1/20/11

David's Jerusalem cont'd:

One of the most important biblical passages comes from 2 Samuel 7 - The Promise to David.  This chapter explains that David was planning to build a temple to house the Ark of the Covenant.  God, however, replied by saying He has never lived in a house, and that instead, He shall build David a house.  David's son shall build the house for God, and his kingdom will be a established forever.  The temple was said to last forever, yet it was eventually destroyed and the line of Davidic kings was also ended.  For this reason, people began reinterpreting the story, and it soon became an item of debate.  Furthermore, Dr. Cargill explained the overall theme of Jerusalem's sacredness: to build the tradition.

 Solomon's Jerusalem:

King Soloman was anointed near the Gihon spring, and he rode there on a donkey (a common action to express triumph or humility).  He gave an elaborate dedication to God's temple in 1 Kings 8:12-2, and he is often considered wise. Since no archeological evidence of the temple exists, people often wonder if the lack of evidence is proof of its non-existence.  The Millo/Stepped Stone Structure provides fragmentary archeological evidence as a possible foundation to David's palace.  As far as Solomon's temple is concerned, it is similar in structure to the Tel Ta'yinat and Ain Dara temples, for which we have archeological proof.  The pillars of Boaz and Jachin represent strength and possibly the female equivalent of God; Solomon was believed to worship multiple gods.  Also, the similar structures of the gates may signal a central bureaucracy, somehow linking the different constructions during the periods of David and Solomon.