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Kingdom Of Israel




The Kingdom of Israel () is one of the successor states to the older United Monarchy (also often called the 'Kingdom of Israel'). It existed from roughly 930s BCE until about 720s BCE . This article follows its history until its final destruction by the Assyrian Empire , and considers the fate of its population and territory following its destruction.

Israel is often referred to as the Northern Kingdom to distinguish it from the '''Southern Kingdom''' of Judah.


HISTORY


Origins of the United Monarchy


The United Monarchy was formed out of the territories of the twelve Hebrew tribes living in the area in and around modern Israel and Palestine.


United Monarchy



The Kingdom of Israel was one of two successor states to the older Kingdom of Israel, which existed from around 1030 BCE - 920 BCE . The other successor state bore the name Kingdom Of Judah . However, many Biblical Minimalists question whether the United Monarchy actually existed, citing a lack of supporting evidence for much of what is written in the Bible. They claim that events described in the Bible as having taken place in the 10th century BCE actually took place a century later.


Divided Monarchy


Kingdom of Israel


Soon after the death of , the son and successor of Solomon, was scarcely seated on his throne when the old jealousies between Judah and the other tribes broke out anew, and Jeroboam was sent for from Egypt by the malcontents (12:2,3).

Rehoboam insolently refused to lighten the burdensome 10), and in 930 BCE - 920 BCE , Jeroboam was proclaimed king over all Israel at Shechem , with the Tribe Of Judah and the Tribe Of Benjamin remaining faithful to Rehoboam. War continued, with varying success, between the two kingdoms for about sixty years.

At around 850 BCE the Mesha Stele , written in Old Hebrew Alphabet , records a victory of King Mesha of Moab against king Omri of Israel and his son Ahab ( cf.),

The conflict between Israel and Judah was resolved when Jehoshaphat , king of Judah, allied himself with the house of Ahab through marriage. Later, Jehosophat's son and successor Jehoram Of Judah married Ahab's daughter Athaliah , cementing the alliance. However, the sons of Ahab were slaughtered by Jehosophat's son Jehu following his Coup D'état around 840 BCE .

after a duration of two centuries, the kingdom of the ten tribes came to an end.


Kingdom of Judah


The Kingdom of Judah, or Southern Kingdom, existed as an independent state from about 930 BCE until 586 BCE when it was conquered by the Babylonian Empire .


Post Conquest Developments


Lost Tribes of Israel


The inhabitants of the Kingdom of Israel were scattered throughout the East , and are popularly known as the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel.

: " Judah held its ground against Assyria for yet one hundred and thirty-four years, and became the rallying-point of the dispersed of every tribe, and eventually gave its name to the whole race. Those of the people who in the last struggle escaped into the territories of Judah or other neighbouring countries naturally looked to Judah as the head and home of their race. And when Judah itself was carried off to Babylon , many of the exiled Israelites joined them from Assyria, and swelled that immense population which made Babylonia a second Judah".

After the deportation of the ten tribes, the vacated land was colonized by various eastern tribes, especially Syrians, whom the king of Assyria sent there ( Ezra 4:2, 10; 2 Kings 17:24-29).

In 537 BCE , the ruler of the Persian Empire , Cyrus The Great permitted exiled populations within the newly conquered Babylonian Empire to return to their native lands, marking the end of the so-called Babylonian Captivity . Any Israelite exiles retaining their national identity or having joined with their fellow exiles from the Kingdom of Judah, and possessing the will to return to their old territories would have begun returning to the territories of the former Kingdom of Israel at this time.


Samaritans


The emergence of the Samaritan people as an ethnic group distinct from Jewish people, with a religion distinct from Judaism yet bearing much in common with it can be traced to the political changes in the area when it was occupied by the Assyrians. The removal of the old ruling structure of the Kingdom of Israel, together with the influx of a foreign population in an area already devastated by foreign conquest led to the emergence of a new identity distinct from that of the Kingdom of Judah to the south. This population has persisted as a separate ethnic entity through the restoration of an autonomous Jewish nation in the area by Cyrus The Great , and on into the present.


CULTURE


Notable Personalities


Prophets Active in the Kingdom of Israel



EXTENT OF THE KINGDOM

The Kingdom of Israel was the nation formed from the territories of the tribes of Zebulun , Issachar , Asher , Naphtali , Dan , Manasseh ,
Ephraim , Reuben and
Gad , and was named after Israel , son of Isaac .

Its capital was Samaria . [http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/History/Judah.html


ROYAL HOUSES OF ISRAEL

For this period, most historians follow either of the older chronologies established by William F. Albright or Edwin R. Thiele , or the newer chronology of Gershon Galil , all of which are shown below. All dates are BCE .


NOTES



SEE ALSO



EXTERNAL LINKS

  • Biblical History The Jewish History Resource Center - Project of the Dinur Center for Research in Jewish History, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

  • Complete Bible Genealogy A synchronized chart of the kings of Israel and Judah