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REHEBOAM & JEROBOAM
" א' תשע מרחשון כOCTOBER 28, 2010
Split of the KingdomJeroboam’s New Altars
Prophesy of IddoThe War with Shishak
Division of the kingdom
Crisis Ahija Hashiloni
◦ Had anointed Jeroboam as the man who would split the kingdom
◦ He did this during Solomon’s lifetime but he would not rule until the reign of Rehaboam
◦ Jeroboam had potential
The meeting at Shechem◦ Went to Shcem to project power
over the people
◦ Advice of the Younger Advisors
◦ Advice of the Older Advisors
Jeroboam◦ Returned from Egypt to be the
spokesman of the rebellion
Shishak’s Invasion
Different Reactions
יד פרק א מלכיםָע7ָׂש78ה א=ָׂש>;ר ?7ה7ב הAָּז ?Bי Dֵּנ ִג מ7 ?7ל כ א;ת ?Dק?Aח Aי ַו ל7ק7ח ?Iל הAכ Jא;ת ַו J הAמ?;ל;ְך ב?Bית אַוIְצJרַוIת Jא;ת ַו 7ק JקIַו י ב?Bית אIְצJרַוIת א;ת ?Dק?Aח Aי ַו: :J הAמ?;ל;ְך ב?Bית ;תAח פ? הAָׂש>?IמJרDים ה7ר7ְצDים ָׂש78רBי Aד י ָעAל JהDפJקDיד ַו JחIָׂש>;ת ֵּנ ?Bי Dֵּנ ִג מ7 7ם AחJת? ת? רJחAבJָע7ם J הAמ?;ל;ְך ?AָעAָׂש8 Aי ַו ָׂש>JלIמIה
When Shishak invaded in the 5th year of Rehaboam’s reign
The Bubastite Portal claims that Shishak invaded in response to attacks by tribes into Egyptian frontier settlements
Rehaboam paid a large tribute including the golden shields that his father had placed in the Beis Hamikdsh
Jeroboam’s reaction is not mentioned the Navi but the inscription on the temple of Karnak tells us that Shishak destroyed many of the North’s cities
Archeologists have found evidence of destruction in line with the time of Shishak’s invasion
They found destruction in the north including , Taanach, Megiddo and in the south in the Negev in Arad
Jeroboam’s Claves
New Religion?
photo by David Harris/Collection Israel MuseumThis molten calf was discovered by chance on a high ridge near Mt. Ebal, in northern Samaria. Subsequent excavations revealed what the excavator, Amihai Mazar, identified as a hilltop cult site—a biblical bamah, or “high place”—dating to the 12th century B.C.E., when Israel was emerging in Canaan. Measuring 5 inches tall by 7 inches long, this bronze is the largest figurine of a calf ever found in the Levant. Its empty eyesockets probably once held inlays of glass or semiprecious stones. The small hump on its back, above the forelegs, identifies this as a Zebu bull (Bos indicus), a species that originated in India but was present in the Near East as early as the fourth millennium B.C.E. Hurowitz, Victor. “The Golden Calf.” Bible Review, Apr 2004, 28-32, 47
In order to prevent the people from returning to Jerusalem and delegitimize his own kingdom
Jeroboam made two temples one in Dan on in Bethel
At them people worshiped Golden Claves◦ Jeroboam had two sons Nadab and Abihu like
Aaron to give the religion legitimacy
He moved Sukkos from Tishrei to MarCheshvan
Should not be understood as a new religion rather a return to older traditions that started after Matan Torah but and were still in the culture of those who were worshiping "ָּז in Israel weather Jew or עnon-Jew
Dan was already the center for Pesel Micha He never repudiated his belief in Hashem
and the calves were ways of worshiping Hashem
This is typical Syncretistic Worship Due to this break with traditionally Jewish
religion Iddo the prophet rebuked him and predicted complete destruction to Jeroboam’s line
THE BRIEF REIGNS OF ABIJA KING OF JUDAH &NADAB KING OF ISRAEL
War Between the States
From the Split the Two Kingdoms were at War
Rehaboam builds fortresses along the Egyptian border
Abijam (son of Rehaboam) defeated Jerobaoam in battle on
יִג פרק ב הימים דברי דI? ?DלJכ Aי ַו 7ר7בJָע7ם י אAח=רBי ?7ה א=בDי ?Iף ?DרJד Aי ַו
Jא;ת ַו אBל ב?Bית א;ת ?ָע7רDים ?ַו ֵּנ מ?; Dמב?JֵּנַוIת;יה7 Jא;ת ַו 7ה Jָׂש>7ֵּנ י Jא;ת ַו ב?JֵּנַוIת;יה7
: ?בJֵּנIת;יה7 ַו ָע;פJרAִין עפרַון Jא;ת ַו
Nadab son of Jeroboam was assassinated by Baasha one of his senior officers while Israel was at war against the Philistines at Gibbethon
