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Results: Hebrew Words: Israel |
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abbr.= abbreviated |
esp.= especially |
Heb.= Hebrew |
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lit.= literally |
n= noun |
pl.= plural |
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pron.= pronounced |
usu.= usually |
v= verb |
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Yid.= Yiddish |
Common Hebrew Phrases |
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The State of Israel
(Hebrew: מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל (help·info),
Medinat Yisra'el; Arabic: دَوْلَةْ
إِسْرَائِيل, Dawlat Isrā'īl) is a country
in the Western Asian Levant, on the
southeastern edge of the Mediterranean
Sea. It borders Lebanon on the north,
Syria and Jordan on the east, and Egypt on
the south-west. It has a population of
over seven million people.[2] Israel
declared independence in 1948 and is the
world's only Jewish state, although its
citizens include many other religious
backgrounds, among whom Christians and
Muslims make up the most notable
percentage.
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In the article People of Israel
the history of the Northern Kingdom in its
wider relations is briefly set forth; here the
details will be more fully sketched. The
history may be divided into four periods. The
first was a period of confusion and
semianarchy; the second, a time of national
consolidation and heroic self-defense; the
third, a period marked by extremes of
misfortune and success; and the fourth, a term
of humiliation by the Assyrians, ending in
national extinction.
First Period.
—Jeroboam I. to Omri (934-886 B.C.):
The kingdom during this period was in the
formative stage: it was, in fact, continuing
the political experiences of the time of Saul.
The territory of Israel outside of Judah and
southern Benjamin had not been organized by
David and Solomon except for purposes of
taxation and statute labor. It was not a
federation of tribes, but virtually a
combination of districts, the region north of
Esdraelon being especially loose in its
attachment. The inhabitants of the territory
called "Israel" had not before acted together
except in rebellion against the house of
David. The genius of David had placed Judah
half a century ahead of the rest of the land,
in both political and military affairs.
Dynastic Changes.
Accordingly in the inevitable wars with Judah,
Israel was at first at a disadvantage. Its
reverses increased the original confusion and
discontent. The rule of Ephraim became
unpopular; and Jeroboam's son Nadab (913) was
slain by a usurper, Baasha of Issachar (911).
The northern districts needed especial
protection; for the Arameans of Damascus were
beginning their fateful border attacks.
Baasha fixed his capital at Tirzah, nearer his
own home, and made a treaty with Damascus. His
measures of concentration enabled him to
assert the natural superiority of northern
Israel and to establish himself firmly on the
border of, Judah. With costly gifts King Asa
of Judah induced the Arameans to break with
Baasha, and to invade the territory of Israel.
The result was the loss to Israel of fertile
lands northwest and west of the Sea of
Galilee, and the abandonment by Baasha of his
southern vantage-ground. The dynasty of Baasha
was soon overthrown. His son Elah (888) was
slain in a military conspiracy; and after the
downfall of two pretenders,Omri, the general
of the army, was made king by his soldiers.
Second Period.
Policy and Success of Omri.
—Omri to Jehu (886-842):
Omri chose a new capital, Samaria, the
strongest site for defense, in central
Palestine. Under him the fratricidal war with
Judah was changed to friendship based on
common interest: and Judah became a stanch
ally, almost a vassal, of Israel. Alliance
with Tyre was cemented by a marriage between
Omri's son Ahab and Jezebel, the daughter of
the Tyrian king. Gilead was held with a firm
hand against Damascus on the north and against
the Moabites on the south. But west of the
Jordan the Arameans were still predominant;
and Omri was forced to concede an open market
to them in Samaria (I Kings xx. 34). Israel,
now narrowing to Ephraim, Jezreel, and Gilead,
was being consolidated.
