Monarchy

The Hebrew words for ‘kingdom’ are all derived from one word, melek. Those three words are mamlaka, malekut, and mamlakut. In Aramaic, maleku is the term used for ‘kingdom,’ and in Greek, basileia. The Old Testament word used for ‘king’ is also derived from the word melek. In Greek, the word for ‘king’ is very similar to ‘kingdom’: basileus. Possible translations for ‘king’ in the Old Testament include ‘counselor’ or ‘possessor.’

The title of king is given to many rulers in the Old Testament. Rulers included small city-state princes and emperors of major realms. Examples of these kings can be found in 1 Samuel 27:2 and Ezra 1:1. The office of king signified an administrative office and leadership role for governing various peoples and territories. The king was also responsible for maintaining the socio-political order which included establishing a military, fiscal, and legal administration. Examples of those responsibilities can be seen in 2 Samuel 5-8. The office of king was also considered a sacred office. The Israelite kings were anointed with oil and this was to show that they were the chosen ones and sons of Yahweh (see 2 Kings 11:9-12). The Book of Psalms reference the throne as being divine. Other signs that showed kingship included crowns and diadems, palaces, and troops. King Saul is typically pictured with a spear to show his kingship.

The history of the kings begins with Saul and ends with Zedekiah, which lasts for about 450 years. Saul is the first Hebrew king and he is crowned around 1020 B.C. David follows Saul, who anoints David. One aspect of the kingship of David is that it is considered to be more sacral than Saul’s. The son of David, Solomon, is the third king crowned. This lineage is recorded in 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings. After the rule of Solomon, the kingdom was split into north and south regions. The Northern Kingdom consisted of 10 tribes which broke away from any allegiance with David’s dynasty. The first king in this kingdom was Jeroboam and the last king, Hoshea. The kingdom fell in 722 B.C. to the Assyrians. The Southern Kingdom consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin who were maintained under David’s dynasty. This kingdom fell in 587 to the Babylonians. For several centuries, there were no kings. The Hasmoneans came to power when Judas Maccabeus led a revolt in 166 B.C. against the Seleucid king, Antiochus Epiphanes. The Hasmoneans claimed the royal title and their rule lasted for about 100 years. This account is recorded in 1 and 2 Maccabees.

The succession of Old Testament kings varied. Saul and David’s selections were unique because they were chosen for their charismatic qualities, and they were made effective leaders through the guidance of Yahweh. For the most part, though, succession was hereditary and began after the time following Saul and David. Most often the eldest son was picked to succeed the king, but exceptions arose. For example, Zedekiah was selected to be king although he was the uncle of his predecessor, Jehoiachin.

Prophets had a hand in the lives of the Old Testament kings. These prophets guided the king and kept him ‘in check,’ so to speak. They also commented on king’s actions. Various examples include Nathan’s rebuke of David in 2 Samuel 12:1-15, Elijah’s denouncement of Ahab in 1 Kings 21:17-21, and Samuel’s rebuke of Saul in 1 Samuel 13:8-14. This example in particular involved Saul’s taking part in the burnt offerings which should have been reserved for Samuel.

For quite some time, the Israelites hoped for a king similar to David. The majority of the kings, though, following David were seen as evil and even weak. After the exile, the expected king was referred to as the ‘anointed one,’ which can be found in various locations in the Old Testament, including Ps. 2:2. The word for ‘messiah’ in Aramaic is mesiha and in Greek messias or christos. Ultimately, the divine kingship was the focus in the Old Testament. In ancient times, the gods were believed to rule like kings. The human kings were seen as mediators between gods and men. The Israelites viewed Yahweh as the true king. The reason for the monarchy was that it was urgent and needed, and after the era of the kings’ ended, the concept of Yahweh as king returned, as is seen in the chapters 40-55 of Isaiah.

Bibliography:

Eerdmans’ Dictionary of the Bible, Editor David Noel Freedman, “King, Kingship,” pgs. 766-767 by James W. Flanagan.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume 3: K-P, “King, Kingdom,” pgs. 21-23 by D. F. Payne.