The Navi does not elaborate but it seems likely that he was because of the military weakness of the state of Israel brought about by Shishak’s invasion that Israel was not able to hold on to important cities such as Bethel and was under threat by the Philistines
BAASHA’S REVOLUTION IN ISRAELASA IN JUDAH
Baasha and Asa
War Between the States Baasha killed the rest of Jeroboam’s
family to allow him uncontested rule Established a new capital in Tirzah The Navi tells us that there was
constant warfare with Judah against Asa the Tzadik king of Judah
Baasha had taken the city of Ramah and cut supplies to Jerusalem
Asa sent a bribe to Ben-Hadad king of Aram Damascus and asked him to invade Israel which he did which allowed Asa and Judah to attack Israel’s south
With Ben-Hadad’s invasion Asa was able to destroy Ramah and take the building materials and use them to fortify the Judean cities Gibeah and Mizpah
OMRI’S REIGN883-872 BCE
RevolutionConstructionTrade AgreementsEconomy
Omri’s Revolution
Elah son of Baasha and Zimri OmriWas king in Tirzah for
two yearsThe army was out
besieging the city of Gibbethon
There was a revolt by one of his generals
Zimri the leader of the Chariot corps killed Elah and ruled for 7 days
When the news reached the army in Gibbethon two generals attempted to grab the throne
Tibni son of Ginath was followed by some of the army
Omri besieged Tirzah and when Zimri realized that his situation was hopeless set the palace on fire and killed himself
Omri and Tibni each claim to rule for a time (possibly as long as 6 years) until Tibni’s death
Construction
Samaria Omri ruled 12 years and is
credited in the Navi with one major achievement
He bought and built a capital on the site of ָׂשַומרַון or Samaria
Tirzah was defensible and could control the Jordan valley but aside from that it was isolated
Samaria is strategically located, easily defended in the Ephraim highlands
Allowed for extensive relationship with Phoenicia
He also rebuilt the cities of Hazor Megiddo, Dan, and others destroyed during Baasha’s conflict with Ben-Hadad of Damascus
Trade Agreements
Phoenicia Omri entered into a treaty with
Ittobaal (Ethbaal – in the Navi) His son Ahab married Ethbaal’s
daughter Jezebel This treaty was mutually
beneficial since the trade routes pass through Megiddo, Hazor and Israelite territory
The Kings Highway went from the Red Sea to Damascus also through Israelite territory
The Phonicians were able tap into the land trade routs to help increase their sea trade
This caused conflict with Aram-Damascus
Economy of the Omrides
Top – proto-aeolic column headBottom – Omride temple with dressed ashlars masonry
The Jezreel ValleyBuilding
◦ Proto-Aeolic or proto-Ionian columns
◦ Dressed header and stretcher ashlars masonry
Ivory◦ I kings 22:39
Fertile Jezreel Valley under the control of the Kings of Israel gave them a stable and predictable food surplus
Map of the Jezreel Valley
REIGN OF AHAB 872-851 BCE
ReligionProphecyPeace with JudahWar with Aram
Religion
Baal and Ashera
Baal and Ashera
Ahab worshiped the imported idols Baal and Ashera
Jezebel imported the cults to Israel from Tyre
Unlike other Kings of Israel Ahab attempted to abandon Judaism in favor of these idols
He wanted to undo our connection with Hashem
Historians have trouble believing in such a radical break from traditional values and minimize the dispute
According to them Ahab and the Israelite aristocracy were advocating an open form of worship with Hashem being just one of many powers Elijah fought for exclusive worship of Hashem
Prophesy
Elijah & Other Prophets
View from top of Mount Carmel looking over the Jezreel Valley
Elijah decrees drought on Israel in response to Ahab’s institutionalizing Baal worship
Ahab and his wife attempt to kill all prophets in Israel
