Kingdom of Israel - The Sacred Kingdom

A kingdom established by the Israelites in the land of Canaan (Syria, Palestine) in the 11th century BC. The tribes of Israel, who had settled in Canaan and formed a national group centered on the belief in the one God Yahweh, established their first kingdom in Canaan at the end of the 11th century BC, prompted by the invasion of the sea people, the Philistines. Saul, who was born to a prominent Benjaminite family and came from an aristocratic clan, was anointed and consecrated by the religious authority and prophet Samuel, and was chosen as the first king (reigned 1020-1004 BC). After a tragic battle with the military commander David, he was defeated in battle with the Philistines and died in battle along with his three sons. Compared to the later kingships of David and Solomon, Saul's kingship was merely a local government based on a tribal society. David later succeeded him to the throne (reigned 1004-967 BC). David, who was considered a vassal king of the Philistines, rebelled against them and escaped from their rule with his superior military and political power. He captured Jerusalem, a city of the Jebusites that did not belong to either the northern or southern tribes, and ruled both the northern and southern kingdoms under a combined personal monarchy. He made Jerusalem his capital and used it as a major political, military, and religious base, conquering neighboring countries and defeating the Syrian Arameans. He built the largest territory in the history of Israel, stretching from the Red Sea in the south to the Euphrates River in the north, and left it to his heir, Solomon. The Davidic Kingdom was a mercenary kingdom in terms of military system. Solomon's accession to the throne was the first step toward a hereditary system of kingship that broke the charismatic ideals of the Kingdom of Israel. Solomon (reigned 965-928 BC) established the systems of a bureaucratic state and imposed heavy taxes on the people, while at the same time building a palace and a temple in Jerusalem and ushering in a golden age. In particular, he promoted economic development through active trade with foreign countries and strengthened his military to prepare for any eventuality. To defend his vast territory, he invested advanced technology in strategic locations, built fortified cities (Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer, Arad) and prepared a powerful military. Hundreds of stables have been excavated in Megiddo.

Due to the cruel rule of Solomon and the foolishness of his son Rehoboam, the kingdom was divided into two independent kingdoms (928 BC): the Southern Kingdom (first king Rehoboam), which included the people of Judah and Benjamin in the south, and the Northern Kingdom (first king Jeroboam I), which consisted of 10 tribes in the north. The Northern Kingdom, with its main base in Samaria, inherited the name of the Kingdom of Israel, while the Southern Kingdom, based in Jerusalem, became the Kingdom of Judah. ​​The Northern Kingdom was economically and culturally richer than the Southern Kingdom, but was at risk of religious paganization, and after eight revolutions over a period of 200 years, it was destroyed by the Assyrian king Sargon II in 721 BC. On the other hand, the Southern Kingdom continued to exist after the fall of the Northern Kingdom, but was caught between the powers of Assyria and Egypt and did not perform well both domestically and diplomatically. In 586 BC, it was destroyed by the Neo-Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II, and all of its officials and upper classes were captured and deported to Babylonia (Babylonian Captivity).

[Masao Takahashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

紀元前11世紀にイスラエル人がカナーン（シリア、パレスチナ）の地に樹立した王国。カナーンの地に定着し、唯一神ヤーウェ信仰を中心に国家的集団を形成するに至ったイスラエル諸部族は、前11世紀の終わりに、海の民ペリシテ（フィリスティア）人の侵入に促されて、カナーンの地に初めて王国を樹立した。ベニヤミン人の名望家の子として生まれた貴族的氏族出身のサウルが、宗教的権威者であり預言者であったサムエルから油注ぎを受けて聖別され、初代の王に選ばれた（在位前1020～前1004）。武将ダビデとの悲劇的な争いののち、ペリシテ人との戦いに敗れて3人の息子とともに陣没した。サウル王権は、後のダビデ、ソロモンのそれに比べれば、部族制社会に基礎を置く地方政権にすぎなかった。その後ダビデが王位を継いだ（在位前1004～前967）。ペリシテの属王とみなされていたダビデは、ペリシテ人に反旗を翻し、優れた軍事力と政治力とをもってペリシテ人の支配から脱し、南北いずれの部族にも属さないエブス人の町エルサレムを攻略し、南北両王国を同君複合の形で統治した。エルサレムを首都と定め、同地を政治、軍事、宗教上の一大拠点として、近隣諸国を征服し、さらにシリアのアラム人をも破って、南は紅海から北はユーフラテス川に達するイスラエル史上最大の支配領域を築き上げ、それを嗣子(しし)ソロモンに残した。ダビデ王国は、兵制のうえからは傭兵(ようへい)制度的王国であった。ソロモンの即位は、イスラエル王国のカリスマ的理念を打ち破った王位世襲制の第一歩であった。ソロモン（在位前965～前928）は、官僚国家の諸制度を確立し、人民に重税を課する一方、エルサレムに宮殿や神殿を建造し、黄金時代を築いた。とりわけ、活発な対外交易活動を通じて経済的発展を図り、軍備を強化して、万一の場合に備えた。広大な領土を防備するために、要害の地に高度な技術を投入して要塞(ようさい)諸都市（ハツォル、メギッド、ゲゼル、アラド）を築き、強大な軍備を整えた。メギッドからは数百の厩舎(きゅうしゃ)が発掘されている。

　ソロモンの酷政とその子レハベアムの暗愚とにより、王国は、南のユダ人とベニヤミン人とを含む南王国（初代の王レハベアム）と、北の10部族からなる北王国（初代の王ヤラベアム1世）との独立王国に分裂した（前928）。北王国はサマリアをおもな拠点としてイスラエル王国の名を継承し、南王国はエルサレムを基盤としてユダ王国となった。北王国は、南王国よりも経済的、文化的に富んでいたが、宗教的には異教化の危険にさらされ、200年の間に8回もの革命を重ねたのち、前721年アッシリア王サルゴン2世によって滅ぼされた。一方、南王国は北王国滅亡後も存続し、アッシリア、エジプト両勢力の間に立たされて内政、外交ともに振るわず、前586年新バビロニア王ネブカドネザル2世によって滅ぼされ、すべての役人たちと上流階級が捕らえられバビロニアへ移された（バビロン捕囚）。

［高橋正男］

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