The United Monarchy

Israel’s golden age begins when the people demand a king “like the other nations.” Saul, tall and handsome, starts well but his disobedience leads God to reject him. David, a shepherd boy who defeats the giant Goliath, rises through Saul’s court, survives Saul’s jealous attempts to kill him, and eventually becomes king. David conquers Jerusalem, makes it his capital, and receives God’s promise of an eternal dynasty. His reign represents Israel’s greatest territorial expansion, yet his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband mark a turning point—the sword never departs from his house. Solomon, David’s son, builds the magnificent Temple and becomes legendary for wisdom, but his many foreign wives turn his heart to other gods. Heavy taxation and forced labor create resentment that will soon tear the kingdom apart.