ְדבַ ר‬
ָׁ ‫ַמ ְלכִ י וַיִ ֶּקש ְדבַ ר ִאיש י‬
:‫ִאיש י ְִש ָׁראֵ ל‬
Sheba ben Bichri’s Rebellion
No Portion of David

Sheva ben Bichri of
Benjamin blew a shofar
and declared a rebellion of
Israel against David and
Judah

Yoav hunts him down and
finds him in the city of
Abel of Beth-Maacah

Yoav threatens the people
of Abel - Beth-Maacah and
they kill Sheva ben Bichri
Sheba ben Bichri’s Rebellion
Analysis

In his short reign Saul did not have the time
to create a working administration but he did
serve as break with the loose confederation
of tribes that was the government before.

The ‫ תנ"ך‬then mentions David’s heroes and
officers which can be viewed as the
establishment of an administration and
bureaucracy

Saul’s government showed the people what a
strong centralized government would be like

Abshalom’s rebellion
◦ Abshalom played on the antagonism between
the heads of the tribes
◦ The majority of people saw the potential for
defense and economic growth
◦ He also played on the David’s loyalty to the
men of Judah and their separateness from the
rest of Israel
◦ The former heads of the tribes felt left out


After the end of the civil war David
eliminated the last independent Canaanite
cities inside the land of Israel
Then defeats the Philistines and Ammon to
secure the boarders and launches wars of
conquest in modern Syria

Sheva ben Bichri’s rebellion
◦ Was a prelude to the break up of the kingdom
which would happen under Rehaboam
◦ Israel against Judah

The ‫ תנ"ך‬repeats the list of heroes and
officers an expansion of the bureaucracy
The Evolution of the Monarchy