The House of David

by Jerry M. Landay, Ronald Sheridan (photography)

Introduction
The House of Saul
For this Is He...
A Partridge in the Mountains
The Anointed of Judah
The City of God
When Kings Go Forth
Fathers & Sons
Into the Hands of Solomon
Solomon the King
The House of Israel
The Hub of the Orient
Decline & Division
Epilogue
Selected Sources
Index

Genres: History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this rich volume Jerry M Landay traces the history of the Kingdom of Israel, under the monarchs Saul, David and Solomon.
The book is richly illustrated with artwork through the ages about the subject matter, as well as photogrpahs of landmarks in the Land of Israel where the events took place, and monuments such as David's tomb.

The evidence is so clear that the events recounted in the Bible were very close to historic events as they actually transpired, from documentation and archaeology.
More and more archaeological evidence of the history of this period is being uncovered in Israel all the time.
As for the lie by far-left new anti-semites that the Kingdoms of David and Solomon did not exist, this is as absurd and as evil as holocaust denial, and even a rudimentary knowledge of the history of the time, makes it clear that the Israelite Commonwealth of the time flourished under the great kings David and Solomon.
For two hundred years after the Children of Israel had entered the Holy Land, from the desert where they had sealed their unique covenant with the One G-D, the Israelites existed as twelve disparate and impoverished tribes, eking out a living from the stony Israeli soil, and warding off hostility from the surrounding powers- the Canaanites,Phillistines, Amalekites ,Arameans, Edmites,Ammonites and Moabites. Governed loosely by men and women called judges, they developed their unique faith in Yahweh.
To meet the dangers that threatened them, the Twelve Tribes united to form a kingdom. The great prophet Samuel warned the people against forming a monarchy, but finally gave into their wishes and chose Saul as king. The people honoured Saul for his bravery, but found that he lacked wisdom and steadiness. In time, they turned from Saul to the young David, a sheperd, who had killed the giant Phillistine warrior Goliath.
When Saul died in battle, David became king. David was a poet as well as a warrior and statesman. his Book of Psalms contains some of the most beautiful writings in the Bible. David's son Solomon, followed him as king. Soon after Solomon became king, he built the first temple in Jerusalem for the worship of G-D.
When Solomon died, political and economic troubles split the kingdom. His son Rehoboam increased the heavy taxes and ten of the tribes broke away and set up and independent nation in the north. They chose Jeroboam as king, and called themselves the kingdom of Israel. The two remaining tribes, Benjamin and Judah, formed the kingdom of Judah, in the south. The citizens of this kingdom were called Judeans. The word 'Jew' came from this name.
After centuries of internal conflict and eternal power struggle withing thse kingdoms, Assyria destroyed Israel in 721 BCE. It's people were deported and eventually became lost.
The Babylonians conquered Judah in 587 BCE, and destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem.
The House of David had been ended, but the Jews would return to refound their nation.

Landay recounts these events in a fascinating detail, and a colourful fabric, in a way that is exciting to read, while fully outlining the events.
Photographs in the book include a landscape of Shiloh, the seat of the ark of the Covenant in Israelite times and the place where Eli the High Priest learned of the loss of the ark to the Phillistines; a representation of the ark of the Covenant from the synagogue at Capernaum, 3rd to 2nd century CE; the excavation at Aphek where the Ark was lost to the Phillistines, the view of the lowlands from Tell Gath, which includes the remains of the biblical city of Gath ruled by Achish, a view of the Plain of Jezreel from the fortress of Taanach; remains of a wall dating from the period of David's capture of Jerusalem from the Jebusites; the pool of Shiloam, which collects the water of the Gihon Spring; the exit to what is believed to be the actual shaft climbed by Joab's men to enter Jerusalem. It is still located outside the city walls in an area known as Ophel (David's City); ; the cave of Machpelah in Hebron, where prayers were held at the traditional tomb of the Patriarchs after David's coronation; a section of steeply terraced houses on the same hill as the ancient Millo. This part of Jerusalem was built up, with the aid of Phoenician expertise, to accomodate more housing and the expanded royal establishment; the burial place of King David in Jerusalem; and the site of Anatoth, north of Jerusalem, where Abiather was banished to his estate.

The artwork includes a Gothic relief on the Freiburg Cathedral of Samuel anointing Saul; Detail of the 'Return of the Ark' by the 17th century artist Sebastian Bourdon; a portrait of the High Priest of Israe, detail from 'David Playing the Harp' by the 17th century painter Jan de Bray; David holding the head of the slain Goliath by Caraveggio (1565-1609) and the beautiful painting of Bathseba bathing by the Flemish painter Hans Memling.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like one of Michael Grant's books about classical antiquity, this is a quick, accessible rehash of some of the historical books of the Hebrew canon pertaining to the period from Saul through Solomon--the legendary highpoint of the kingdom of Israel. Most of the material is from the familiar texts, but the author does adduce some of the later archaeological evidences and the book is richly illustrated. Not quite the typical coffee table book if only because it's dimensions are too small, it would make a good gift for many.

[Cimuchowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author gives his insight into the politics and rivalries from the time of Saul to the end of Solomon’s reign.