S.S. Ch.6 Lesson 2

The Israelites returned to
Canaan 40 years after the
Exodus and lived there as
12 independent tribes,
but enemy attacks
made them unite
under one king, Saul
The Israelites Get a KingAfter 40 years the Exodus, the Hebrews reached Canaan
Enemies surrounded them where they settled
In Canaan, the Israelites lived as 12 independent tribes with it’s own leader
In war, a judge rose to power to lead the people but their power was temporary
The Israelites Get a King
The Israelites were weak against attackers when they were not united
They decided they needed a king to unite
The Israelites went to Samuel and asked to appoint a judge but Samuel reminded that the only leader they needed was God.
Saul and David
King Saul did not follow
God’s commands, so Samuel r
eplaced Saul with David, a strong
ruler who established Jerusalem
as the center of government
and religious life in Israel.
King Saul defeated many Israelites’ enemies but did not follow God
God rejected Saul and died in war
David, of the tribe of Judah, had become the new king
Under King David’s rule, Israel stretched from Egypt to Mesopotamia
David named Jerusalem as the new capital of the kingdom of Israel
Under David, it grew as the center of government and religious life
The Kingdom of Solomon

Solomon, David’s son, became king and began to build a temple in Jerusalem
The purpose of the temple:
Place of worship
Keep the Ark of the Covenant
Box that held the tablet Ten Commandments were written
The Kingdom of Solomon

“the Temple”
Limestone
Inside lined with cedarwood
Placed the Ark covered in gold and colored glass, in the temple
The Kingdom of Solomon
Solomon also:
Built forts
Grain store houses
Water systems
Placed heavy taxes
Forced thousands to work as builders

The Kingdom of Solomon
Divided kingdom into 12 tax districts
Each had its own governor and public service
Egypt, Phoenicia, and Israel had friendly trade relationships
Solomon protected his trade routes with an army

Life in Ancient IsraelReligious beliefs and laws continued to guide everyday life
Deborah, a woman judge and an advisor, rose to power
Solomon is know for his wisdom and proverbs
Also he is the author of two books:
Song of Songs
Proverbs