Government of the early Hebrews.

Overview

'The Iron Age II began around 1200 BCE and lasted approximately 300 years. It was throughout this time period that nation-states rose up from the Southern Levant area. One of the new "nation-states" was the Kingdom of Israel under David. Archaeologically, evidence for a government in the Southern Levant area was limited until the time after King Solomon, circa 930 BCE.

Governments of the Biblical States

• Between the time period of 900 and 750 BCE, some of the main biclical states were Israel, Judah, Ammon and Moab.

• • These biblical states developed bureaucratic governments in which the political leaders and government officials implemented rules and laws of their societies. Governments used bureacracy to their advantage in order to complete building projects such as water tunnels. A positive part of the spread of bureaucratic government was the increased utilization of writing and written law.

Dominance from Opposing Forces

• Following the year 734 BCE, the Assyrians began to directly intervene and involve itself with the politics and politicians of Israel and other nation-states. With this intervention power in the biblical states became even more concentrated on the king and his officials. Eventually the Assyrian army was strong enough to completely overthrow Israel in about 722 BCE. Following the capture of Israel's capital, Samaria, the souther kingdom of Judah bowed to the oppresive and vicious Assyrians. After the downfall of the Assyrians the Babylonians gained control of the region and dominated its inhabitants. The most notable example of Babylon's total control of the region was the exile of many Jews to Babylon in 586 BCE.

Map

Sources

The Manual for Cultural Foundations of Ancient Civilizations compiled by Rosie Beniretto and Clay Elliot, pages 68 and 69.

Photo credit: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Kingdom_of_Judah

Charmon