Faith & Reason Nexus

UNITED KINGDOM

• 1053-933 B.C.
• Three kings reigned, each for 40 years:
• King Saul (Reigned 1053-1013 B.C.)
• King David (Reigned 1013-973 B.C.)
• King Solomon (Reigned 973-933 B.C.)

DIVIDED KINGDOM: 931-722 B.C.

NORTHERN KINGDOM (Israel) 931-722 B.C.

• 10 tribes
• Capital was Samaria
• 19 kings reigned
• None were considered good in God’s sight; all worshipped idols
• 8 kings were either assassinated or committed suicide
• Lasted 210 years, 135 years less than the Southern kingdom
• Conquered by Assyria in 734-721 B.C.

SOUTHERN KINGDOM (Judah) 931-586 B.C.

• 2 tribes: Benjamin, Judah
• Capital was Jerusalem
• 20 kings reigned
• At least 7 were considered good in God’s sight
• Lasted 135 years longer than the Northern Kingdom
• Conquered by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
• 70 year period of Babylonian captivity
• Persia overthrew Babylon in 536 B.C.
• 3 periods of return from Babylon to Jerusalem:
  • 1st return in 538 or 537 B.C. – led by Zerubbabel, Temple was rebuilt
  • 2nd return in 458 B.C. – led by Ezra, the law was restored
  • 3rd return in 444 B.C. – led by Nehemiah, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt

The Three Returns:

1. Zerubbabel – Temple was rebuilt

• 1st Return 536 B.C.
• 42,360 Jews
• 245 mules
• 7,337 servants
• 435 camels
• 200 singers
• 6,720 donkeys
• 736 horses
• 5,400 gold & silver vessels

2. Ezra – The law was restored

• 2nd Return 457 B.C.
• 1,754 men
• 750 talents of silver
• 100 talents of gold
• Took 4 months

3. Nehemiah – Walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt

• 3rd Return 444 B.C.
• Nehemiah was governor
• Army escort provided by Artaxerxes