Search
God's Promises Fulfilled: The Unified Kingdom
-
-
Readings for Daily Masses in Weeks 1 - 5 of Ordinary Time, Year II
The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon - Edward Poynter
Over the first five weeks of Ordinary Time in Year II, we hear how, starting c. 1070 BC, Israel became a unified, sovereign nation, reaching its pinnacle in the early years of the reign of Solomon, c. 950 BC. We focus primarily on four leaders through this period. Click below to skip ahead to the stories about each of them:
-
-
Background: Genesis through Judges
-
Starting c. 1800 BC, God makes a covenant with Abraham to make his descendants numerous, that they would inherit the entire land of Canaan, and that they would be a great nation. By the time of Moses' birth approximately 500 years later, Abraham's descendants are numerous, but they are enslaved in Egypt. After the Exodus, the giving of the Law (Torah), and 40 years of wandering in the desert, Joshua leads the people into the land of Canaan to claim it, c. 1200 BC.
-
God promises to make Abram's descendants as numerous as the stars
(Genesis 15:5) - artist unknown
-
-
-
The Ark parts the Jordan River
(Joshua 3:14 - 17) - artist unknown
-
But according to the Book of Judges and the archaeological record, the land is not fully possessed by the Israelites. Other non-Israelite people control much of the land, and the Israelites themselves keep abandoning the Torah. From time to time, a great "judge" arises to lead the people back to faithfulness. These judges are not primarily judicial figures; they are each a combination of prophet and military leader. There is evidence that the twelve tribes of Israel do not yet envision themselves as a united nation. For example, in the Song of Deborah (Judges 5), the tribes of Naphtali, Zebulun, Ephraim, and Benjamin answer Deborah and Barak's call to fight against the Canaanites, but the tribes of Reuben, Dan, and Asher do not.
-
-
-
The Book of Judges ends c. 1050 BC, with the tribes still not united. But God's promises are close to fulfillment. Within three generations, the nation descended from Abraham will be numerous in population, in full possession of the land, united, and sovereign.
-
Deborah incites Barak's troops on Mt. Tabor (Judges 4:4-14) - artist unknown
-
-
1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings
-
An Uninterrupted History, According to the Deuteronomist
Shaphan the scribe reads the newly-discovered "Book of the Law"
to King Josiah (2 Kings 22:8 - 11) - artist unknown
Most of the biblical record of this period of salvation history comes from one source: the Deuteronomist (D), whom we consider to be the principal author of the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings. D is writing in the sixth century BC, with concerns about national identity. He explains each event through the lens of the people's faithfulness. When a leader or the people are faithful, there is military victory, peace, and/or prosperity. When a leader or the people disregard the Torah, calamity ensues.1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings were intended to be one continuous book. However, due to the practical limits on the length of scrolls, it is broken over four separate scrolls/books. In weeks 1 - 5 of Ordinary Time in Year II, we will hear portions of 1 Samuel 1:1 through 1 Kings 13:34. We will resume our journey through these four books in Weeks 10 - 20 of Ordinary Time in Year II.
-
The Archaeological Record: Little to Support or Refute the Biblical Record
The Tel Dan Inscription, discovered 1993, with a reference to the "House of David" -
Israel Museum, West Jerusalem - (Wikimedia Commons)The archaeological evidence shows some support of the situation described in the Book of Judges. The Bible speaks of battles in the land of Canaan between the Israelites and other peoples, including the Amalekites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the Jebusites, the Moabites, the Zobahites, and especially the Philistines. Around 1100 BC, there were villages scattered throughout Canaan, but the villages held different religious artifacts from one another, which may indicate variations in worship/belief practices of peoples residing in the region.
