The Kingdom of David and Solomon
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Map of the Kingdoms of David and Solomon
After King Saul's death, David was proclaimed king of Judah at Hebron, and after the murder of Saul's son Ishbosheth, David was crowned king by the tribes of Israel. David extended his kingdom north, south, east, and west. His son Solomon brought the Kingdom of Israel to its greatest extent and even became a world power comparable to Assyria and Egypt. (Also compare with the 1949 map of Israel.)David conquered Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his capital and center of worship. He expanded his kingdom by victories over the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, and suppressed many rebellions. Solomon made treaties with Egypt, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and the Hittite nation.
1 Kings 1:37 - As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
2 Samuel 8:11-15 "Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. And David gat [him] a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, [being] eighteen thousand [men]. And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people."
2 Samuel 5:7-10 "Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same [is] the city of David. And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, [that are] hated of David's soul, [he shall be chief and captain]. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts [was] with him."
King David's Political Situation in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
David
3. Political Situation:
There is no doubt that the expansion of the boundaries of Israel at
this period almost to their ideal limits (Dt 11:24, etc.) was
largely due to the fact that the two great empires of Egypt and
Assyria were at the moment passing through a period of weakness and
decay. The Assyrian monarchy was in a decadent state from about the
year 1050 BC, and the 22nd Dynasty--to which Shishak belonged (1 Ki
14:25)--had not yet arisen. David, therefore, had a free hand when
his time came and found no more formidable opposition than that of
the petty states bordering upon Palestine. Against the combined
forces of all the Israelite tribes these had never been able to
effect much. Full Article
2. Conquests Abroad:
King of all the Israelite tribes, David found his hands free to
expel the foreigners who had invaded the sacred territory. His first
step was to move his headquarters from the Southern Hebron, which he
had been compelled at first to make his capital, to the more central
Jerusalem. The fort here, which was still held by the aboriginal
Jebusites, was stormed by Joab, David's nephew, who also
superintended the rebuilding for David. He was in consequence
appointed commander-in-chief (1 Ch 11:6,8), a post which he held as
long as David lived. The materials and the skilled workmen for the
erection of the palace were supplied by Hiram of Tyre (2 Sam 5:11).
David now turned his attention to the surrounding tribes and
peoples. The most formidable enemy, the Philistines, were worsted in
several campaigns, and their power crippled (2 Sam 5:17 ff; 8:1). In
one of these David so nearly came by his death, that his people
would not afterward permit him to take part in the fighting (2 Sam
21:16,17). One of the first countries against which David turned his
arms was the land of Moab, which he treated with a severity which
would suggest that the Moabite king had ill-treated David's father
and mother, who had taken refuge with him (2 Sam 8:2). Yet his
conduct toward the sons of Ammon was even more cruel (2 Sam 12:31),
and for less cause (10:1 ff). The king of Zobah (Chalkis) was
defeated (2 Sam 8:3), and Israelite garrisons were placed in Syria
of Damascus (2 Sam 8:6) and Edom (2 Sam 8:14). The sons of Ammon
formed a league with the Syrian kingdoms to the North and East of
Palestine (2 Sam 10:6,16), but these also had no success. All these
people became tributary to the kingdom of Israel under David (2 Sam
10:18,19) except the sons of Ammon who were practically exterminated
for the time being (2 Sam 12:31). Thus, Israel became one of the
"great powers" of the world during the reign of David and his
immediate successor.
Full Article
David
in Smith's Bible
Dictionary
David
3. David's reign.--
1. As king of Judah at Hebron, 7 1/2 years. 2Sa 2:1 ... 5:5
Here David was first formally anointed king. 2Sa 2:4 To Judah his
dominion was nominally confined. Gradually his power increased, and
during the two years which followed the elevation of Ish-bosheth a
series of skirmishes took place between the two kingdoms. Then
rapidly followed the successive murders of Abner and of Ish-bosheth.
