Page 44 - Biblical Backgrounds student textbook

Abijah, continued the border wars against Jeroboam (I Kings 15:7).

Government of the Northern Kingdom

Since the 10 northern tribes formed a separate nation from the south, they establish a new capital city
at Tirzah, north of Shechem. The northern kingdom retained the name, Israel, while the southern
kingdom was called Judah.

Jeroboam I (c. 922-901) made his political capital at Shechem. He felt the need of religious centers to
keep his people from making pilgrimages to Jerusalem in the South. Therefore he set up golden calves in
Bethel and Dan, perhaps under the influence of the animal gods he had seen in Egypt during his exile
there in Solomon’s time. The prophetic writers condemned these images.

Omri (c. 876-869) does not receive much space in the book of Kings, perhaps because
he was not regarded as religiously important, but his political importance is indicated
by the fact that a century later the Assyrians were still calling Israel “the land of Omri.”
Omri moved the capital of Israel to a new site, Samaria, which soon vied with
Jerusalem in the beauty of its buildings. Omri cemented an alliance with Tyre by
marrying his son Ahab to Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Tyre and Sidon. To the
southeast, Omri conquered Moab, as recorded on the Moabite Stone (pictured to the
right)

Ahab (c. 869-850) continued the beautification of Samaria, building there an “ivory
house.” This means that his palace’s walls and its furniture were embellished with
carved ivory inlaid panels, such as have been found in excavations there. In Megiddo Ahab built
tremendous stables with stalls for about 450 horses. Jezebel, Ahab’s Phoenician wife, brought with her
and encouraged the worship of Baal and of the goddess Asherah. Such idolatry as well as Ahab’s seizure
of a private citizen’s vineyard were condemned by the prophet Elijah.

Ahab was one of the leaders of a Syrian coalition which checked the advance of Shalmaneser III of
Assyria in the battle of Qarqar in 853 BCE. According to Assyrian records, Ahab brought to this battle
2,000 chariots (more than any other Syrian contingent) and 10,000-foot soldiers.

Jeroboam II (c. 786-746), the son of Joash, brought the Kingdom of Israel to its greatest extent and
prosperity. He not only recovered Trans-Jordan from Syria, but also conquered Damascus itself. The
material prosperity of Israel is illustrated by large buildings which have been discovered in Samaria,
Megiddo, and Tirzah. But beside the great buildings in Tirzah, for example, are the remains of hovels,
evidencing the injustice to the poor which the prophet Amos condemned. In Samaria from Jeroboam’s
time there have been found many tax receipts written on potsherds. These receipts indicate prosperity,
and the names on the receipts are compounded not only with Yahweh, like Jedaiah, but also with Baal,
like Elibaal, evidences of the combination of Yahwism and idolatry denounced by Hosea and Amos. One
reason for the prosperity and expansion of Israel under Jeroboam was the absence of aggression from
the great powers of Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Here is a list of Israel’s kings and you will note that ALL but one did evil in the sight of the Lord.

43