The distinctive graves at the base of the Mount of Olives indicate that the Israelites took possession of Jerusalem c. 1000 BC as claimed by 2 Samuel, but the few inscriptions throughout the Holy Land referring to David are contested. There is little archaeological evidence for the existence of Samuel, Saul, or the building projects in Jerusalem that 1 Kings claims were initiated by Solomon. -
Conflicting Stories from the Oral Tradition
Hannah presents Samuel to Eli in the Temple at Shiloh
(1 Samuel 1:24 - 28) - Frank W. W. Topham
Each of the short stories, or pericopes, about Samuel, Saul, and David, like the stories of Abraham in Genesis, seem to have been passed down orally for generations before they were written down. 1 Samuel in particular makes little effort to reconcile these stories into a coherent narrative. We find three different explanations for Saul's jealousy of David and an account of Saul's death that contradicts 2 Samuel. There is even confusion on whose origin story is told in chapters 1 and 2. In 1:20, Hannah explains that she names her son Samuel because the name means "requested from God," but Samuel actually means "messenger of God." It is Saul's name that means "requested from God."
As J. Maxwell Miller and John H. Hayes write in A History of Ancient Israel and Judah (2nd ed.), "We are inclined to suppose that many of these stories contain at least a kernel of historical truth, but concede that there is no way to determine for certain what is historical kernel, what is garbled memory, and what is legendary elaboration." Despite the conflicts and questions of factual accuracy, the main thrust of the religious narrative is clear. God did not initially intend for the Israelites to be ruled by an earthly king like other nations. Instead, God would serve as the Israelites' king. Eventually, however, God instructs Samuel to anoint Saul as king. At a later point, Saul sees David as a threat to his rule, and David is anointed as the new king. Whether or not these events are factual, and whether or not they happened in a particular order, the Deuteronomist presents these stories to make some important statements about how God works in our world.
-
-
SAMUEL (Week 1)
-
The Call of Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1 - 10) - artist unknown
-
The Last of the Judges
1 Samuel begins with the story of Elkanah and Hannah, who cannot conceive a child together. Hannah tearfully prays at the shrine to the LORD in Shiloh, asking God for a son, promising that she will give his life to the service to the LORD. God answers Hannah's prayer, and she and Elkanah conceive Samuel. Hannah in turn takes Samuel to Eli, an old priest, to be raised by him in the shrine at Shiloh. At this time, the ark of the covenant (which contains the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments) resides in the shrine at Shiloh. One night while the young Samuel is sleeping in the tabernacle of the shrine, the LORD calls him. Samuel grows up to be a prophet: "the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect" (1 Samuel 3:19).
-
-
-
Eli's sons, also priests, are corrupt, and Eli does nothing to correct them. The LORD condemns Eli's family, telling Samuel that Eli will have no more descendants.
The plague of the Philistines at Ashdod, detail (1 Samuel 5:6 - 12) - Pieter van Halen (Wikimedia Commons)
Meanwhile, the Philistines are waging war with the Israelites over possession of the Land of Canaan. Presumably because of the sins of Eli's sons, the LORD allows the Philistines to kill the sons and capture the ark from the Israelites. However, possessing the ark causes the Philistines to contract some sort of illness and endure a plague of mice. The Philistines voluntarily return the ark, and with that, Samuel is able to rule the Israelites as judge. He lives in Ramah, but each year he completes a circuit of judging from the sanctuaries in Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah.
-
-
-
The Israelites appeal to Samuel to anoint a king to rule the nation. At some points, the narrative claims that they want this because they want someone to rule after Samuel dies. At other points, it's because the Israelites want to be "like other nations." Neither Samuel nor the LORD thinks this is a good idea, as the LORD is the only truly good king: an earthly king will take resources from the nation for himself. Neverthless, the LORD eventually relents. He instructs Samuel to anoint Saul (9:16)... or Samuel presides at a lottery to determine who will be king, and Saul is selected by lot (10:20 - 21).
-
Samuel Anoints Saul as King (1 Samuel 10:1) - artist unknown
-
-
SAUL (Week 2)
-
First King of Israel: Jealous Chieftain
Saul is a full head taller than the rest of the Israelites, from a wealthy Benjaminite family, and very handsome. Some of the Israelites do not initially accept Saul as king, but he soon amasses 330,000 Israelites in a decisive victory over the Ammonites. More Israelites then accept his kingship, and Saul declines to take revenge on those who initially opposed him.
