BEFORE 2000 B.C.
I. FOUNDATIONS OF ORIENTAL CIVILIZATION
1. A thousand years before Abraham, civilization was old in the Orient. The Hebrews were latecomers.
2. 6000 B.C.—Jericho [1]—before the age of pottery—was a thriving city. They domesticated animals, had cereal crops, and elaborate irrigation. This was almost 5,000 years before Abraham.
3. A thousand years later—in the next level—pottery appears. Agriculture and craft specialization are discovered.
4. By 4000 B.C. colored decorative pottery appears, with human and geometric figures. This pottery is found from the lake of Van- south to Kirkuk.
5. The first city-states appear. We do not know what language they spoke— there was no writing.
6. The diggers are, of course, bothered by the mystery of the Sumerians. See Urantia Book, (875.5) 78:8.1 [2]
7. They find pottery wheels and the ovens for firing the pottery.
8. About 3300 B.C. the first writing is discovered. So far, we are unable to read these writings (probably Sumerian).
9. Aside from the Urantia Book, the Sumerians [3] remain the great mystery of all history.
10. During those times Egypt also enjoyed an advanced culture.
11. During those times successive waves of “Semites” went forth from Mesopotamia to the north and west.
NOTE: The story of the Andite expansion found in the Urantia Book, (889.1) 80:0.1 [4]
II. THE ORIENT DURING THIRD MILLENNIUM
1. Ur was the cultural center of Mesopotamia.
2. The theocratic city-states were the final stage of Sumerian culture.
3. At this time, the Sumerians were polytheistic—each city-state had its own god.
4. The early Semites of Mesopotamia were the Accadians. They adopted Sumerian culture but kept their own Semitic language.
5. The empire of Accad [5] (2360-2180) was the first real empire. The founder was Sargon of Kish.
6. The state-center moved from the temple of the god to the palace of the king.
7. Egypt prospered. The old kingdom Pharaohs built the pyramids and other hewn-stone (the oldest) buildings.
8. Egypt invented hieroglyphic writing. Religion had many ups and downs.
9. Culture in Palestine was far below that of the Nile and Euphrates. Nevertheless, there were prosperous cities at Jericho, Megiddo, Beth-shan, Ai, Shechem, Gezer, and Lachish.
10. The Canaanites spoke their own language, of which the later Hebrew was a dialect.
11. The Guti overthrew the Accad Empire and a brief “dark age” resulted.
12. Utu-hegal [6], king of Erech, destroyed the Guti and established the dynasty of Ur (2060-1950). Again Sumerian culture flourishes.
13. But this was the last of Sumerian culture, rule, and language.
14. About this time the Amorite invasion of Palestine began. Many cities destroyed.
15. The Mari empire was next to rule Mesopotamia. There was a long “balance of power” between Mari, Assyria, and Egypt.
16. Numerous groups of Semites infiltrated Palestine during these times.
17. Egypt declined in power and plunged into the “dark ages.”
18. Babylon, under Hammurabi, took over. But the Elamites, Assyria, and the Mari were yet to be conquered.
19. Mari [7] (1750-1697) became the ruler of upper Mesopotamia. (Confirmed by recent excavations, yielding thousands of tablets.)
20. The Mari had horse-drawn chariots and the battering-ram. A palace with 250 rooms has been uncovered—one of the wonders of the ancient world.
21. But all this was overthrown by Hammurabi [8]—Babylon took over the empire.
22. Mari was completely destroyed and the god Marduk [9] took over in the new empire.
23. The Hyksos [10]—origin unknown—took over in Egypt. Confusion reigned—a dark age was coining on.
24. The Hittite rule is to come later. But now it is time to go back and pick up the story of Israel during the times of the Patriarchs.
I. THE PATRIARCHAL NARRATIVES
Gen 12 to 50 [11]
1. These stories are supposed to have been written by Moses. But we know they were penned centuries after Moses’ death.
2. We know that the patriarchal narratives consist of four different sources — J, E, D, and P [12].
3. Modern archaeological research has shed much light on, and done much to confirm, the Old Testament story of the Patriarchs.
4. Excavations of dozens of sites in Palestine confirm the traditions of early Israel. See Deut 6:20-25 [13]; 26:5-10 [14]. Josh 24:2-13 [15].
5. The early traditions and records were probably heroic poems like the Song of Deborah.
6. It is impossible to reconstruct the patriarchal age, but the little we do know does not contradict the traditional narrative.
7. Abraham and Lot were heads of large clans.
8. Abraham was known as the “friend of God.”
II. HISTORICAL SETTING OF NARRATIVES
1. Abraham is a name known in Babylon. Nahor occurs in the Mart texts. Benjamin was a Mari tribe. Gad and Dan are both found in Mari.
2. Social customs of the Patriarchs conform to Hittite and Huerian practices.
3. They were largely nomads. Lived in tents. Owned no land except for burial grounds.
4. They were not desert nomads—they did not have camels. Camels did not appear until the times of Gideon.
5. The patriarchal age lies somewhere between the twentieth and sixteenth centuries.
6. It is not possible to set an exact date for the Hebrews going into Egypt.
III. THE HEBREW ANCESTORS
1. Haran—starting point of Abraham’s journey—was probably occupied by Huerian clans.
2. Israel probably had multiple ancestors—Canaanites of various origins. Consider Moab, Ammon, and Edom.
3. Abraham’s father, Terah, came from Ur of Chaldea.
4. The Arameans also probably find a place among Israel’s ancestors.
5. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were real people. They were chieftains of semi-nomadic clans.
6. We should remember that the actual events recorded of the Patriarchs were vastly more complex than the Bible narratives.
7. The Patriarchs were not altogether peaceful. Note - the assault of Simeon and Levi upon Shechem. Gen. Chap. 34. Jacob seizes land near Shechem. Abraham’s battles with Chedorlaomer.
8. The religion of the Patriarchs is not well defined. Moses is probably the father of Hebrew religion.
9. See the Urantia Book for account of Abraham and Melchizedek. (1014.1) 93:0.1 [16]
10. There is no mention of Yahweh until we come to the times of Moses.
11. The God of the Patriarchs was Elohim—the Most High.
THE FORMATIVE PERIOD
I. WESTERN ASIA AND EGYPT
1. These events took place sometime between 1550 and 1200 B.C.
2. In 1550 Amosis drove Hyksos into Palestine and Egypt took over the Euphrates territory. Egypt conducted 16 campaigns.
3. Only serious opposition the Egyptians met was the Hittites. Many local rulers were Indo-Aryans and worshiped Vedic gods—Indra and Mithra.
4. Amenophis IV changed his name to Ikhnaton, built a new capital, and introduced a monotheistic religion. This was about one hundred years before Moses.
