EXODUS

What we do not see written are the processes of KING-MAKING of these five individuals. How they were sworn in as the ‘next’ KING OF ISRAEL, is not spoken of or written about.

The KING-MAKING rituals were taught to MOSES during his stay with the EGYPTIAN PHARAOHS. The SECRETS of KING MAKING, places the individual in the highest expression of power. The mere possession of which, was a mark of ROYALTY. MOSES, carried these secrets with him, which allowed him the new secret RITE-OF-PASSAGE, for KING-MAKING in the new land of ISRAEL.

SAUL, ‘tells’ us that he could not have had much regard for the processes and powers of these KING-MAKING rituals, as he openly states that JUDGES and PROPHETS hold sway over KINGS. Our journey starts with the birth of SAMUEL, born in 1 070 BCE and dies in 1 012 BCE. He was a JUDGE, a PROPHET, and a KING-MAKER, who assisted in the transition of ISRAEL from a BIBLICAL JUDGES controlled area to the UNITED KINGDOM of ISRAEL under the rule of SAUL, who was anointed KING by SAMUEL.

The line of information from MOSES of the knowledge of the SECRETS of the ROYAL HOUSE and of KING-MAKING, seem to have been kept alive by ABIMELECH and his son GIDEON, which filtered down to JUDGE SAMUEL. SAMUEL in turn passed the secrets of KING-MAKING to SAUL. This is a ‘path’ we will follow in the BLOG of MOSES.

SAMUEL’S mother was HANNAH, his father was ELKANAH. They lived at RAMATHAIN in the district of ZUPH. They were KOHATHITES, a LEVITE, belonging to JUDAH, in the genealogy of MOSES.

He had two wives, PENINNAH and HANNAH. PENINNAH had children and HANNAH battled. As a FAMILY, SAMUEL often took them on PILGRIMAGE to SHILOH, an ancient city of SAMARIA, before the construction and use of the first temple. SHILOH, was created after the conquest of CANAAN.

The TABERNACLE was then brought to SHILOH. SHILOH, was destroyed in 1 050 BCE, an event which was witnessed by SAMUEL.

ELI was made priest of SHILOH, after SAMSON, the NAZIRITE’S death.

HANNAH, struggled to have children. She asked GOD for a child and made him a promise to raise him as a NAZIRITE, meaning that he would never participate in the taking of wine, and any grape products, such as vinegar. He would also refrain from cutting his hair and more. Her child was born, and she named him SAMUEL, and he was raised in the church at SHILOH, under the mentorship of ELI the Priest.

During SAMUEL’S youth the PHILISTINE attacked ISRAEL at EBEN-EZER, and ISRAEL falls under the PHILISTINE RULE. The PHILISTINE’S took the SANCTUARY ARK for themselves. When ELI heard about the taking of the ARK and the death of his sons, he collapsed and died. The PHILISTINE’S did not live a comfortable life after ‘stealing’ the ARK. They were plagued by calamities and misfortunes, and after a few months they promptly returned the ARK to ISRAEL.

However, the Philistine’s held ISRAEL ‘captive’ for about another twenty years. In the meantime, SAMUEL had focussed on retaining the religious heritage and identity of ISRAEL. This allowed him to grow to prominence as PRIEST, PROPHET, and JUDGE. Then finally one day the grip over ISRAEL by the PHILISTINE’S broke and SAMUEL summoned the people to MIZPAH, where they defeated the PHILISTINES and finally peace returned to ISRAEL, under SAMUEL.

SAMUEL, appointed his two sons JOEL and ABIJAH as his successors, but they proved to be unworthy.

I would say that GOD spoke to SAMUEL and laid the “idea” that there was a need for a UNIFIED, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. In the meantime, SAUL who was searching for his father’s donkeys which had gone walk-about, by default met up with SAMUEL. When SAMUEL saw him, he instinctively knew that he, SAUL was to be the KING of ISRAEL, without training or understanding the duties of the task ahead. SAUL was KING for twenty-seven years and at the final speech of SAMUEL, he said, “Prophets and Judges are more important than a KING, and KINGS should be held accountable for their wrong doings. The people should not fall into idol worship.” It makes me wonder, what SAUL truly got up to, for SAMUEL to make this speech at his CORONATION.

I could not follow this story, as I do not believe that a person can be wondering the fields one minute and the next he is made king, I think that he could have been made a JUDGE first to learn from the ‘elders’ to become a KING, and what follows is what and how he gets tested to see if he could protect ISRAEL, but who am I to say.

Looking back, SAUL started his reign by attacking the AMALEKITES, but he spared their KING AGAG, together with some prime livestock. This annoyed SAMUEL as SAUL was told to kill all women, children, and animals and of course men and husbands, as instructed by GOD. “I need to ask. Who said this, GOD, or SAMUEL?” Anyway, after many years SAMUEL left and murdered AGAG. The funny side of the story, after he killed AGAG, SAUL never faced SAMUEL again.

However, in the meantime, SAMUEL had travelled to BETHLEHEM and anointed DAVID as KING OF ISRAEL. Of course, SAUL was not happy, and it is said that both SAMUEL and DAVID had to hide from SAUL.

A quick look as to who SAUL THE JUDGE was. He was born in the JEZREEL VALLEY within ISRAELI TERRITORY. We do not know when he was born, but his reign was for 27 years, from 1 037 BCE, it is said that he died in the year 1 010 BCE. His wife was AHINOAM, and his concubine was RIZPAH. I am not sure who or what or which of his children belonged to which woman, but he had eight children. ISH-BOSHETH, JONATHAN, ABINADAB, MELCHISHUA, MEREB, MICHAL, ARMONI and MEPHIBOSETH. Beside the attempts of ISH-BOSHETH to be king of ISRAEL, none of his other children amounted to much. His father was KISH, a BENJAMITE, from the family of MATRITES, the family of SAUL. KISH was the brother of NER.