-
Saul in Battle (1 Samuel 11:11) - artist unknown
-
-
-
Saul and David (1 Samuel 16:23) - Julius Kronberg
-
The Philistines assemble a large army to attack the Israelites. The Israelites wait for Samuel to arrive and offer sacrifices before commencing the battle, but when Samuel does not show up for seven days, Saul offers the sacrifices himself. Samuel arrives just as Saul completes the sacrifice. Samuel condemns Saul, prophesying that because Saul has not kept the LORD's commandments, the LORD will end Saul's kingship.
At this point, David enters the scene, and Saul becomes jealous of him. 1 Samuel gives us conflicting stories of how this happens. In 16:1 - 13, the LORD sends Samuel to Bethlehem to the household of Jesse, instructing him to anoint David as king while he is still a youth tending his father's sheep. In 16:14 - 23, Saul is troubled by evil spirits, and his servants suggest David—a capable warrior and a talented musician—be brought in to play the harp; Saul soon makes David his armor-bearer. In 18:6 - 9, David receives greater military praise than Saul after showing great prowess in the Philistine Wars, beginning with his single-handed defeat of the warrior Goliath while still an untrained youth (17:1 - 58).
-
-
-
Whatever the reason, by 18:10, Saul considers David to be a rival for the throne, and he begins plotting ways for David to die. Saul's own son, Jonathan, tries to protect David from Saul's attacks. Saul goes to war against David and about 300 other men who have rejected Saul as king. Twice in the hostilities near Ziph (24:1 - 23 and 26:1 - 25)—or in the same story recorded twice with variations—David has the opportunity to kill Saul but declines to do so, as Saul is still God's anointed king of Israel. In both accounts, David and Saul reconcile.
-
Saul Throwing His Spear at David
(1 Samuel 18:11) - Constantin Hansen
-
-
DAVID (Monday of Week 3 - Wednesday of Week 4)
-
Second King of Israel: Military Leader & God's Favorite
David is one of the most complex and well-rounded characters in the Bible. At various points of the narrative in 1 & 2 Samuel, the Bible portrays him as humble, arrogant, repentant, faithful, sinful, sorrowful, skilled in music, militarily powerful, wise, impulsive, out-of-touch, and shrewd.
The Anointing of David (1 Samuel 16:1 - 13) - Paolo Veronese
Whether or not Samuel prematurely anointed David as a youth, David is anointed as king of Judah shortly after the death of Saul (2 Samuel 2:1 - 7), presumably when he is 30 years old. David initially rules from Hebron, while Saul's son Ishbaal is anointed king of Israel. After seven and a half years, Ishbaal is murdered by his own people, and the Israelites anoint David as their king, too (2 Samuel 5:1 - 5).
After defeating the Jebusites, David makes Jerusalem his capital city, probably because of both its political and military significance. Politically, the formerly Jebusite city is neither part of Judah (whose capital has been Hebron) nor Israel (whose capital is Shechem). Militarily, the surrounding geography makes Jersualem a natural stronghold. While it is on a mountain with easily-defended valleys to the southwest (Gehenna) and the southeast (Kidron), it is ringed by high mountains, making it difficult for enemies to stage a sneak attack.
David Dances Before the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:14 - 15) - Pieter van Lint (Wikimedia Commons)
David proves to be a great military leader, defeating the Philistines (5:17 - 25), the Moabites, the Zobahites, and the Arameans (8:2 - 6), the Edomites (8:13 - 14), and the Ammonites (10:1 - 19), thus allowing Israel to take full possession of the entire land. In a ceremony filled with joy and ritual, David brings the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem (6:1 - 15). David vows to build a temple to house the ark of the covenant, but the LORD appears in a dream to Nathan the prophet, saying that David is not to build the temple. The LORD says that David's son will build the temple. While David himself will die, the LORD assures David that his royal throne will last forever (7:1 - 17).
-
-
-
David has many wives and children. Nevertheless, he lies one night with Bathsheba, the wife of the armor-bearer Uriah. Bathsheba becomes pregnant, and when it becomes clear that Uriah will soon discover that he is not the father of the child, David sends Uriah to the front of the battle with the Ammonites. Uriah dies, and David marries Bathsheba (11:1 - 27). The prophet Nathan condemns David, and David repents (12:1 - 15).