5. Hittites and others were in revolt and took over Palestine.
6. The earliest historic reference to Israel tells about King Marniptah fighting the Israelites in Palestine.
7. Most of the early Canaanites were more properly called Amorites.
8. There were also many Hurrians and some Indo-Aryans in Palestine. The Horites (Hivites) were non-Semitic.
9. Among the early inventions of Palestine was the alphabet of the Phoenicians —passed on to Greeks and then to Europe.
10. Later, from somewhere, came the Edomites and the Moabites.
11. Date of the Exodus is in doubt. Probably in the thirteenth century. I Kings 6:1 places the Exodus 480 years before the fourth year of Solomon’s reign. This would be in the fifteenth century.
12. For the Moses story, see (1055.4) 96:3.1 [17]
13. Remember that Moses had spent years with Kenites before going back to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt.
14. There are almost two stories about the wilderness wanderings:
15. One of these narratives calls the mountain Sinai, the other Horeb.
16. Some students think it possible there were two invasions of Palestine:
17. The conquest of Canaan was gradual and never complete.
II. FORMATION OF THE ISRAELITES
1. The Hebrews of Palestine were a complex and polyglot people. Moses was part Egyptian and no doubt many Egyptians came along.
2. The Exodus was referred to as a “mixed multitude.” Ex 12:38 [18]. Num 11:4 [19].
3. There were also Midianites (Kenites) in the group. Num 10:29-32 [20].
4. The wilderness horde may have numbered several thousand, but never 600,000 men of military age—as in Num 1:46 [21]; 26:51 [22]. Such an army would mean a total population well over two million.
5. In Palestine they freely mixed up with the natives. There was the Gibeonite confederacy. Josh 9 [23].
6. That whole cities came over to the cult of Yahweh is suggested in Josh 24 [24].
7. Remember: Moses’ religion was the worship of El Elyon or El Shaddai, until Yahweh revealed himself at the “burning bush.”
8. Also remember: That the Jews may have “crossed over,” not the Red Sea, but the “Lake of Reeds,” near the present town of Suez—the marshy district between Suez and the Great Bitter Lake.
9. Another point: In one place it says the Israelites were cattle raisers. In another place, industrial workers—slaves—brick-makers.
I. RELIGION OF EARLY ISRAEL
1. We first encounter Israel in Palestine as a loose federation of 12 tribes —so-called.
2. The Hebrew confederation was an amphictyony—an association of tribes for the protection of a religious center.
3. The early religion was henotheism. Yahweh was the God of Israel—but there were other gods.
4. The dual record of Israel’s faith is shown by the two versions of the Ten Commandments. Ex 20 [25]. Deut 5 [26].
5. Early records of faith:
6. The hub of Israel’s faith was the Sinai covenant—they were the “chosen people.”
7. Rituals, laws, ceremonies, all cluster around the covenant relationship.
8. They were forbidden to have idols, but they made a fetish out of the “ark of the covenant.”
9. In time, “Yahweh alone was God,” and then came the “heavenly hosts.”
10. Eventually, Israel’s faith became monotheistic. It was never polytheistic.
11. The great departure from paganism was the prohibition of Images.
12. Pagan gods were nature gods. Yahweh was a god of creation and history— master of nature.
13. But they did believe that nature was dominated, by lower forms of “spirits.”
14. Yahweh was neither a sun god nor a fertility god.
15. Somehow they managed to create 12 clans—one for each of Jacob’s 12 sons:
16. How artificial these 12 tribes were is shown when the loss of the Levites, who ceased to be a secular clan, was compensated by turning Joseph into two clans—Ephraim and Manasseh.
17. How the amphictyony [32] worked is shown by the book of Judges.
18. The presence of the ark determined the central shrine. In the wilderness —the “tent of ’meeting.” Later on—at Jerusalem, the temple.
19. The priesthood was hereditary.
II. THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES
1. Egypt, Assyria, and the Hittite empires .are passing. The Philistines [33] are dominating Palestine—giving the land their name.
2. The period of the 12 judges (counting Deborah and Barak one) covered about 150 years. Only six of these judges distinguished themselves.
3. This is a time of adaptation and adjustment for Israel.
4. The first judge, Othniel, repelled an invasion by unknown forces.
5. Ehud drove out the Moabite invasion.
6. Shamgar was not an Israelite, probably a city-king from Galilee, but he repelled the Philistines.
7. The victory of Deborah and Barak, probably 1125 B.C., was an outstanding event.
8. The exploits of Gideon ( Judg 6-8 [34]) are well narrated. Domesticated camels first appear in the armies of Israel.
9. Jephthah and Samson next appear on the stage. And here we find that human sacrifice can still be practiced in Israel.
10. There was no mechanism for adjusting inter-tribal complaints. The periodic performances of the sheiks were not enough to maintain order and keep the peace.
1030 - 936 B.C.
I. SAUL—THE FIRST KING
1. A Philistine victory showed the failure of the amphictyony and led to the formation of the monarchy.
2. The Philistine victory was complete. Israel’s army was cut to pieces. Shiloh was destroyed.
3. The Philistines had a monopoly of iron—they deprived Israel of all iron.
4. Later the Philistines returned the ark captured at Shiloh to Israelite soil. A plague made them afraid of it.
5. Samuel was the bridge from the old order to the new.
6. Saul was elected king by his army and privately anointed by Samuel at Ramah.
7. Saul was made king because of his victory over Ammon. He also came from a wealthy family.
8. Saul’s whole reign was spent at war.
9. Saul [35] was a manic-depressive person and was, therefore, seldom in a normal state of mind. He was slightly paranoid.
10. Saul broke with Samuel and persecuted David.
11. Saul’s son Jonathan was a great friend of David.
12. David became an outlaw and organized a private army.
13. After a military defeat, Saul became a suicide on Mt. Gilboa.
14. This war with the Philistines was started by Jonathan, Saul’s son, killing a Philistine official.
15. There are two accounts of Saul in the Old Testament. The older, I Sam 9-14 [36]. More about Saul in the David narratives. I Sam 17:12-31:13 [37].
16. Remember: Saul had been privately anointed by Samuel, before his army had elected him king.
17. Saul’s capital was at Gibeah. The excavation of his capital at Tell-el-Ful (three miles north of Jerusalem) is the oldest datable Israelite fortification.
18. His paranoid tendency caused him to maintain a running feud with David— repeatedly trying to kill him.
19. His suspicion is further demonstrated in his cruel slaughter of the priests of Nob.
20. Saul’s mood swings served to inspire Handel’s oratorio and Browning’s poem.
21. But for his manic-depressive psychotic affliction, no doubt, Saul would have been an outstanding monarch. He had all the personal endowments for such a career.
II. DAVID BECOMES KING
1000 - 961 B.C.
1. For a time David and Esh-baal, son of Saul, were rivals.
2. David was made king at Hebron, undoubtedly with Philistine consent. He took the throne as a vassal of a foreign power.
3. Esh-baal contested the kingship for two years—no open war. He was murdered by two of his officers.
4. David marries daughter of the king of Geshur, an Aramaean state northeast of the Sea of Galilee—in rear of Esh-baal’s territory.