Ahab (875) carried out strenuously his
father's policy. His association with Tyre was
of material but not of religious advantage to
Israel. The cult of the Phenician Baal and
Astarte could not be reconciled with the
worship of Yhwh; besides, it ministered to
lust and luxury. Ahab and Jezebel thus
provoked the wrath of the prophet Elijah,
whose crusade against the house of Omri was
further inspired by Ahab's spoliation and
murder of a freeholder of Jezreel. Yet Ahab
was a valiant defender of Israel against the
growing power of Damascus, with which he was
almost constantly at war. On the whole, he was
successful; and by the peace of Aphek (855) he
revoked the concessions of his father (I Kings
xx.). Next year he was actually to be found
with Benhadad II. of Damascus as one of many
allies fighting against the Assyrians, who
under Shalmaneser II. were threatening
Palestine as well as Syria. But in 853 war
with Damascus broke out afresh. Ahab, who had
Jehoshaphat of Judah as an ally, was slain in
battle at Ramoth in Gilead.
Fall of the House of Omri.
Ahab's son Ahaziah sickened and died soon
after his accession; and his place was taken
by his brother Joram (853). The war with
Damascus was prosecuted vigorously. Ahab's
policy was continued, and Jezebel still
promoted the worship of her Baal. The prophet
Elisha, at the head of the partizans of Yhwh,
now decided upon a coup d'état; and at his
instigation Jehu, an officer of the army, rose
against the royal house, put Joram and Jezebel
to death, and carried out on his own account a
murderous proscription against all their
relatives as well as against the priests of
the Baal.
Third Period.
—Jehu to Menahem (842-741):
Jehu, having cleared the way to the throne,
found himself at once face to face with Hazael
of Damascus, who a short while before had also
made himself king by the assassination of his
master. To Secure himself Jehu sent many rich
presents to Shalmaneser of Assyria. This,
however, availed him nothing. The Assyrians
had made frequent expeditions against
Damascus, and thereby had greatly helped
Israel—perhaps, indeed, had saved it from
utter destruction; but after 839 Shalmaneser
appeared no more in Syria, and Hazael had his
way in Israel and Judah. Jehu's reign was thus
made utterly inglorious; and his son Jehoahaz
(815) was, if possible, still further reduced
by the power of Damascus, so that the vassal
state was allowed to maintain only a nominal
guard of chariots and horsemen.
But deliverance was granted when most sorely
needed. The Assyrians again came against
Damascus after the death of Hazael (803); and
under Joash (799), son of Jehoahaz, Israel
gradually revived. In 797 Damascus was
captured by the Assyrians, and for two
generations remained innocuous. The Assyrians
soon retired; and, freed from the double
danger, Israel still further revived, till
Jeroboam II. (783), son of Joash, brought it
to a height of power and prosperity never
before known. Indeed, for a time, the old
ideal boundaries both east and west of the
Jordan were maintained. But the glory was
external and short-lived. The moral causes of
decay are shown in the prophecies of Amos and
Hosea. Jeroboam's son Zachariah (742) had
scarcely begun to reign when a usurper,
Shallum, put him to death, he in his turn
being summarily disposed of by an army
officer, Menahem.
Fourth Period.
Vassalage, Revolt, and Ruin.
—Menahem to Hoshea (741-722):
In the time of Menahem, Israel had at last to
deal directly with the Assyrians, who under
Tiglathpileser III. were now beginning their
final era of conquest. In 738 he bought them
off for a thousand talents of silver. His
reign was brief, and his son Pekahiah, after
ruling little more than a year, was slain by
his general Pekah (735). In 734 the Assyrians
returned. To cope with them Pekah made an
alliance with Damascus. The Assyrians annexed
Galilee and Damascus, dethroned Pekah, and put
an intriguer, Hoshea, in his place. Over the
central remnant Hoshea reigned as an Assyrian
vassal till in 724 he was incited to revolt by
Egypt under the Ethiopian dynasty. Samaria was
soon placed under siege, and at the end of 722
was taken. Of the little kingdom 27,290 people
were deported, and it was made an Assyrian
province.
[1] Public Domain: Jewish Encyclopedia,
published between 1901-1906. |
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