-
David spies Bathsheba at Her Bath (2 Samuel 11:1 - 3) - Jean-Léon Gérôme
-
-
-
David and Nathan (2 Samuel 12:1 - 12) - engraving by S. Sangster
-
When Amnon, one of David's sons, rapes Tamar, one of David's daughters by another wife, Tamar's brother Absalom kills Amnon. David is initially enraged with Absalom, his oldest son. Through the counsel of the wise woman of Tekoa (and through the instruction of the army commander Joab who feels that Absalom was right to avenge Tamar), David and Absalom reconcile over the course of a few years (13:1 - 14:33). Absalom later convinces the Israelites to anoint him as king, forcing David to flee Jerusalem (15:1 - 18a). In the ensuing war, Absalom is killed (15:18b - 19:1). David is caught up in debilitating grief over the death of Absalom, but Joab pushes David to reclaim the throne for the sake of the nation's unity (19:2 - 20:22).
-
-
-
Later, David takes up a census of the people, presumably either to find army recruits or to raise taxes to support an army. The LORD considers this a great sin, for it shows that David does not trust wholly on the LORD to be the sole guardian of the nation. The LORD commands the prophet Gad to present David with a choice of three punishments: three years of famine, three months of pursuit by his enemies, or three days of plague. David chooses plague, but then regrets doing so, because he realizes the sin is his alone and the people should not suffer. The LORD relents, seeing David's regret (24:1 - 25).
-
David: "Oh, that I had wings like a Dove / For then would I fly away, and be at rest." Psalm 55:6 (2 Samuel 19:1) - Frederic Leighton
-
-
-
David's Promise to Bathsheba (1 Kings 1:15 - 21) -
Gerbrand van den Eeckhort (Metropolitan Museum)
-
In David's old age, his eldest remaining son Adonijah presumes that he will be the next king, going so far as offering great public sacrifices as if he were already king. Some members of the court support Adonijah, but the prophet Nathan is opposed. Nathan asks Bathsheba to intercede with David, reminding him of a promise he made long before that her son Solomon would be king. (Solomon is NOT the child conceived by David and Bathsheba during their sin of adultery, but a child born later when they are married.) David publicly declares that Solomon will be his successor, and Adonijah submits to this decision (1 Kings 1:1 - 53). Solomon takes separate counsel from the dying David and from Bathsheba to take a number of shrewd political steps to secure the kingdom (2:1 - 46).
-
-
SOLOMON (Thursday of Week 4 - Saturday of Week 5)
-
In short order, Solomon prepares to build the temple as the LORD had foretold decades before through the prophet Nathan. The LORD appears to Solomon in a dream and offers to give him whatever he requests. Solomon asks for "a listening heart" (1 Kings 3:9) to be able to rule the people justly. The LORD is very pleased with this unselfish request. The LORD promises to make Solomon the wisest person in all of history. The LORD also promises to give Solomon the more typical things a political leader might ask of God: wealth, glory, and a long life (3:5 - 14).
-
Third King of Israel: Wisest & Most Prosperous
The Dream of Solomon (1 Kings 3:5 - 14) - Luca Giordano
-
-
-
The Judgment of Solomon (1 Kings 3:16 - 28) - workshop of Peter Paul Rubens
-
1 Kings 3:16 - 10:29 presents the pinnacle of the history of ancient Israel, the early years of the reign of Solomon, wisest of all kings. We hear of Solomon's wisdom (3:16 - 28, 5:9 - 14, 10:24 - 25), his many government officials (4:1 - 20), his prowess in international affairs which raise signifcant revenue for the kingdom (5:1 - 5), his wealth (5:6 - 8, 9:26 - 28, 10:14 - 22, 26 - 29), and his building and dedication of the magnificent temple over 20 years (5:15 - 8:66, 9:10 - 25).