5. Next David demands that Saul’s daughter, Michal, be returned to him.
6. All Israel is now united under the kingship of David.
7. David finally overthrows the Philistine rule and sets all Israel free.
8. Jerusalem becomes the capital of the united kingdom. Becomes known as the city of David.
9. David transfers the ark to Jerusalem, which now becomes the religious as well as the political capital of the united kingdom.
10. David appoints a new priesthood and further consolidates the state.
11. He extended the conquest of Canaan. David’s first major military effort was the Ammonite war under the leadership of Joab.
12. It was about this time that David became involved in the Bath-sheba affair and was rebuked by Nathan.
13. David rounded out his territory by the conquest of Moab and Edom. Next he made a conquest of most of Syria.
14. David negotiates a profitable treaty with Hiram, king of Tyre.
15. David now really presided over an empire, but as he grew older, the question of succession became a problem.
16. Now occurred the rebellion of Absalom. II Sam 13-19 [38].
17. Next came the rebellion of Sheba. II Sam 20 [39]. This was an attempt to take northern Israel out of the kingdom.
18. From tablets recently excavated at Mari, David was known as the “beloved chieftain.”
19. David introduced music into the Jewish ritual of worship.
20. The following is an outline of David’s career:
a DAVID THE MAN
- (1) Judean, of Bethlehem. I Sam 16:1-3 [40].
- (2) Shepherd. I Sam 16:11 [41].
- (3) Musician. I Sam 16:14-23 [42].
- (4) Poet. II Sam 1:17-27 [43].
- (5) Warrior. I Sam 17 [44].
- (6) Friend of Jonathan. I Sam 18:1-4 [45]. 19:1-7 [46].
- (7) Enemy of Saul. I Sam 18:5-22 [47].
- (8) Saved by Michal. I Sam 18:22-29 [48].
b. DAVID A FUGITIVE AND OUTLAW
- (1) At Naioth, in Ramah. I Sam 19:18-20:42 [49].
- (2) At Nob. I Sam 21:1-9 [50]; 22:11-21 [51].
- (3) At Gath. I Sam 21:10-15 [52]; 27:1 [53].
- (4) Cave of Adullam. I Sam 22:1 [54].
- (5) Mizpeh. I Sam 22:3 [55].
- (6) Forest of Hereth. I Sam 22:5 [56].
- (7) Keilah. I Sam 23:1-13 [57].
- (8) Wilderness of Ziph. I Sam 23:14-24 [58].
- (9) Maon in Arabia. I Sam 23:24-28 [59].
- (10) Engedi. I Sam 23:29-24:22 [60].
- (11) Gath (Achish). I Sam 27 [61]: 1-5.
- (12) Ziklag. I Sam 27:6 [62]. (I Chron 12:1-22 [63])
c. DAVID KING OF UNITED KINGDOM
- (1) Anointed at Hebron. II Sam 2:1-11 [64].
- (2) Abner’s counter revolution. II Sam 2:12-4:12 [65].
- (3) David elected king of Israel. II Sam 5:1-5 [66]. I Chron 11:1-3 [67]. I Chron 12:23-40 [68].
- (4) Captures’ and makes Jerusalem his capital. II Sam 5:6-10 [69]. I Chron 11:4-9 [70].
- (5) Alliance with Hiram, king of Tyre. II Sam 5:11 [71]. I Chron 14:1 [72].
- (6) Makes Jerusalem the religious capital:
- (a) By transferring the ark. II Sam 6:1-19 [73]. I Chron 13:1-14 [74]. I Chron 15:1-16:29 [75].
- (b) By prayers and preparation. I Chron 21:18-22:5 [76].
d. PERSONALITIES AND EVENTS IN DAVID’S REIGN
- (1) His family. II Sam 3:2-5 [77]; 13-16 [38]. I Chron 3:1-9 [78]; 14:3-7 [79].
- (2) The Bath-sheba episode. II Sam 11:2-12:25 [80].
- (3) Court officials. II Sam 8:15-18 [81]; 20:23-26 [82]. I Chron 18:14-17 [83]. 1 Chron 27:25-34 [84].
- (4) Sons of Saul. II Sam 21:1-14 [85].
- (5) Sons of Jonathan. II Sam 4:4 [86]; 9:1-13 [87].
- (6) Illustrious warriors. II Sam 23:8-12 [88]; 18-39 [89]. I Chron 11:1-14 [67]. I Chron 11:20-47 [90]; 27:1-24 [91].
- (7) Taking the census. II Sam 24 [92]. I Chron 21 [93].
e. WARS OF CONQUEST
- (1) Philistines. II Sam 5:17-25 [94]; 21:15-22 [95]; 23:13-17 [96]. I Chron 11:15-19 [97]; 14:8-17 [98]; 18:1 [99]; 20:4-8 [100].
- (2) Moabites. II Sam 8:2 [101]. I Chron 18:2 [102].
- (3) Zobah. II Sam 8:3 [103]. I Chron 18:3,4 [104].
- (4) Syrians. II Sam 8:5-12 [105]. I Chron 18:5-8 [106].
- (5) Edomites. II Sam 8:13,14 [107]. I Chron 18:11-13 [108].
- (6) Ammonites. II Sam 10:6-11:1 [109]; 12:26-31 [110]. I Chron 19-20:3 [111].
f. REBELLIONS
- (1) Absalom. II Sam 13-19 [38].
- (2) Sheba. II Sam 20:1-22 [112].
- (3) Adonijah. I Kings 1 [113].
g. DAVID’S CHARGE TO SOLOMON
I Kings 2:1-11 [114]. I Chron 23:1 [115]; 29:20-25 [116].
NOTE; David’s throne becomes a symbol of the future hopes of Israel regarding the Messiah: The Messiah was to sit on David’s throne and rule the world.
David was not permitted to build the temple, because he had been “a man of war.” He was allowed to gather materials for his son Solomon who was directed to build the temple.
III. THE MONARCHY UNDER SOLOMON
960 - 922 B.C.
1. Solomon [117] was a great builder and he became something like an autocratic Oriental ruler.
2. Solomon’s foreign policy was one of expansion—by war and by marriage.
3. He greatly expanded Israel’s commerce. Trade in copper, horses, and other commodities flourished.
4. This was Israel’s golden age of economic prosperity.
5. Solomon built the temple. Jerusalem really became the center of Hebrew worship.
6. But Solomon really did not capture Gezer—it was taken by his father-in-law, the king of Egypt.
7. The monarchy became a burden. Taxes were high. Deficit spending all but ruined the empire.
8. Israel was changing. The dynastic state had left little of the old order.
9. The thousand wives and concubines were a vast departure from the theology of the Davidic kingdom.
10. Political tension in the empire mounted, and there was trouble in sight when Solomon died.
11. You should remember that Solomon was the son of David and Bath-sheba.
12. Solomon’s wisdom is illustrated by his dealing with the two women and the disputed child.
13. Solomon seems to have been a glamorous and pompous personality, and he loved power.
14. It was a legend that when Solomon was crowned king, he asked not for riches and glory, but only for wisdom.
15. His reputation as a “wise man” was far-flung. I Kings 4:30 [118]. He uttered wise sayings. He was assisted by a corps of court “writers.”
