Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)
The United Kingdom of Israel (Hebrew: מְמַלְכַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל הַמְאוּחֶדֶת) was an ancient Israelite kingdom during the Iron Age.
United Kingdom of Israel ממלכת ישראל המאוחדת | |
---|---|
117 years (1047 BCE - 930 BCE) | |
Capital | Jerusalem 31°47′N 35°13′E |
Official languages | Hebrew Aramaic |
Religion | Judaism Ancient Semitic religions |
Demonym(s) | Israelite or Israeli |
Government | Hereditary theocratic absolute monarchy |
Kings | |
• 1047–1010 BCE | Saul |
• 1010–1008 BCE | Eshbaal |
• 1008–970 BCE | David |
• 970–931 BCE | Solomon |
• 931-930 BCE | Rehoboam |
Establishment | 1047 BCE |
History | |
• Established | 1047 BCE |
• King Solomon's death | 930 BCE |
Currency | Shekel |
Time zone | UTC+2:00 |
Today part of | Israel Palestinian National Authority Jordan Cyprus Lebanon Syria Egypt Saudi Arabia |
It was a kingdom in which all the tribes of Israel were united under one rule in the Land of Israel, and it existed for about a hundred years, from the anointing of Saul of the Tribe of Benjamin as king until the division of the kingdom after the death of Solomon into two separate kingdoms: Israel and Judah.
Geography
changeBorders according to the Tanakh
changeAccording to the Tanakh, the Kingdom of Israel in the days of Saul stretched from the Negev to the Golan and included most of the coastal plain (except for the southern part that was in the hands of the Philistines), the cities of Judaeo-Samaria and Gaza (with the very exceptions of Jerusalem and Beit She'an which were only conquered during the time of David), and areas past Eastern Jordan that are in the territory of the modern Kingdom of Jordan.
In the days of David and Solomon, the influence of the Kingdom of Israel expanded or included the Kingdom of Aram Zoba to the north/east and the kingdoms of Ammon, Moab and 'Edom' to south/east, some under its direct control and some as proteges. The northern border of the kingdom passed through the City of Passover, located on the west bank of the Euphrates River in Modern Syria.