KISH was the son of ABIEL, who was the son of ZEROR, who was the son of BECHORATH who the son of APHIAN.

The next KING OF ISRAEL, was DAVID, and we ask why DAVID? Surely a Shephard is the most unlikely individual able to RULE a state such as ISRAEL!! But our journey revealed the other side of DAVID and how he rose to ‘fame.’

DAVID was born in BETHLEHEM, around 1 000 BCE and died in 930 BCE the youngest son of JESSE.

How DAVID became KING cannot be from SAUL or SAMUEL finding him taking care of sheep in a field. Not a practical answer to finding a KING. It is said by a few, that SAUL heard DAVID play the Harp and had on various occasions invited him to play for him as a young man. This placed DAVID within the courts of the KING. Due to his skills he rose to the title of COURTIER. Finding himself within the HOUSE OF ROYALS, it is possible that he was allowed to Study POLITICS, as well as undergoing the training of SOLDIERING, which made him comfortable with the acts of war. It is said that he excelled in POLITICS. Suddenly SAUL saw his potentials and tried to remove him, but SAMUEL too saw DAVID’S potential and he had to admit that he was the best candidate to become the next KING OF ISRAEL.

At the age of 30 Years, he becomes ISRAEL’S 3rd KING. He reigned for 7 Years. He ruled from JUDAH over those parts of the country. Then for the next 33 Years, he ruled from JERUSALEM, and ruled over all of ISRAEL. He truly united the tribes into a single people.

An important MENTOR to KING DAVID was NATHAN the PROPHET. NATHAN was a COURT PROPHET and served in the COURT of the KING himself. As PROPHET, he proclaimed messages given to him by GOD, he spoke GOD’S TRUTH. NATHAN met DAVID during his young life playing the HARP for the then KING. One other PRIEST during DAVID’S teachings was ZADOK, biblically descended from ELEAZAR the son of AARON. ZADOK was a HIGH PRIEST of ISRAEL, and Teacher to DAVID.

During NATHAN’S time, schools were established for the proper training of PROPHETS.

A bit on DAVID, his first wife was MICHAL, the youngest daughter of KING SAUL, she was a princess. DAVID married her, in order to seal a political alliance with her dad, KING SAUL. DAVID had six more wives before he married BATHSHEBA. It is written that he had 18+ children.

During DAVID’S old age, DAVID’S son ADONIJAH conspires to take the KINGSHIP. NATHAN and BATHSHEBA confronted, DAVID about the issue. And DAVID declares that his second son SOLOMON should be made KING. As desired, SOLOMON becomes the next and the 4th or was he the 5th KING OF ISRAEL.

A little side-step, DAVID’S son ADONIJAH, was said to be the ‘heir’ to the throne of DAVID. During DAVID’S deathbed, ADONIJAH was actually crowned as king. However, before the coronation feast was completed, SOLOMON was anointed KING by ZADOK, with the help of DAVID. SOLOMON’S ceremony was held to be ‘true,’ and it was not long before the ‘new’ KING ‘did away’ with his brother and his supporters, in order for him never to be challenged again.

We arrive at KING SOLOMON. I believe that he was born in JERUSALEM in the year 1 026 BCE and died of natural causes in the year 932 BCE.

KING SOLOMON reached great heights during his rule of ISRAEL, so it is believed, however, our journey continues.

I have no doubt that he received the same teachings as his father, possibly a lot more, along the line of economics. His first marriage was to the daughter of the PHAROAH and his dowry was the gift of the city of GEZER on the EGYPTIAN border.

SOLOMON, quickly started on building his first temple, on the divide line of EGYPT and ISRAEL. This build was minor but lavish. It stood on a hilltop with its porchway facing east toward the rising sun. The Pillars of that Porchway stood to represent the harmony and balance of the UNITED KINGDOMS. This was an Egyptian design concept of POLITICAL STABILITY through UNITY. Indicating that the structure of the ISRAELITE MONARCHY and THEOLOGY, learned by MOSES from the EGYPTIANS, still had not lost its ancient origins.

What became clear is that with TAXES mounting during SOLOMON’S reign the people of ISRAEL began to lose their enthusiasm for their KING’S desire for grandeur. Such grandiose buildings were built on the back of increased forced labour costs, together with material costs, coupled with the borrowing of money costs, debt was mounting.

This was a period when GOD was not always present, but many other god’s were present amongst the people. Baal took the focus of many. However, the ‘Jews’ of this period believed in only ONE GOD.

Unfortunately, towards the end of SOLOMON’S reign, he switched over to the sole worship of others. This caused dissatisfaction with a number of groups and PRIESTS of the TEMPLE of JERUSALEM.

It was later discussed and accepted that GOD forgave SOLOMON’S wickedness out of respect for his father DAVID. It is however noted, that during the times of MOSES right through to SOLOMON, GOD does not seem to have impressed HIS “chosen people’s,” or so they claimed.

At the death of SOLOMON, he and the country were bankrupt, a known fact. But sad to say, they were also without GOD.

SOLOMON’S son REHOBOAM followed in his father’s footsteps as KING OF ISRAEL, but his belief in power and KINGSHIP divided the NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL and JUDAH and all of SAUL and DAVID’S works were undone by these two KINGS.