16. The Queen of Sheba [119] visited him and attested to his wisdom.
17. He seemed to have been a versatile naturalist. I Kings 4:33 [120]; 10:24 [121].
18. Later generations regarded him as the author of the book of Proverbs.
19. Solomon could make such extensive conquests at this time because both Egypt and Assyria were in a weakened quiescent condition.
20. Solomon had a navy and carried on a vast overseas trade.
21. He enjoyed a vast revenue from taxation on the extensive caravan trade. He controlled both the land and sea routes.
22. Solomon controlled the frontier routes through Zobah, Damascus, Hauran, Ammon, Moab, and Edom.
23. He maintained a chain of chariot cities with cavalry forces. (These have been excavated at Megiddo and Gezer.)
24 He revived copper mining. He conscripted labor to finish his extensive building projects.
25. He got so in debt to Hiram that he had to cede him 20 towns in Galilee.
26. Gezer was the dowry of the daughter of Pharaoh whom he married.
27. But of all his wives, domestic and foreign, he had only one son—Rehoboam. The later rabbis used this as an argument for monogamy.
28. All of Solomon’s foreign wives had their own private chapels and practiced their own religions.
29. Solomon’s court was one of luxury and pomp, and it presented an international atmosphere.
From the Death of Solomon to Mid-eighth Century
I. FIRST FIFTY YEARS OF THE DIVIDED MONARCHY
922 - 876 B.C.
1. The division of the kingdom meant the collapse of empire.
2. Both Ammon and Moab set up shop for themselves.
3. Israel and Judah have become second-rate states.
4. The schism was followed by two generations of sporadic warfare, and all this to no conclusion.
5. The first generation:
6. The Egyptian Shishak invaded Judah—struck with enormous force. Rehoboam paid large tribute.
7. Trouble in Egypt caused Shishak to withdraw.
8. The rival states had internal troubles and kept up their petty warfare.
9. Jeroboam established a new cult to rival that of Jerusalem. He set up shrines at Bethel and Dan.
10. On the death of Jeroboam pandemonium reigned. His son Nadab was assassinated by Baasha. His son Elah was assassinated by Zimri.
11. Zimri took his life when Omri took the throne. It required several years for Omri to establish himself.
12. The internal affairs of Judah were a bit more tranquil. Paganism started by Solomon made more progress.
13. Remember: Rehoboam was Solomon’s son by Naamah, an Ammonite princess.
II. FROM OMRI TO JEHU
876 - 842 B.C.
1. The house of Omri [124] brings stability to Israel. He settles things internally and makes peace with his neighbors.
2. Omri’s reign was short but he was internationally respected—making alliances with many powers.
3. His son Ahab married the daughter of the king of Tyre—Jezebel. Ahab’s sister (or daughter) married Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.
4. For a time, Israel and Judah stop their feuding—and present a united front to the world.
5. Omri made an alliance with Ben-hadad of Damascus, but Ahab had to fight these Arameans several times.
6. There was material prosperity. But all was not well—the poor got poorer and the rich got richer.
7. Jezebel brought on a religious crisis. She built a temple for Melquart Asherah. But Jezebel was an aggressive pagan missionary.
8. Prophets of Baal and Asherah enjoyed official status. I Kings 18:19.
9. Elijah began his battle with Jezebel and the prophets of Baal. Though Ahab and Jezebel held on for a time they finally fell.
10. Ahaziah (850-849) and Jehoram (849-842) followed after the fall of Ahab. Trouble in Damascus and Moab destroyed all peace.
11. Elisha makes trouble for the “House of Omri.” There was a great revival of Yahwehism.
12. The Rechabites (Kenites) were internal trouble-makers. They followed Nazarite [125] practices.
13. Now came the blood purge of Jehu—842. II Kings 9,10 [126]. Jehu entered Jezreel and threw Jezebel out the window. The cult of Baal was destroyed.
14. Things in Judah improved under Jehoshaphat (873-849). He established many reforms. II Chron 19:4-11 [127].
15. Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram was a Yahwehist—but his queen, Athaliah, was a Baalist. She induced him to kill all his brothers—to exterminate the Omri family.
III. ISRAEL AND JUDAH
From Mid-ninth to Mid-eighth Century
1. Though Jehr founded a dynasty lasting for a century, it was one long reign of weakness.
2. Damascus began to encroach upon Israel. They dominated the country and only refrained from invading Judah by receiving a large tribute.
3. Joash and Judah (837-800). Enthroned as a child. (Jehoiada, the chief priest, probably acted as regent.) He was very unpopular—was assassinated and succeeded by his son Amaziah.
4. Things in Israel improved under Jeroboam II (786-746) and Uzziah (783-742). One of the bright and prosperous eras of Israel.
5. But Israel got sick again. Amos and Hosea combat social disintegration. Morals are at a low ebb.
6. Paganism is taking over. The prophets protest in vain. Nevertheless, this is the dawn of the new age of the classic prophets of all Israel.
Period of Assyrian Conquest
From Mid-eighth Century to the Death of Hezekiah
I. THE ASSYRIAN ADVANCE
Fall of Israel and Judah
1. With the death of Jeroboam (746) unmitigated disaster overtook the Northern Kingdom.
2. Assyria under Tiglath-pileser III [128] (745-727) went on a rampage. He was the real founder of the Assyrian Empire.
3. Tiglath was not after tribute; he sought permanent conquest.
4. Israel was disintegrating—jealousy, bitterness, and unbridled self-interest prevailed. Israelites turned upon Israelites. Isa 9:19 [129].
5. Much intrigue, many federations, and coalitions were formed, but Assyria over-ran the whole of Palestine.
6. Pekah’s [130] policy brought about the downfall of Israel. Samaria is taken over. II Kings 17:1-6 [131].
7. The last folly of Israel was to depend upon a fragmented Egypt for help. None came.
8. Tiglath forced Ahaz to pay homage to Assyrian gods and make innovations in the temple service. II Kings 16:10-18 [132].
9. Economic and social conditions in Judah went from bad to worse.
II. HEZEKIAH’S STRUGGLES
715 - 687 B.C.
1. Hezekiah [133] remained under Assyria as long as Sargon lived. His strike for independence was favored by Assyria’s losing control of Babylon—the rebellion of Merodach-baladan. II Kings 20:12 [134].
2. Hezekiah heeded the warning of Isaiah not to join in the confederation of Egypt, Ethiopia, and others to resist Assyria.
3. These are the times Isaiah walked through the streets of Jerusalem clothed in a loincloth uttering his warnings.
4. Hezekiah instituted sweeping reforms—political, social, and religious. II Kings 18:3-6 [135].
5. He removed the image of Moses’ snake from the temple.
6. He tried to enlist the Northern Kingdom in these reforms.
7. Sargon died—his son Sennacherib took over. (705-681). Hezekiah refused to pay tribute. Rebellion began. II Kings 18:7 [136].
