According to different sources, including Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron (EEBE), the kingdom of Israel was founded in the ninth century BC prophet Samuel.The name of this person (Transkei. Hebrew. Shmuel) means "heard by God."He is considered the last prophet and the famous biblical judge Israel.Samuel lived in a difficult time when the Jewish people was a period of intertribal violence and conflict with other ethnic groups.In an era of Judges descendants Ioakova disintegrated into a dozen tribes, based on kinship, which was accompanied by acts of mutual attacks and destroying representatives of a "tribe".For example, the kind of massacre Efim and the tribe of Benjamin led to the deaths of more than 90 000 Israelis.The tribes were nomadic and partly sedentary and had as a sort of heads of judges who could be, and the prophets (the first ruler of the Kingdom of Israel, Samuel), and even the ladies (Deborah).
Epoch Judges
power of judges was mainly based on the moral authority and had no executive power, the regular army and general taxation.These "flaws" tried to correct the founder and the first ruler of the Kingdom of Israel, Samuel, who became a converter for his people.The Philistines attacked and defeated them (the Philistines as a trophy was withdrawn Ark of the Covenant), the Israeli tribes were united and Samuel called to repentance at Mizpah.Here the prophet was able to raise enough spirit of his people, that people were able to throw off the yoke of the Philistines, and to get back to his shrine (according to legend, the selected Ark brought so much misery to the new owners that they would prefer to return it back).
people asked the Prophet about the king
Education tsarstvae Israel under the leadership of Samuel, accompanied by the creation of schools of the prophets, which are distributed through public education and patriotism.The Prophet was the ruler to old age, and significantly improved the position of his subjects, but his sons Avy and Joel appeared bribe-takers, so the Israelis were asked to put on them the king "of the people."Samuel warned of the possibility of asking for despotism, they chose to be a king's son of Kish, Saul.
first king of Israel was a cut above the rest of the people Saul
officially the first ruler of the Kingdom of Israel after the prophet himself, according to the Bible, was a very tall, handsome himself, courageous and brave in battle.He and after anointing of the kingdom remained easy to handle, but came from a wealthy family, living in a modern Tol el wagon.According to legend, the Lord himself has declared to Samuel that he would meet at a certain time the young man from the tribe of Benjamin (by the way, the most numerous), who will have to become king of Israel.Following the appointment of the prophet warned the Israelites that if they would not oppose the will of God, the Almighty will not be against them and against their king, wrote to the king's duties and placed them in marching church, the Tabernacle.
As the king fell out with the prophet
first ruler of the Kingdom of Israel, Saul, was in his office for about 20 years.He created a regular army of 3,000 men, successfully fought against the Philistines (one of the famous battles of the period of confrontation between David and Goliath), he was originally a very religious person (wanted to execute his son for what he once broke the post).However, before the battle in Gilgal he himself offered sacrifices, without waiting for Samuel (such action is the responsibility of the Prophet), and then refused to comply with an order of Samuel the total destruction of the Amalekites.Angered by the prophet announced the withdrawal of Saul's kingship and the possible loss of all of his offspring.King, devoid of support for the prophet lost heart, it possessed an evil spirit, and he lost interest in the autocratic activities.
The choice fell on the prophet blond boy
Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the Most High, I went to Bethlehem, where the chosen and anointed David, of the tribe of Judah.It is interesting that, according to historical records, David had no Middle Eastern appearance.He was a pleasant person had beautiful eyes and blond hair, usually unusual inhabitants of this region.In addition, he was distinguished by physical force (won the bear and the lion), meekness.And so well he sang and played the harp, that an official of King Saul to the sounds of his music was lost depressed mood.
Before the wedding of David and Saul's daughter had ruined many of the Philistines
After the victory of David and his musical success at the royal court, Saul made his in-law, gave him the youngest daughter.David thus exceeded the royal condition to perform the wedding - took the life of a hundred and two hundred Philistines with the help of troops in the next battle.Popularity hypochondriac king irritated David, and he tried to kill him, after which the young man had gone to the Prophet, then living in Ramah.Saul pursued his son-in everywhere, killed almost all the priests who helped him escape, and gave his wife in marriage to another man.David in this process did not respond to him in return, and many times spared Saul in the moments when he could kill him.King Saul committed suicide when the next battle with the Philistines was surrounded and lost three sons.Prior to that he was referring to the famous Witch of Endor, to learn their fate.And, as expected, for the appeal was abandoned mercy of the Almighty.
David and his son Solomon brought prosperity to Israel
David, fleeing from the persecution of Saul, went over to the Philistines, then Saul pitched.In the resulting power vacuum David came with his supporters in the city of Hebron, where Jews proclaimed him king.Thus formed two kingdoms - Israel and Judah.The first was headed Iefosfey (son of Saul), the second - David.The two states fought each other for about two years (so many rules Iefosfey), after which the victorious David was elected ruler of Israel under the application of Israeli elders.Later he conquered Jerusalem, Moab, some in Syria and the banks of the Euphrates, etc., Subordinated secular spiritual power, put the Ark of the Covenant on Mount Zion, composing hymns.In old age, he handed over power to his son Solomon, born from a relationship with Bathsheba, who was the wife of another man.
Historians believe that the rulers of ancient Israel and Judah, David and his son Solomon, brought the people of Israel the time of the "golden age."Son of David has managed to develop domestic and foreign policy achievements of his father.According to religious sources, he was a prosperous reign, great wisdom and patience for what will not deviate from the service of God.When Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem, united Israel and Judah are not in poverty at the expense of the trade route from Damascus to Egypt, the Egyptians have stopped the war, as the first of the royal wife was the daughter of Pharaoh.Annual revenue of the kingdom when Solomon was estimated over 600 Talanov gold (Talan - about 26 liters).But towards the end of the state treasury was empty state by the high costs of the temple and the palace, which resulted in the need to raise taxes, which rebelled against the subordinate tribes.One again, the state was divided into Judah and Israel.
Why Judah lasted longer than Israel?
Who was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel?This area was large departments south of Judah, lived here up to two thirds of the population of the former common state, were the most fertile land.But in the south, the Jews, Jerusalem remained the main sanctuary and a national shrine.Therefore, the Jewish formation lasted longer, in spite of the worst economic situation.While the northern kingdom of Israel, led in the early days of Jeroboam, it was on the political map of that time about 250 years, which was established for the period The Age of Kings.The kings of Israel from Jeroboam to Hosea retreated, usually from the service of the One God of Israel, and raised a number of temples with golden calves and worshiped the gods of Phoenician worship.The country suffered greatly from many coups was in 722 BC, conquered by Sargon II, king of Assyria.
