The Bible History, Old Testament

Volume V

By Alfred Edersheim

Table of Contents

  TITLE PAGE
  PREFACE
CHAPTER 1 CLOSE OF DAVID’S REIGN Jewish view of the history of David — Amnon’s crime — Absalom’s vengeance — flight of Absalom — the wise woman of Tekoah — Absalom returns to Jerusalem — his conspiracy — David’s flight
CHAPTER 2 Ahithophel’s twofold advice — Hushai prevents imminent danger — David is informed, and crosses the Jordan — the battle in the forest — death of Absalom — mourning of David — David’s measures — return to Gilgal — Barzillai and Joab as representative men of their period — federal republican rising under Sheba — murder of Amasa — death of Sheba.
CHAPTER 3 APPENDIX TO THE HISTORY OF DAVID The famine — the pestilence — the temple arrangements — David’s last hymn and prophetic utterance.
CHAPTER 4 REIGN OF SOLOMON Adonijah’s attempt to seize the throne — anointing of Solomon — great assembly of the chiefs of the people — dying charge of David — Adonijah’s second attempt and punishment — execution of Joab and of Shimei.
CHAPTER 5 Solomon marries the daughter of Pharaoh — his sacrifice at Gibeon — his dream and prayer — Solomon’s wisdom — Solomon’s officers and court — prosperity of the country — understanding and knowledge of the king.
CHAPTER 6 The building of Solomon’s temple — preparations for it — plan and structure of the temple, internal fittings — history of the temple — Jewish traditions.
CHAPTER 7 Dedication of the temple — when it took place — connection with the feast of tabernacles — the consecration services — the king’s part in them — symbolical meaning of the great institutions in Israel — the prayer of consecration — analogy to the Lord’s prayer — the consecration — thanksgiving and offerings.
CHAPTER 8 The surroundings of the temple — description of Jerusalem at the time of solomon — the palace of solomon — Solomon’s fortified cities — external relations of the kingdom — internal state — trade — wealth — luxury — the visit of the queen of Sheba.
CHAPTER 9 Solomon’s court — his polygamy — spread of foreign ideas in the country — imitation of foreign manners — growing luxury — Solomon’s spiritual decline — judgment predicted — Solomon’s enemies: Hadad, Rezon, Jeroboam — causes of popular discontent — Ahijah’s prediction of the disruption — Jeroboam’s rebellion and flight into egypt — death of Solomon.
CHAPTER 10 REHOBOAM FIRST KING OF JUDAH Family of Solomon — age of Rehoboam — his character — religious history of israel and judah — the assembly at Shechem — Jeroboam’s return from egypt — Rehoboam’s answer to the deputies in Shechem — revolt of the ten tribes — the reigns of Rehoboam and of jeroboam — invasion of judah by Shishak — church and state in israel — Rehoboam’s attempt to recover rule over the ten tribes — his family history — religious decline in israel, and its consequences.
CHAPTER 11 JEROBOAM, FIRST KING OF ISRAEL Political measures of Jeroboam — the golden calves — the new priesthood and the new festival — the man of Elohim from Judah — his message and sign — Jeroboam struck by Jehovah and miraculously restored — invitation to the man of Elohim — heathen view of miracles — the old prophet — return of the man of Elohim to Bethel — JUDGMENT on his disobedience — character of the old prophet and of the man of Elohim — sickness of the pious child of Jeroboam — mission of his mother to Ahijah — predicted judgment — death of the child — remaining notices of Jeroboam.
CHAPTER 12 ABIJAH AND ASA, KINGS OF JUDAH Accession of Abijah — his idolatry — war between Judah and Israel — Abijah’s address to Israel and victory — deaths of Jeroboam and of Abijah — accession of Asa — religious reformation in Judah — invasion by Zerah the Ethiopian — victory of Zephathah — Azariah’s message to the army of asa — great sacrificial feast at Jerusalem — renewal of the covenant with Jehovah.
CHAPTER 13 ASA, KING OF JUDAH — HADAB, BAASHA, ELAH, ZIMRI, TIBNI, AND OMRI, KINGS OF ISRAEL Reign of Nadab — his murder by Baasha — war between Judah and Israel — Baasha’s alliance with Syria — Asa gains over Ben-Hadad — prophetic message to Asa — resentment of the king — Asa’s religious decline — death of Asa, death of Baasha, reign of Elah — his murder by Zimri — Omri dethrones Zimri — war between Omri and Tibni — rebuilding of Samaria.
CHAPTER 14 ASA AND JEHOSHAPHAT, KINGS OF JUDAH - AHAB, KING OF ISRAEL Accession of Ahab — further religious decline in Israel — political relations between Israel and Judah — accession of Jehoshaphat — Ahab’s marriage with Jezebel — the worship of Baal and Astarte established in Israel — character of Ahab — religious reforms in Judah — Jehoshaphat joins affinity with Ahab — marriage of Jehoram with Athaliah, and its consequences.
CHAPTER 15 AHAB, KING OF ISRAEL Rebuilding of Jericho — the mission of Elijah — his character and life — Elijah’s first appearance — parallelism with Noah, Moses, and john the baptist — Elijah’s message to king Ahab — sojourn by the brook Cherith — Elijah with the widow of Sarepta — the barrel of meal wastes not, nor does the cruse of oil fail — lessons of his sojourn — sickness and death of the widow’s son — he is miraculously restored to life