8. Hezekiah was aided by uprisings in both Egypt and Babylon.
9. Under the leadership of Tyre, Syria and Phoenicia revolted.
10. Anticipating siege, he dug the famous Siloam Tunnel (II Kings 20:20), bringing water from the Gihon springs.
11. In 701 Sennacherib [137] struck. Babylon was pacified. Tyre was subdued. Babylos, Arvad, Ashdod, Moab, Edom, and Ammon hastened to pay tribute.
12. Hezekiah resisted—was subdued—his land split up—his tribute so high he had to strip the temple of all its royal treasures.
13. The later years of Hezekiah are uncertain. Assyria was in trouble with the Babylos revolt.
14. Egypt assailed Judah. Hezekiah resisted. The prophet assured him Jerusalem would not be taken. II Kings 19:29-34 [138]. Isa 14:24-27 [139].
15. The Assyrians retired—did not take Jerusalem. Hezekiah died—his son Manasseh made peace.
16. The Assyrian army retreated because of a plague of field mice which ate up their equipment. This is referred to as “the angel of the Lord” destroying the army. II Kings 19:35 [140]. Isa 37:36 [141].
17. Hezekiah was known as the “praying king.”
III. PROPHETS IN JUDAH
1. Judah has been in real religious trouble ever since Ahaz recognized the Assyrian gods.
2. This is the era of the First Isaiah. For fifty years this prophet dominated the religious atmosphere of Jerusalem.
3. Isaiah is a long story—too extensive for consideration at this time.
4. Isaiah continues from the days of Ahaz over into the times of Hezekiah.
5. At first Isaiah counseled Hezekiah to go along with the Assyrians—later he advised firm resistance.
6. Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah—and a firm supporter.
7. The results of these prophets continued on for generations. They helped to stabilize the Hebrew religion.
8. While Hezekiah’s reforms were transient, these prophets formulated an enduring national hope.
9. Is it possible that Jerusalem experienced a second siege by the Assyrians and was delivered by an epidemic which devastated Sennacherib’s army?
10. Most students accept the idea of two invasions.
The Last Century
I. JUDAH REGAINS INDEPENDENCE
The Bid of Assyria
1. Remember: Between the death of Hezekiah and the final fall of Jerusalem one hundred years had passed.
2. The Assyrian Empire was at the time of its greatest expansion and Manasseh became a loyal vassal.
3. Sennacherib was murdered by several of his sons. One, Esar-haddon, consolidated the empire and brought Egypt in line.
4. During a long reign, Manasseh remained a vassal of Assyria.
5. The local shrines of Yahweh were restored. Magic was rampant. Even human sacrifice came back.
6. The voice of prophecy was silenced. The few that did speak branded Manasseh as about the worst king ever to rule Judah.
7. We are entering upon the last days of the Assyrian Empire. The Medes and Persians are coming into power, as well as the Cimmerians and Scythians.
8. Asshur-banapal makes one last heroic effort to save Assyria, spends two years subduing Babylon, wreaks havoc on the Arab tribes, and transplants strangers in Samaria.
9. The Assyrian Empire toppled and fell in less than 20 years.
10. With the end of Assyria, once more Judah was free by default. Josiah [142] ascended the throne and began his reforms.
11. The major reforms of Josiah were:
12. The book of Deuteronomy [143] was the basis of all of the king’s later reforms.
13 In the later years of Josiah a new group of prophets arose.
14. Josiah lost his life defending Haran on the battlefield of Megiddo [144], at the hands of the invading Egyptians.
II. THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAH
1. The end of Assyria did not bring full peace to Judah. The death of Josiah marked the end of independence.
2. Josiah, as an ally of Babylon, tried to stop Nechoh, the Egyptian, at Megiddo. Josiah was killed in this disastrous battle.
3. Egypt took control of all Palestine (609-605). Next, the Babylonians took over.
4. Nebuchadnezzar ascended the throne of Babylon. Jehoiakim, king of Judah, became vassal of Babylon.
5. Ambassadors of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon gathered in Jerusalem to plan revolt. Jeremiah denounced them.
6. Zedekiah went to Babylon in a final effort to make peace.
7. Finally Judah went into rebellion. In January 588 the Babylonian army arrived for the blockade of Jerusalem.
8. The walls were breached and the city destroyed. The fleeing Zedekiah was overtaken, blinded, and taken to Babylon.
9. The Babylonians made Palestine a province, appointing Gedaliah governor. His seat of government was Mizpah.
10. They killed or deported most of the people—leaving only a few farmers alive.
III. PROPHETS OF THE LAST DAYS
1. The Hebrew theology was unprepared for the crisis of the captivity. They thought Yahweh had promised David an eternal dynasty.
2. When Isaiah’s promise that Jerusalem would not be taken was fulfilled—they were confirmed in the belief of the inviolability of the temple.
3. These false hopes drove the nation headlong into suicidal rebellion.
4. Habakkuk views the Babylonians as the instrument of Yahweh’s discipline. Hab 1:2-11 [145].
5. The tragic Jeremiah [146] did his utmost to show the Jews the true meaning of what had happened.
6. Both Jeremiah and Zephaniah pointed out the paganism of Manasseh. They intimated that the reforms had been only superficial.
7. Jeremiah began to preach the nation’s funeral oration. Jer 11:9-17 [147]. They brought it on themselves by forsaking Yahweh. Jer 2:14-17 [148].
8. The prophets promised that the punishment was only temporary, that deliverance would come from the north.
9. Jeremiah pronounced the belief in Yahweh’s eternal protection a fraud— a lie. Jer 7:l-15 [149].
10. By bitter persecution Jeremiah was driven almost to suicidal despair.
11. Ezekiel, in Babylon, among the captives, joined Jeremiah in voicing warnings and admonitions.
12. The prophets doomed Israel for the time being, but they did save it from extinction.
13. The vicissitudes of the worship of Yahweh were shown in the fickle conduct of Israel’s kings. Solomon went after the gods of Moabites and Ammonites. Jeroboam set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan. Jezebel, Ahab’s Phoenician queen, conducted the worship of Baal. Manasseh reared up altars to the “host of heaven.”
14. The Jews are losing their prophets. They are failing to become a missionary people. They are depending on:
586 - 538 B.C.
I. THE EXILE PERIOD
1. The history of this period is found in Nehemiah [150] and Ezra [151], supplemented by the apocryphal book of I Esdras [152].
2. The Babylonian army left Judah a shambles. Battle losses, executions, starvation, and disease almost depleted the country.
3. Of 250,000, probably 20,000 were left. Samaria was untouched.
4. The exiles were well treated in Babylon—given considerable freedom. They built houses, farmed, and had some sort of religious life.
