The Largest Extent of the Kingdom of Israel under Solomon
After the death of David, his son Solomon becomes king.
When he would not reduce the high taxation burden and treat this subjects better, the northern 10 tribes revolted and split from the kingdom, setting up their own nation of Israel, leaving only the two tribes Judah and Benjamin of the original nation loyal to the House of David.
Israel then crowned in Shechem, Solomon's servant Jeroboam to be King over Israel.
Unfortunately he started Israel on the downward path of idolatry.
Since the magnificent House for God which Solomon built remained within Judah at Jerusalem, Jeroboam realized he could not allow the people to go to the temple for God's annual Holy Days, so he changed the important fall Feast of Tabernacles from the 7th month to the eighth month and set up idols to worship in the north at Dan and the south at Beth-el.
Israel then started down the slippery slope which was to end in destruction of the nation, national captivity, and the withholding of the birthright for over twenty-five centuries.
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The history of the Jewish people could be traced back thousands of years to the time of the enslavement of the Hebrew tribes in Egypt or maybe farther, to the time of Isaac and Abraham and the stories of Genesis. However, the myth enveloping these stories makes it difficult to distill historical facts from them.
ReplyDeleteAn undisputed fact is the existence of a Hebrew kingdom by the name of Judea or Israel in the region that is now modern Israel. It was established somewhere in 11th century BC and conquered by the Persians in 586 BC. The Hebrews were exiled to Persia but allowed to return to Judea 70 years later, where the Jews persisted to reside until conquered, enslaved and exiled by the Romans in 73 AD.
Jews in Exile
ReplyDeleteThe Jewish nation scattered across Europe and the Muslim world, living in small communities, trying to preserve their distinct identity and way of life. Throughout the two millenniums that transpired, Jews continued to pine for their return to Israel. However, this hope had become a distant dream mentioned only in prayers. Israel was beheld as Heaven on Earth, the land of “milk and honey” little resembling scantly inhabited desert that it had become.
How did the dream of the return to Israel suddenly become a concrete aspiration? What drove the first Jewish immigrants to leave their relative comfort in Europe, to the scorching hardships of this desert land?
Throughout the 19th century, many ethnic groups aspired to become nations and declare independence. Italy and Germany were established in quick succession, and other countries, such as France, became republics devoted to their national identities rather than to their royal families.
ReplyDeleteSome Jewish intellectuals, especially in Eastern Europe called out for Jews to form their own national movement, immigrate to Israel and redeem the land through agriculture.
While these ideas were taking root, some vicious pogroms (large-scale, organized violent riots) took place against the Jews in Poland, Ukraine and Moldova. More than two million Jews fled their burning countries, mostly to the United States. A small minority bought land in Israel and settled in small agricultural villages. On the threshold of the 20th century, some 25,000 Jews had settled in Israel. A Jewish national movement, the Zionist movement came into being, and was led by Theodor Herzl.
Up until 1939 hundreds of thousands of Jews immigrated to Israel, some driven by Zionist ideals, some just to flee from the increasing anti-Semitic persecutions which spread to Western Europe. The Jewish settlement in Israel thrived: cities and infrastructure developed, swamps dried and converted to agricultural soil, universities established, and theaters opened.
How did the Arab residents of Israel react to these developments? Who controlled Israel at this time?
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A heavenly maiden with an orb of gold
ReplyDeleteSits by the Mediterranean Sea
She gazes at the sailors and ships
That pass by for eternity
Who are you? fair maiden, they ask
What is your pedigree
I am a Jew, she answers, and that's my destiny
I am called Israel born of steel and fire
I have gathered my children from many lands afar
From East and West and South and North
They came in multitude
And they have made me what I am
In everlasting gratitude
I am their mother and they are my children
That's how we both feel
Israel (my name) is a reality
That adversity could not kill.