THE KINGS

a) David
b) Solomon
c) Division of Israel and exile to Babylon
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a) David

        Around the year 1000 B.C. God decided to give his people a king. In the beginning, he had chosen Saul (1000-989 B.C.), but he was dismissed after failing to fulfil the commandments. So he sent Samuel, the prophet, to the city of Bethlehem to confirm the future king of Israel.

        David was the one chosen to govern His people, as he was very good and religious in heart. When he was younger, he had been able to beat a giant Philistine called Goliath.

        Becoming king at age 30, David (the supreme commander) defeated all of the neighbouring villages, and established Jerusalem as the capital. He took the Ark of the Covenant there with him, which included the 10 commandments which God had given to Moses.

        David consolidated the kingdom of Israel, united the 12 tribes and gave glory to God through the psalms.

b) Solomon

        Now a very old man, King David, along with his wife Betsabe, decided to teach their son Solomon how to serve God and his people. The kingdom of Solomon (King of Peace) was a period of peace and prosperity, fruit of the wisdom, which God gave him when he took the throne.

        Solomon built the temple of Jerusalem and wrote the book of Proverbs. He spread the richness and wisdom of Israel all over the world. Even the queen of Sheba went to contemplate Solomon’s wisdom.

c) Division of Israel and exile to Babylon

---- 1: Deportation of 721 B.C.           ---- 2: Deportation of 587 B.C.

        Upon the death of Solomon, almost all people began to fall into false gods, and the kingdom of Israel was divided into two. This division was an omen of the still greater evil that would soon come.

        Around the year 721 B.C. the king of Assyria invaded the northern kingdom, destroyed the city of Samaria, and exiled many Israelites to Nineveh.

        Years later, in 587 B.C. the king of Babylon destroyed the holy city of Jerusalem and exiled thousands of Jews to Babylon.

        The time of exile to Babylon was a period of reflection and purification and there the Jews began to await the arrival of the Messiah.

 

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Diocese of Cartagena-Murcia 
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