5. There were three deportations—in 597, 587, and 582.
6. Many Jews fled to Egypt—taking Jeremiah with them. Jer 43:7 [153]. Others went to Moab, Edom, and Ammon.
7. Long had the Jews trusted the dogma that David’s dynasty would never end. They even disregarded the prophets.
8. This was all a great shock to Jewish theology—the dogma of Israel as the “chosen people.”
9. After all, maybe the gods of Babylon were strong and mighty. Their faith was sorely tested.
10. The teaching of Jeremiah and Ezekiel prevailed. Their faith persisted. They lived through it.
11. There was a great revival of Sabbath-keeping—symbol of the covenant.
12. The priests completed their rewriting of the racial records and chronicles.
13. Presently there was born the hope of restoration.
14. Their king, Jehoiakim [154], who had been imprisoned, was released by Nebuchadnezzar’s son.
15. Babylonian power rapidly declined. Cyrus came to power and took over the empire.
16. The Second Isaiah revived hope in Israel. Jews prepared for the restoration.
17. Yahweh became “the Lord of History” — “Creator of the Universe.” Isaiah hailed Cyrus as the liberating agent of Yahweh.
18. Israel was about to be delivered as in former times they had been delivered from Egyptian bondage.
II. THE RESTORATION
1. Babylon falls. Isaiah inspires Israel and Cyrus [155] liberates them.
2. The book of Daniel tells the story of the fall of Babylon and the triumph of Cyrus.
3. There are two records of the restoration. Ezra 1:2-4 [156]; 6:3-5 [157].
4. Cyrus was a new thing in rulers. He favored granting subject peoples cultural autonomy—freedom to have their own religion.
5. Sheshbazzar was followed by Zerubbabel as governor of Judah. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah offered encouragement.
6. The Jews returned in successive waves of dedicated rebuilders. The early arrivals met with bitter disappointment.
7. Cambyses maintained his father’s conquests and added Egypt. He continued to foster Jewish restoration.
8. The more prosperous Jews remained in Babylon. The early years were fraught with hardship and frustration. They were greatly hampered by the Samaritans.
9. It required 18 years to lay the foundations for the temple. At last they were aroused and finished the work in four years.
10. Haggai spurred the people to finish the temple. Hag 1:1-11 [158]. Zechariah joined in this revival.
11. In March 515 the temple was finished and dedicated. Ezra 6:13-18 [159].
12. But the best things promised by the prophets did not materialize. Judah struggled along—as a sub-province of Samaria.
10. REFORMS OF NEHEMIAH AND EZRA
The Jewish Community in the Fifth Century
1. These are the times of Ezra, Nehemiah, Obadiah, and Malachi.
2. History runs along with the Jews and the Persian Empire under Darius— which reaches its zenith during this century.
3. Darius won all his wars except against Greece, where he was defeated at Marathon.
4. Jewish communities were well established throughout the Persian Empire.
5. Throughout this century groups of Jews continued to drift back to Palestine. Ezra 4:12 [160].
6. There was no end of trouble with the governors of Persia. The southern Edomites harassed them constantly.
7. Under Artaxerxes they began to rebuild their fortifications. Ezra 4:7-23 [161].
8. The religious life ran along fairly well. The temple services were in full operation.
9. But the general morale was not good. The Sabbath was neglected. They failed to pay tithes. Mal 3:7-10 [162].
10. Divorce was a public scandal; the poor were oppressed. Intermarriage with the gentiles was common.
11. Nehemiah began a thoroughgoing reorganization of the Jewish community, with the help of Ezra.
12. In Greece, this was the age of Pericles, Socrates, Sophocles, and Phidias.
13. The folly of the Peloponnesian wars [163] left Persia in a more secure position.
14. Nehemiah was attached to the Persian court—he had been the king’s cupbearer. He was appointed governor of Judah and authorized to rebuild its fortifications.
15. Nehemiah [164] was a good organizer. In 52 days he had the walls of Jerusalem up. Neh 6:15 [165].
16. But it was two years before all details—gates, towers, etc.—were completed.
17. He was greatly hampered by Sanballat, governor of Samaria. Tobiah, governor of Ammon, also opposed Nehemiah
18. Nehemiah divided his forces into two shifts—one to stand at arms, the other to build.
19. There were only 50,000 people in Judah. Taxes were high. Land-grabbers dispossessed the poor. Nehemiah started far-reaching reforms.
20. Nehemiah had many enemies. He was not only just—but he had a bad temper.
21. Nehemiah ruled 12 years. He then visited Babylon and the Persian court.
22. When he returned he found things in a bad way. Intermarriage, Sabbath-breaking, and all-round religious laxity were the order of the day.
23. It was about this time that Ezra arrived and joined Nehemiah in the task of cleaning up Jerusalem. Ezra 7:12-26 [166].
24. Ezra [167] had great help from contributions by Babylonian Jews. Ezra was a priest.
25. Ezra was accompanied by a considerable caravan of Jews. He was ashamed to ask for a military escort.
26. In a public square on an elevated platform, he read the law from daybreak to noon every day.
27. Ezra won the leaders and they brought the people together—and in a downpour of rain they received Ezra’s rebuke and admonitions.
28. It was a tough job and a long pull, but Ezra did get some results.
29. Ezra really finished up the reforms started by Nehemiah. Their efforts were effective because they were supported by royal Persian decrees.
30. And Ezra got all of this done in about one year. In some respects, Ezra was the most important person in Israel’s history since Moses.
31. The law which Ezra read to the Jerusalem Jaws was the new priestly code which had been prepared during the captivity.
32. Now the Jews made a new covenant with Yahweh and the compact was sanctioned by the Persian government.
33. Through adherence to religious law, Israel became a nation—even without statehood.
34. In a sense, this is the way Israel has existed ever since that day.
35. We are not disposed to accept the idea that Ezra arrived in Jerusalem before Nehemiah, even though such a concept may be suggested by a superficial reading of the records of our Old Testament.
11. END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PERIOD
From Ezra to the Maccabean Revolt
I. JEWS DURING FOURTH AND THIRD CENTURIES
1. We know very little about the Jews during the fourth century.
2. At the end of the fifth century, Nehemiah and Ezra completed their work and Artaxerxes I died. The Persian rulers continued friendly.
3. There was a powerful colony of Jews at Alexandria. Their temple was destroyed and later rebuilt.
4. Egypt rebelled. Many satraps asserted independence. But Artaxerxes III restored the empire—for the time being.
5. Persia seemed strong—but was on its last legs. Alexander came to power in Greece.
6. During the first two-thirds of the fourth century, we know little or nothing about Jews in Judah.
7. The Samaritans build a temple on Mt. Gerizim. They are forever separated from Judah.
8. Hebrew language is passing—Aramaic is becoming the tongue of Judah.
9. The Greeks are overrunning all Asia Minor. The Hellenistic period is beginning.
10. Alexander the Great (356-323) is getting ready to take the center of the international stage.
11. Just how and when Judah came under Greek control, we do not know.
12. Alexander made a clean sweep of empire. But when he died the empire was divided four ways.
13. The Ptolemies ruled Palestine for almost a century. They made few changes in the Persian region.
14. The Jews were loyal, and they enjoyed full religious liberty.
15. The Seleucids always claimed the Ptolemies stole Palestine, and Antiochus III, after defeating Egypt, took over all of Asia Minor, including Palestine.