2Sa 3:30; 4:5 The throne, so long waiting for him, was now vacant,
and the united voice of the whole people at once called him to
occupy it. For the third time David was anointed king, and a
festival of three days celebrated the joyful event. 1Ch 12:39 One of
David's first acts after becoming king was to secure Jerusalem,
which he seized from the Jebusites and fixed the royal residence
there. Fortifications were added by the king and by Joab, and it was
known by the special name of the "city of David." 2Sa 5:9; 1Ch 11:7
The ark was now removed from its obscurity at Kirjath-jearim with
marked solemnity, and conveyed to Jerusalem. The erection of the new
capital at Jerusalem introduces us to a new era in David's life and
in the history of the monarchy. He became a king on the scale of the
great Oriental sovereigns of Egypt and Persia, with a regular
administration and organization of court and camp; and he also
founded an imperial dominion which for the first time realize the
prophetic description of the bounds of the chosen people. Ge
15:18-21 During the succeeding ten years the nations bordering on
his kingdom caused David more or less trouble, but during this time
he reduced to a state of permanent subjection the Philistines on the
west, 2Sa 8:1 the Moabites on the east, 2Sa 8:2 by the exploits of
Benaiah, 2Sa 23:20 the Syrians on the northeast as far as the
Euphrates, 2Sa 8:3 the Edomites, 2Sa 8:14 on the south; and finally
the Ammonites, who had broken their ancient alliance, and made one
grand resistance to the advance of his empire.
Full Article
David in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
David
2. Conquests Abroad:
King of all the Israelite tribes, David found his hands free to
expel the foreigners who had invaded the sacred territory. His first
step was to move his headquarters from the Southern Hebron, which he
had been compelled at first to make his capital, to the more central
Jerusalem. The fort here, which was still held by the aboriginal
Jebusites, was stormed by Joab, David's nephew, who also
superintended the rebuilding for David. He was in consequence
appointed commander-in-chief (1 Ch 11:6,8), a post which he held as
long as David lived. The materials and the skilled workmen for the
erection of the palace were supplied by Hiram of Tyre (2 Sam 5:11).
David now turned his attention to the surrounding tribes and
peoples. The most formidable enemy, the Philistines, were worsted in
several campaigns, and their power crippled (2 Sam 5:17 ff; 8:1). In
one of these David so nearly came by his death, that his people
would not afterward permit him to take part in the fighting (2 Sam
21:16,17). One of the first countries against which David turned his
arms was the land of Moab, which he treated with a severity which
would suggest that the Moabite king had ill-treated David's father
and mother, who had taken refuge with him (2 Sam 8:2). Yet his
conduct toward the sons of Ammon was even more cruel (2 Sam 12:31),
and for less cause (10:1 ff). The king of Zobah (Chalkis) was
defeated (2 Sam 8:3), and Israelite garrisons were placed in Syria
of Damascus (2 Sam 8:6) and Edom (2 Sam 8:14). The sons of Ammon
formed a league with the Syrian kingdoms to the North and East of
Palestine (2 Sam 10:6,16), but these also had no success. All these
people became tributary to the kingdom of Israel under David (2 Sam
10:18,19) except the sons of Ammon who were practically exterminated
for the time being (2 Sam 12:31). Thus, Israel became one of the
"great powers" of the world during the reign of David and his
immediate successor.
Full Article
Solomon in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
II. Reign of Solomon.
1. His Vision:
It was apparently at the very beginning of his reign that Solomon
made his famous choice of a "hearing heart," i.e. an obedient heart,
in preference to riches or long life. The vision took place at
Gibeon (2 Ch 1:7, but in 1 Ki 3:4 f the ancient versions read "upon
the altar that was in Gibeon. And the Lord appeared," etc.). The
life of Solomon was a curious commentary on his early resolution.
One of the first acts of his reign was apparently, in the style of
the true oriental monarch, to build himself a new palace, that of
his father being inadequate for his requirements. In regard to
politics, however, the events of Solomon's reign may be regarded as
an endorsement of his choice. Under him alone was the kingdom of
Israel a great world-power, fit almost to rank beside Assyria and
Egypt. Never again were the bounds of Israel so wide; never again
were north and south united in one great nation. There is no doubt
that the credit of this result is due to the wisdom of Solomon.
Full Article
The Bible Mentions "David" in many places:
1 Kings
2:26 - And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee
to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou [art] worthy of death:
but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest
the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and
because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was
afflicted.
1
Chronicles 21:5 - And Joab gave the sum of the number of the
people unto David. And all [they of] Israel were a
thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and
Judah [was] four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew
sword.
