The Kingdom Divides
931 b.c. When Solomon’s son Rehoboam arrived at Shechem for his coronation after his father’s death, he refused to lighten his father’s heavy tax burden on… Read More »The Kingdom Divides
931 b.c. When Solomon’s son Rehoboam arrived at Shechem for his coronation after his father’s death, he refused to lighten his father’s heavy tax burden on… Read More »The Kingdom Divides
c. 950 b.c. Though Solomon held a firm grip on his kingdom throughout his lifetime, there were still those who worked to subvert his rule. Hadad… Read More »Solomon’s Enemies
c. 950 b.c. Solomon’s firm control of important trade routes linking Egypt, Arabia, Mesopotamia, and Anatolia (Asia Minor) provided him with incalculable wealth. Partnering with King… Read More »Solomon’s International Ventures
c. 950 b.c. Through various building projects Solomon began to transform the small military stronghold of the city of David into a full-scale city that would… Read More »Jerusalem at the Time of Solomon
c. 950 b.c. Solomon reorganized the Israelite territory of his kingdom into 12 districts, each of which was responsible to supply the immense provisions for the… Read More »Solomon’s Administrative Districts
c. 971–931 b.c. Solomon’s reign marked the zenith of Israel’s power and wealth in biblical times. His father, David, had bestowed upon him a kingdom that… Read More »The Extent of Solomon’s Kingdom
c. 975 b.c. David ordered his commander Joab to take a census of all the people in the regions in which he exercised direct control. The… Read More »David’s Census
c. 985 b.c. In retaliation for the incestuous rape of his sister, Absalom killed his brother Amnon at Baal-hazor and fled to Geshur. After three years,… Read More »David and Absalom
c. 995 b.c. After purposely humiliating ambassadors sent by David, the Ammonites prepared for David’s response by calling for help from the king of Maacah, the… Read More »David Defeats the Ammonites and the Syrians
c. 1000 b.c. Soon after David moved his capital to Jerusalem, the Philistines prepared to attack David’s forces at the nearby Valley of Rephaim. David defeated… Read More »David Defeats the Philistines
c. 1005 b.c. After securing his reign over all Israel, David moved his capital from Hebron, a southern city of Judah, to a more central and… Read More »David Captures the Stronghold of Zion
c. 1010 b.c. Immediately after Saul’s death, a struggle for power ensued between David and Ish-bosheth (or Eshbaal), Saul’s youngest and only surviving son. David ruled… Read More »David’s Struggle for Power