Switching between periods

Iron Age II – King David and the First Temple Period

Iron Age II is a period of great upheaval. It largely overlaps with the period of the First Temple since the Temple in Jerusalem was established at its beginning, during the days of Solomon. According to the biblical account, it began with a united kingdom led by David and his son Solomon, but during the reign of Jeroboam, the kingdom split into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. The Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians in the 8th century BCE, while the Kingdom of Judah, whose policies were more calculated, survived until the Babylonians brought about its end in 586 BCE. During this period, we witness the consolidation of monotheistic belief through a struggle against idolatry, which also finds expression in prophetic literature. Simultaneously, Jerusalem's unique political and religious status was consolidated, and within the scribal circles residing there, numerous biblical texts encompassing history, prophecy, thought, morality, and poetry were written down. Their profound influence on humanity is evident to this day.