Ovadya, who is Ahab’s steward saves 100 prophets in a cave
Has a test with the prophets of the Baal on Har Hacarmel
Rebukes Ahab for his conspiracy to steal the land of Nabboth from Jezreel through a fake trial
Other prophets are called to give messages to Ahab in time of war to let him know that Hashem is behind Ahab’s defeat of the Arameans
Prophecy
DevelopmentFrom Shofet
◦ Deborah
◦ Shmuel transition to monarchy
To Royal Advisor◦ Nathan and Gad
To Critique of the Kings◦ Elijah
◦ Elisha
◦ Both of whom first rebuke the Kings for Syncretistic worship
◦ Secondarily for inhumane treatment of their subjects
Later focus on social ills◦ Amos
◦ Isaiah
Prophecy of Destruction◦ Jeremiah
Prophecy of the Exile◦ Ezekiel
Prophecy of Rebuilding◦ Zachariah
Peace Between Israel and Judah
Jehoshaphat (870-846
BCE)Results of the Peace
Was the Son of Asa and became King of Judah
Made peace with Israel and is found fighting alongside of Ahab in his wars with Damascus and with Ahab’s son Jehoram in his war against Moab
He arraigned Ahab’s daughter Athaliah to marry his son Jehoram
(things become confusing when the king of Israel and the king of Judah have the same name. Sorry not my fault)
In spite of being called a ְצדיק by the Navi who tried but failed to removed the Baamos and tried to teach Torah to the nation
Judah still suffer losses because of the alliance with Israel
Loss of Edom◦ During Jehoshaphat’s lifetime Judah
ruled over Edom
◦ In his son’s reign they rebelled and Judah lost the territory
Loss of freedom in becoming a vassal of the kingdom of Israel
His new daughter-in-law Athaliah eventually kill almost all of his decedents and institutionalizes Baal and Ashera cults in Judah
Attempted an expedition from the Red Sea which failed
War Between Aram-Damascus and Israel
First Battle Second BattleBen-Hadad threatens
the independence of Israel and demands a very high tribute
Ahab is assured by the prophet that he would win and should use the victory as sign to repent because the war is not over
Ahab does not repent and after
Ben-Hadad returns the next year and says that Hashem is only powerful in the mountains so they decide to fight on the plain
A Navi reports to Ahab that since he has not repented he should lose the battle but since an Israelite loss would mean that Ben-Hadad’s blasphemy is true Ahab will win
Ahab wins and has the Ben-Hadad trapped but when Ben-Hadad surrenders treats him as an equal and makes a treaty
War Between Aram-Damascus and Israel
Final Battle The incident with Nabboth from
Jezreel Elijah goes to Ahab and tells him
that he will be killed by the king of Aram and that in two generations his dynasty would be killed off
Ahab repents – at least in public After a three year peace Ahab
decides to take Ramoth-Gilead from Aram
He and Jehoshaphat of Judah attack Aram and Ahab is killed in battle
The Israelites lose the battle and are weakened by the loss
RISE OF ASSYRIA
Rise of Assyria
Ashurnasirpal II (854-859 BCE) Shalmaneser III (859-824 BCE)
Contemporary of Omri Built up the Army Pillaged for wealth not
territory Conquered upper
Mesopotamia and Northern Syria as far as the northern Phoenician coast
He conquered and was forced to leave either to put down a revolt or to attack elsewhere
Began to campaign annually in the Levant
Subjugated a Kingdom known as Bit Adini
12 States in the Levant formed a coalition to hold off Assyria
This included Ahab of Israel and Haddezer of Damascus
According to Shalmaneser’s records Ahab provided 2,000, chariots and 10,000 Infantry
The largest contingent of chariots in the coalition
Ahab and the coalition held off Assyria in the battle of Qarqar
The temporary alliance between Damascus and Israel would account for the three years of peace and the defeat of Shalmaneser would account for the renewed hostilities between them
Map of Assyrian Campaigns in the Levant