-
-
-
The greatest triumph of Solomon is the state visit from the Queen of Sheba (10:1 - 13). The queen, coming from far away, bringing a substantial retinue, and laden with unbelievably expensive gifts of gold, spices, and precious stones, is impressed by Solomon's great and subtle knowledge. She declares, "Blessed be the LORD, your God, who has been pleased to place you on the throne of Israel. In his enduring love for Israel, the LORD has made you king to carry out judgment and justice."
-
The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon (1 Kings 10:1 - 13) - Edward Poynter
-
-
-
King Solomon in Old Age (1 Kings 11:4 - 8) - Gustave Doré
-
There is a sense of foreboding that the peace and prosperity may not last forever, however. After Solomon dedicates the temple, the LORD appears in another dream, saying, "I will establish your royal line forever, as I promised David your father.... But if ever you or your descendants turn from following me, fail to keep my commandments and statutes which I set before you, and proceed to serve other gods and bow down to them, I will cut off Israel from the land I gave them and repudiate the house I have consecrated for my name" (9:1 - 9).
And in our last three days of Week 5, we hear of the beginning of this downfall that will take place over the span of several centuries. 1 Kings 11:4 - 13 reports that in Solomon's old age, his many foreign-born wives persuade him to build temples to pagan gods. As much as the LORD is angered by Solomon's actions, the LORD tells Solomon that the kingdom will not be torn apart until after his death. After Solomon dies, his servant Jeroboam leads ten of the tribes of Israel in a rebellion, supported by Egypt, creating a separate kingdom, leaving the smaller kingdom of Judah to be ruled by Solomon's son Rehoboam. Since the Jerusalem temple is in the kingdom of Judah, Jeroboam establishes ritual sacrifices to golden calves in the high places in Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:26 - 13:34).
-
-
What Is the Significance of These Stories?
-
While the historical accuracy of the lives of Samuel, Saul, David, and Solomon have yet to be verified by extra-biblical sources, these stories—as presented by the Deuteronomist (D)—have formed an important part of Judeo-Christian identity for more than 2600 years, in a number of ways.
-
-
-
-
Ideals cannot be upheld for long on this side of eternity. Like the Garden of Eden after the fall, the perfect earthly kingdom is not achieveable without God's direct rule. Human beings—even David as God's beloved and Solomon as the wisest ruler of all time—are flawed. Peace and prosperity are possible, says D, as long as we stay true to God's commandments and statutes. But such ideals are shortlived, due to the failings of human nature.
-
God cannot be put in a box. The pinnacle of the ancient kingdom of Israel occurs just as God is housed in the Temple. The ark of the covenant had resided in a tent near the people since Mt. Sinai (c. 1250) until the midpoint of the reign of Solomon (c. 950). It seems as if once the ark is confined to the Temple, Solomon and others begin to think that God is no longer omnipresent.
-
We must continually renew our commitment to God. The Israelites in general, and Saul, David, and Solomon in particular, err whenever they believe that because the LORD has protected them in the past, their present behavior will not be scrutinized by God.
-
-
King David Playing the Harp - Gerard van Horthorst
-
King Solomon Dedicates the Temple
(1 Kings 8:22 - 53) - James Tissot -
-
The LORD is not just a God for the Israelites. The hand of God extends well beyond the people who worship according to the Torah. The Philistines are punished by the LORD for possessing the ark of the covenant, and the Queen of Sheba recognizes the greatness of the LORD.
-
"The LORD is kind and merciful" (Psalm 103). Despite brazen acts of sinfulness by Saul, David, and Solomon, God demonstrates a richness in mercy and a slowness to anger. All three leaders are warned by prophets or God directly that they must repent. Only David repents of his sins, and that is probably why he is God's beloved.
-
-
-
-
The response to the first reading during these weeks is usually from the Book of Psalms, except for the Tuesday of Week 1 (when it is the Song of Hannah, 1 Samuel 2:1 - 8) and the Thursday of Week 4 (when it is 1 Chronicles 29:10 - 12). The gospel reading is taken from the Gospel of Mark, chapters 1 - 8.
This concludes page 6 of 40 in our Lectionary Guide. For a comprehensive reading of the entire guide, we suggest going next to Psalms and Canticles.
-
