----Associate bible stoires with early Jerusalem in order to BUILD TRADITION!----
The Promise to David
- 2 Samuel 7 is a very important verse; God promises David's line to become a dynasty and never to pass away. He also says that David's son, Solomon, will be the one to build Him a temple
- But David's line eventually disappears... This has led people to (1) lose faith (2) reinterpret the text and believe that a king from David's line is somewhere or will come. Some believe that this king is Jesus.
- It is crucial that the bible ties in geneology in order to create credibility as many claimed to be the Messaiah
- Psalm 110 & Psalm 76:1-3 also have references to Jerusalem. They created "songs" in order to build tradition.
Solomon's Jerusalem
- He built a physical house/temple for God/the Ark. This was in line with the originial tradition of the diety dwelling in a building (consecration of an established space)
- Wise (story of two women and a baby)
- Assumed to have written Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs (Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs are considered to be "soiled" books by the Jews)
- Also rode on a donkey and was annointed at Gihon
Solomon's Remains
- No temple or palace. We must rely on literary evidence for Solomon, because there is not much archaeological evidence. For example, instead of the second temple being built in a tell style (where the new building is built over the old one), King Herrod simply broke down the whole thing and rebuilt the second temple.
- Were David and Solomon real?? Absense of evidence doesn't mean anything. They could have been false, real, or not as opulent as the bible says.
- Fragmentary archaeological evidence:
1. Megiddo (from "Armageddon") was a hill where major battles took place. Two scholars have friendly, but differening opinions of the dating of this hill.
2. Ophel excavations reveal a small inscription (not that groundbreaking). It is certain that Jesus was at these steps
3. Mole (sp?) gate
4. Iron age gate
Solomon's Temple
- The two pillars in Solomon's temple could stand for various things: Jachin and Boaz, idol worship, YHWH and wife, fertility symbols, or decoration
- Pre-Josaiah: other Gods exist, but they are not worshipped. Post-Josaiah: monotheism - there is only one God.
--> The literary description of Solomon's temple (small rooms in the back, big space in front, portico, two pillars, main hall, water being a cosmic element, using Cedar popularly from Lebanon, Cherubims, city gate architecture) is very similar to the other temples of that time period (Tel Ta'yinat and 'Ain Dara). This brings more credibility for Solomon.
The Footsteps of God in 'Ain Dara were very interesting. This was the first time I had heard of them. I wonder if this is considered to be legit evidence. It could have been falsely created... no one knows the actual figure of God... and the Hebrew Bible never says that God came down to Earth in physical form...
Seeing David and Solomon in an academic setting has opened my views. I could blindly believe that they are true historical figures, but it could also be true from an objective standpoint that these figures have been exaggerated, and were not as affluent in the whole span of history...
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