16. He released political captives, ordered return of refugees, and accorded the Jews full religious liberty.
17. This was the Hellenistic era. Everywhere everybody was learning Greek.
II. RELIGIOUS CRISIS AND REBELLION
The Jews under the Seleucids
1. Antiochus III tangled with Rome and was defeated. His successor, Seleucus IV, continued Jewish privileges.
2. Antiochus IV was another story. His treatment of the Jews drove them into rebellion. He meddled with Jewish religious practices.
3. Jason bought the high priesthood from Antiochus. A Greek gymnasium was established in Jerusalem.
4. In three years one Menelus outbid Jason who fled to Trans Jordan. He began stealing and selling the temple sacred vessels.
5. Returning from a victorious Egyptian campaign, Antiochus raided the temple— stripping the gold off the structure.
6. Hearing the rumor that Antiochus had been killed in Egypt, Jason with one thousand men attempted to capture Jerusalem.
7. The general of Antiochus made a bloody raid on Jerusalem. This was in 167 B.C.
8. He left a garrison in the city for 25 years.
9. Antiochus introduced the worship of Zeus and presently forbade the worship of Yahweh.
10. How the Jews reacted to all this is shown in Daniel and the book of Maccabees.
11. Temple sacrifices were suspended. Circumcision was forbidden. The Sabbath was annulled.
12. But the cap of all was in December 167 B.C. when they set up an altar in the temple and offered a swine as sacrifice.
13. Undoubtedly this is the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by Daniel. Dan. 9:27.
14. And all this culminates in the outbreak of the Maccabean rebellion [168].
15. Said Antiochus: “I did not want to suppress the worship of Yahweh—I only wanted to unite it with the ‘God of Heaven’”—bring it into harmony with Greek religion.
16. The persecutions were drastic and bloody. They would kill Jews for refusing to touch pork.
17. The book of Daniel was written in the midst of all this turmoil and confusion.
18. If you put Antiochus in the place of Nebuchednezzar, you can more fully understand the immediate meaning of Daniel’s pronouncements.
19. Daniel is apocalyptic. By this date loyal Jews had begun to believe in the Messiah, the new age—the everlasting and divine kingdom.
20. Now Judas Maccabaeus swings into action—one of five sons of Mattathias, belonging to the Hasidine sect—and inaugurates effective guerrilla war on the enemy.
21. Judas wins first battle with troops of Antiochus. One crushing defeat after another was administered by Judas.
22. One thing which favored Judas was the fact that Antiochus was quite fully occupied by a major campaign against the Parthians.
23. Judas smashed the pagan altars, cleansed the temple, and established the services. Ever since, the Jews have celebrated the feast of Hanukkah in honor of this dedication.
24. The last surviving son of Mattathias was Simon, whose son John succeeded to the high priesthood—and was known as John Hyrcanus.
25. John Hyrcanus was really the last of the great Hasmonaeans. Of John’s five sons, Aristobulus imprisoned three brothers and murdered the fourth. But he lasted only one year.
26. The general and increasing confusion in Palestine led Rome to take over.
NOTE: For a review of Hebrew history as presented in the Urantia Book, see (1071.6) 97:9.1 [169]
12. JUDAISM AT THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PERIOD
I. NATURE OF EARLY JUDAISM
1. In the presence of frustration the community reorganized around the LAW.
2. This explains why the Sabbath became such an outstanding feature of Jewish theology.
3. Henceforth, Judah is that remnant of Israel which has rallied around the law and looks forward to the redemption from worldly bondage by the Messianic deliverer—the survival of the everlasting kingdom.
4. The books of Jonah and Joel probably belong to this period.
5. This is an era of theological evolution and reconstruction.
6. The Jews have the Scriptures—and their traditions. Out of these they must build a new philosophy.
7. The canon of Scripture is taking shape. The religion of the law is formulating the cult of the TORAH.
8. The Jews seemed to sense that the age of the prophets had ended. Their future was to be organized around the temple and the law.
9. Twice Yahweh had delivered them from bondage, but their third deliverance had come by means of military conquest.
10. The high priest became an important person in the new Jewish community.
11. It was the LAW rather than the cult that claimed Jewish allegiance.
12. The scribe [170] became an important person in the Hebrew religion.
13. The synagogue took a new place in the Jewish community.
14. In the synagogue service the first act was the reading of the law.
15. Presently there came along the new aspect of law—the ORAL LAW [171].
16. Also now comes into the picture the wisdom feature of the Scriptures.
17. All this means that piety—righteousness—becomes the important feature of religious living.
18. Next come the thousand and one little details of legal restrictions and minute features of obeying the law.
19. They really derived great pleasure from carrying out all these trifling obligations of their ceremonial and moral laws.
20. In the end they arrived at the position of absolutizing the law.
21. The Jews were gradually divorcing Yahweh and their religion from history.
22. The Jews were becoming legalistic, formal, ceremonial, and increasingly intolerant.
II. THEOLOGY OF EARLY JUDAISM
1. There were two diverse and contending attitudes among the Jews:
2. This conflict and tension now became real. Stated otherwise it was:
3. Israel was surrounded by paganism. Nehemiah and Ezra thought they must protect the remnant of Israel from moral contamination.
4. The Jews succumbed to the idea and the ideal of a “holy people.” They surrendered to racial isolationism.
5. Hate of gentiles gained over love for gentiles. Intermarriage was taboo.
6. The idea of the “holy people” grew. More and more the Jews withdrew from all contact with gentiles.
7. Especially they refused to have any dealings with Samaritans.
8. But among the few the sense of world mission was never fully lost. But Judaism never became a missionary religion.
9. They consolidated their theology. Monotheism triumphed. They became more and more eschatological. They persisted in their olden beliefs regarding Providence.
10. There was growth of the concept of angels and intermediaries. Wisdom was exalted. The word of God was all but personified.
11. They wrestled with the problem of evil. Began to charge it up to Satan. Still held to olden concepts of health and prosperity as rewards for righteousness, and sickness and adversity as punishment for sin.