Zechariah 12:12 - And the land shall mourn, every family
apart; the family of the house of David apart, and
their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and
their wives apart;
1 Kings 3:6
- And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David
my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth,
and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and
thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him
a son to sit on his throne, as [it is] this day.
2 Samuel
4:8 - And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto
David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of
Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and
the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his
seed.
1 Kings
1:37 - As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so
be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of
my lord king David.
2 Samuel
3:19 - And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and
Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in
Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the
whole house of Benjamin.
2 Samuel
10:6 - And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank
before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the
Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand
footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve
thousand men.
1 Kings
13:2 - And he cried against the altar in the word of the
LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child
shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name;
and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that
burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.
Ruth 4:22
- And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
Ezekiel
34:23 - And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he
shall feed them, [even] my servant David; he shall
feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
2 Samuel
18:2 - And David sent forth a third part of
the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand
of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part
under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the
people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
2 Samuel
24:14 - And David said unto Gad, I am in a
great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his
mercies [are] great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
1
Chronicles 21:13 - And David said unto Gad, I
am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for
very great [are] his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of
man.
2 Samuel
19:43 - And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and
said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more [right]
in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our
advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the
words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of
Israel.
1
Chronicles 21:26 - And David built there an
altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace
offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven
by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
Psalms 60:1
-
1 Kings
8:16 - Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel
out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to
build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose
David to be over my people Israel.
1 Samuel
21:2 - And David said unto Ahimelech the
priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto
me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send
thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed [my]
servants to such and such a place.
1 Samuel
22:17 - And the king said unto the footmen that stood about
him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also
[is] with David, and because they knew when he fled,
and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not
put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.
1
Chronicles 28:1 - And David assembled all the
princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of
the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the
captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the
stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of
his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all
the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
1 Kings
2:11 - And the days that David reigned over
Israel [were] forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and
thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
2 Samuel
8:10 - Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David,
to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against
Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And [Joram]
brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels
of brass:
2
Chronicles 6:10 - The LORD therefore hath performed his word
that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David
my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised,
and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
2
Chronicles 35:3 - And said unto the Levites that taught all
Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house
which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did
build; [it shall] not [be] a burden upon [your] shoulders: serve now
the LORD your God, and his people Israel,
2
Chronicles 2:14 - The son of a woman of the daughters of
Dan, and his father [was] a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold,
and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in
purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave
any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be
put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my
lord David thy father.
2 Samuel
2:13 - And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of
David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon:
and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the
other on the other side of the pool.
2 Samuel
3:6 - And it came to pass, while there was war between the
house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made
himself strong for the house of Saul.
Isaiah
22:22 - And the key of the house of David will
I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and
he shall shut, and none shall open.
1 Samuel
16:23 - And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God
was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played
with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil
spirit departed from him.
2 Chronicles 1:11 - And
God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart,
and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of
thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked
wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people,
over whom I have made thee king:
1 Kings 3:6
- And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant
David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in
truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee;
and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given
him a son to sit on his throne, as [it is] this day.
1 Kings
1:37 - As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so
be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than
the throne of my lord king David.
Matthew 1:6
- And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat
Solomon of her [that had been the wife] of Urias;
1 Kings
9:25 - And three times in a year did Solomon
offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he
built unto the LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that [was]
before the LORD. So he finished the house.
1 Kings
8:63 - And Solomon offered a sacrifice of
peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty
thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king
and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.
1 Kings
10:26 - And Solomon gathered together chariots
and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and
twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for
chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.
1
Chronicles 28:5 - And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath
given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to
sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
2 Kings
24:13 - And he carried out thence all the treasures of the
house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in
pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of
Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
2
Chronicles 35:3 - And said unto the Levites that taught all
Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house
which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did
build; [it shall] not [be] a burden upon [your] shoulders: serve now
the LORD your God, and his people Israel,
2
Chronicles 9:15 - And king Solomon made two
hundred targets [of] beaten gold: six hundred [shekels] of beaten
gold went to one target.
2
Chronicles 7:11 - Thus Solomon finished the
house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into
Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in
his own house, he prosperously effected.