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| The State of
Israel (Hebrew: מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל (help·info),
Medinat Yisra'el; Arabic: دَوْلَةْ إِسْرَائِيل,
Dawlat Isrā'īl) is a country in the Western Asian
Levant, on the southeastern edge of the
Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon on the
north, Syria and Jordan on the east, and Egypt on
the south-west. It has a population of over seven
million people.[2] Israel declared independence in
1948 and is the world's only Jewish state,
although its citizens include many other religious
backgrounds, among whom Christians and Muslims
make up the most notable percentage. |
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Israel [1]
In the article People of Israel the history of the
Northern Kingdom in its wider relations is briefly
set forth; here the details will be more fully
sketched. The history may be divided into four
periods. The first was a period of confusion and
semianarchy; the second, a time of national
consolidation and heroic self-defense; the third,
a period marked by extremes of misfortune and
success; and the fourth, a term of humiliation by
the Assyrians, ending in national extinction.
First Period.
—Jeroboam I. to Omri (934-886 B.C.):
The kingdom during this period was in the
formative stage: it was, in fact, continuing the
political experiences of the time of Saul. The
territory of Israel outside of Judah and southern
Benjamin had not been organized by David and
Solomon except for purposes of taxation and
statute labor. It was not a federation of tribes,
but virtually a combination of districts, the
region north of Esdraelon being especially loose
in its attachment. The inhabitants of the
territory called "Israel" had not before acted
together except in rebellion against the house of
David. The genius of David had placed Judah half a
century ahead of the rest of the land, in both
political and military affairs.
Dynastic Changes.
Accordingly in the inevitable wars with Judah,
Israel was at first at a disadvantage. Its
reverses increased the original confusion and
discontent. The rule of Ephraim became unpopular;
and Jeroboam's son Nadab (913) was slain by a
usurper, Baasha of Issachar (911). The northern
districts needed especial protection; for the
Arameans of Damascus were beginning their fateful
border attacks.
Baasha fixed his capital at Tirzah, nearer his own
home, and made a treaty with Damascus. His
measures of concentration enabled him to assert
the natural superiority of northern Israel and to
establish himself firmly on the border of, Judah.
With costly gifts King Asa of Judah induced the
Arameans to break with Baasha, and to invade the
territory of Israel. The result was the loss to
Israel of fertile lands northwest and west of the
Sea of Galilee, and the abandonment by Baasha of
his southern vantage-ground. The dynasty of Baasha
was soon overthrown. His son Elah (888) was slain
in a military conspiracy; and after the downfall
of two pretenders,Omri, the general of the army,
was made king by his soldiers.
Second Period.
Policy and Success of Omri.
—Omri to Jehu (886-842):
Omri chose a new capital, Samaria, the strongest
site for defense, in central Palestine. Under him
the fratricidal war with Judah was changed to
friendship based on common interest: and Judah
became a stanch ally, almost a vassal, of Israel.
Alliance with Tyre was cemented by a marriage
between Omri's son Ahab and Jezebel, the daughter
of the Tyrian king. Gilead was held with a firm
hand against Damascus on the north and against the
Moabites on the south. But west of the Jordan the
Arameans were still predominant; and Omri was
forced to concede an open market to them in
Samaria (I Kings xx. 34). Israel, now narrowing to
Ephraim, Jezreel, and Gilead, was being
consolidated.
Ahab (875) carried out strenuously his father's
policy. His association with Tyre was of material
but not of religious advantage to Israel. The cult
of the Phenician Baal and Astarte could not be
reconciled with the worship of Yhwh; besides, it
ministered to lust and luxury. Ahab and Jezebel
thus provoked the wrath of the prophet Elijah,
whose crusade against the house of Omri was
further inspired by Ahab's spoliation and murder
of a freeholder of Jezreel. Yet Ahab was a valiant
defender of Israel against the growing power of
Damascus, with which he was almost constantly at
war. On the whole, he was successful; and by the
peace of Aphek (855) he revoked the concessions of
his father (I Kings xx.). Next year he was
actually to be found with Benhadad II. of Damascus
as one of many allies fighting against the
Assyrians, who under Shalmaneser II. were
threatening Palestine as well as Syria. But in 853
war with Damascus broke out afresh. Ahab, who had
Jehoshaphat of Judah as an ally, was slain in
battle at Ramoth in Gilead.
Fall of the House of Omri.
Ahab's son Ahaziah sickened and died soon after
his accession; and his place was taken by his
brother Joram (853). The war with Damascus was
prosecuted vigorously. Ahab's policy was
continued, and Jezebel still promoted the worship
of her Baal. The prophet Elisha, at the head of
the partizans of Yhwh, now decided upon a coup
d'état; and at his instigation Jehu, an officer of
the army, rose against the royal house, put Joram
and Jezebel to death, and carried out on his own
account a murderous proscription against all their
relatives as well as against the priests of the
Baal.
Third Period.
—Jehu to Menahem (842-741):
Jehu, having cleared the way to the throne, found
himself at once face to face with Hazael of
Damascus, who a short while before had also made
himself king by the assassination of his master.
To Secure himself Jehu sent many rich presents to
Shalmaneser of Assyria. This, however, availed him
nothing. The Assyrians had made frequent
expeditions against Damascus, and thereby had
greatly helped Israel—perhaps, indeed, had saved
it from utter destruction; but after 839
Shalmaneser appeared no more in Syria, and Hazael
had his way in Israel and Judah. Jehu's reign was
thus made utterly inglorious; and his son Jehoahaz
(815) was, if possible, still further reduced by
the power of Damascus, so that the vassal state
was allowed to maintain only a nominal guard of
chariots and horsemen.
But deliverance was granted when most sorely
needed. The Assyrians again came against Damascus
after the death of Hazael (803); and under Joash
(799), son of Jehoahaz, Israel gradually revived.
In 797 Damascus was captured by the Assyrians, and
for two generations remained innocuous. The
Assyrians soon retired; and, freed from the double
danger, Israel still further revived, till
Jeroboam II. (783), son of Joash, brought it to a
height of power and prosperity never before known.
Indeed, for a time, the old ideal boundaries both
east and west of the Jordan were maintained. But
the glory was external and short-lived. The moral
causes of decay are shown in the prophecies of
Amos and Hosea. Jeroboam's son Zachariah (742) had
scarcely begun to reign when a usurper, Shallum,
put him to death, he in his turn being summarily
disposed of by an army officer, Menahem.
Fourth Period.
Vassalage, Revolt, and Ruin.
—Menahem to Hoshea (741-722):
In the time of Menahem, Israel had at last to deal
directly with the Assyrians, who under
Tiglathpileser III. were now beginning their final
era of conquest. In 738 he bought them off for a
thousand talents of silver. His reign was brief,
and his son Pekahiah, after ruling little more
than a year, was slain by his general Pekah (735).
In 734 the Assyrians returned. To cope with them
Pekah made an alliance with Damascus. The
Assyrians annexed Galilee and Damascus, dethroned
Pekah, and put an intriguer, Hoshea, in his place.
Over the central remnant Hoshea reigned as an
Assyrian vassal till in 724 he was incited to
revolt by Egypt under the Ethiopian dynasty.
Samaria was soon placed under siege, and at the
end of 722 was taken. Of the little kingdom 27,290
people were deported, and it was made an Assyrian
province.[1] Public
Domain: Jewish Encyclopedia, published between
1901-1906. |
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