12. Allied with Satan were the fallen angels—demons and evil spirits.
13. Divine justice and rewards after death claimed attention. The majority believed in the resurrection of the dead.
14. They sought to bolster hope for the future and to reinterpret their captivity and restoration.
15. More and more they taught the coming of the Messiah and the new age.
16. The Jews were becoming apocalyptic. They studied anew the book of Daniel.
III. THE LAST TIMES
1. Presently John the Baptist came. Then began the conflict with Jesus’ teachings—and their rejection.
2. Sects and parties were springing up—Israel was becoming divided and weakened.
3. There were:
4. Then came the revolt against Rome and the END.
Links:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho
[2] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-78-violet-race-after-days-adam#U78_8_1
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer
[4] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-80-andite-expansion-in-occident#U80_0_1
[5] http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/accad.html
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utu-hengal
[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari,_Syria
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammurabi
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marduk
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyksos
[11] https://biblehub.com/niv/genesis/12.htm
[12] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Documentary_hypothesis
[13] https://biblehub.com/niv/deuteronomy/6-20.htm
[14] https://biblehub.com/niv/deuteronomy/26-5.htm
[15] https://biblehub.com/niv/joshua/24-2.htm
[16] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-93-machiventa-melchizedek#U93_0_1
[17] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-95-melchizedek-teaching-in-levant#U95_3_1
[18] https://biblehub.com/exodus/12-38.htm
[19] https://biblehub.com/numbers/11-4.htm
[20] https://biblehub.com/niv/numbers/10-29.htm
[21] https://biblehub.com/numbers/1-46.htm
[22] https://biblehub.com/numbers/26-51.htm
[23] https://biblehub.com/niv/joshua/9.htm
[24] https://biblehub.com/niv/joshua/24.htm
[25] https://biblehub.com/niv/exodus/20.htm
[26] https://biblehub.com/niv/deuteronomy/5.htm
[27] https://biblehub.com/niv/judges/5.htm
[28] https://biblehub.com/niv/genesis/49.htm
[29] https://biblehub.com/niv/numbers/23.htm
[30] https://biblehub.com/niv/exodus/15-1.htm
[31] https://biblehub.com/niv/deuteronomy/33.htm
[32] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphictyon
[33] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philistines
[34] https://biblehub.com/niv/judges/6.htm
[35] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul
[36] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/9.htm
[37] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/17-12.htm
[38] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/13.htm
[39] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/20.htm
[40] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/16-1.htm
[41] https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/16-11.htm
[42] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/16-14.htm
[43] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/1-17.htm
[44] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/17.htm
[45] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/18-1.htm
[46] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/19-1.htm
[47] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/18-5.htm
[48] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/18-22.htm
[49] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/19-18.htm
[50] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/21-1.htm
[51] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/22-11.htm
[52] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/21-10.htm
[53] https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/27-1.htm
[54] https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/22-1.htm
[55] https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/22-3.htm
[56] https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/22-5.htm
[57] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/23-1.htm
[58] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/23-14.htm
[59] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/23-24.htm
[60] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/23-29.htm
[61] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_samuel/27.htm
[62] https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/27-6.htm
[63] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/12-1.htm
[64] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/2-1.htm
[65] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/2-12.htm
[66] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/5-1.htm
[67] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/11-1.htm
[68] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/12-23.htm
[69] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/5-6.htm
[70] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/11-4.htm
[71] https://biblehub.com/2_samuel/5-11.htm
[72] https://biblehub.com/1_chronicles/14-1.htm
[73] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/6-1.htm
[74] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/13-1.htm
[75] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/15-1.htm
[76] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/21-18.htm
[77] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/3-2.htm
[78] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/3-1.htm
[79] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/14-3.htm
[80] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/11-2.htm
[81] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/8-15.htm
[82] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/20-23.htm
[83] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/18-14.htm
[84] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/27-25.htm
[85] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/21-1.htm
[86] https://biblehub.com/2_samuel/4-4.htm
[87] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/9-1.htm
[88] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/23-8.htm
[89] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/18.htm
[90] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/11-20.htm
[91] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/27-1.htm
[92] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/24.htm
[93] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/21.htm
[94] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/5-17.htm
[95] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/21-15.htm
[96] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/23-13.htm
[97] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/11-15.htm
[98] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/14-8.htm
[99] https://biblehub.com/1_chronicles/18-1.htm
[100] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/20-4.htm
[101] https://biblehub.com/2_samuel/8-2.htm
[102] https://biblehub.com/1_chronicles/18-2.htm
[103] https://biblehub.com/2_samuel/8-3.htm
[104] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/18-3.htm
[105] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/8-5.htm
[106] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/18-5.htm
[107] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/8-13.htm
[108] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/18-11.htm
[109] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/10-6.htm
[110] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/12-26.htm
[111] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/19.htm
[112] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_samuel/20-1.htm
[113] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_kings/1.htm
[114] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_kings/2-1.htm
[115] https://biblehub.com/1_chronicles/23-1.htm
[116] https://biblehub.com/niv/1_chronicles/29-20.htm
[117] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon
[118] https://biblehub.com/1_kings/4-30.htm
[119] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_of_Sheba
[120] https://biblehub.com/1_kings/4-33.htm
[121] https://biblehub.com/1_kings/10-24.htm
[122] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rehoboam
[123] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeroboam
[124] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omri
[125] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazirite
[126] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_kings/9.htm
[127] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_chronicles/19-4.htm
[128] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiglath-Pileser_III
[129] https://biblehub.com/isaiah/9-19.htm
[130] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pekah
[131] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_kings/17-1.htm
[132] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_kings/16-10.htm
[133] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezekiah
[134] https://biblehub.com/2_kings/20-12.htm
[135] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_kings/18-3.htm
[136] https://biblehub.com/2_kings/18-7.htm
[137] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sennacherib
[138] https://biblehub.com/niv/2_kings/19-29.htm
[139] https://biblehub.com/niv/isaiah/14-24.htm
[140] https://biblehub.com/2_kings/19-35.htm
[141] https://biblehub.com/isaiah/37-36.htm
[142] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah
[143] https://biblehub.com/niv/deuteronomy/1.htm
[144] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Megiddo
[145] https://biblehub.com/niv/habakkuk/1-2.htm
[146] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah
[147] https://biblehub.com/niv/jeremiah/11-9.htm
[148] https://biblehub.com/niv/jeremiah/2-14.htm
[149] https://biblehub.com/niv/jeremiah/7.htm
[150] https://biblehub.com/niv/nehemiah/1.htm
[151] https://biblehub.com/niv/ezra/1.htm
[152] http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/1esdras.html
[153] https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/43-7.htm
[154] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehoiakim
[155] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great
[156] https://biblehub.com/niv/ezra/1-2.htm
[157] https://biblehub.com/niv/ezra/6-3.htm
[158] https://biblehub.com/niv/haggai/1-1.htm
[159] https://biblehub.com/niv/ezra/6-13.htm
[160] https://biblehub.com/ezra/4-12.htm
[161] https://biblehub.com/niv/ezra/4-7.htm
[162] https://biblehub.com/niv/malachi/3-7.htm
[163] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloponnesian_War
[164] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nehemiah
[165] https://biblehub.com/nehemiah/6-15.htm
[166] https://biblehub.com/niv/ezra/7-12.htm
[167] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Ezra
[168] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabees
[169] https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-97-evolution-god-concept-among-hebrews#U97_9_1
[170] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scribe
[171] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_law