Jewry 19. The kings after alleged king Solomon

from: Israel Finkelstein / Neil A. Silberman: The Bible unearthed. Archeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts; The Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2001; German edition has got the title "No trombones before Jericho" (orig. German: "Keine Posaunen vor Jericho"): edition C.H.Beck oHG, Munich 2002;

Here in this analysis is used the German version "Keine Posaunen vor Jericho" of DTV, Munich 2004, second edition of 2005. All page indications refer to the German version. I hope the page numbers are not very different.

926-909 B.C.
King Jerobeam and prophet Ahijah - Jerobeam is said having installed two golden calves in Bethel and in Dan - "disloyalty" to God and prophecy of Ahijah

For this period there are no archaeological finding available.

Map with Bethel and Dan where is said having installed the two golden calves, satellite photo

OT claims:

-- king Jerobeam is said to be the son of Nebats of the Ephraim tribe which is responsible for the search of serf laborers in the northern tribes (p.182)

-- king Jerobeam is said having governed for 22 years (p.189)

-- king Jerobeam is said having received a prophecy of prophet Ahijah (p.182) that the alleged Solomonic Reich will be split (1st Kings 11, 31-39) (p.183)

-- king Jerobeam is said having installed two golden calves in Bethel and in Dan (1st book of Kings 12, 25-30) (p.183) respectively king Jerobeam is said having ordered the construction of a temple in Bethel (p.297) and by this Jerobeam is said having been more disloyal to God yet (p.183)

-- during a sacrifice action in Bethel king Jerobeam is said having received the prophecy from a "man of God" that Josiah will be born who will slaughter the priests on the heights and will burn human bones on Jerobeam (1st book of Kings 13, 1-2) (p.184).

This prophecy is said having been uttered before 300 years, and Josiah is said having fulfilled this prophecy later (p.184). In this manner Bible actions are "coordinated"...

Illness of Jerobeam's son Abijah - the alleged prophecy of the extermination, and dogs and birds

OT claims:

After the latter prophecy Jerobeam's son Abijah has fallen ill, and Jerobeam's wife is said having asked for help at prophet Ahijah. Prophet Ahijah is said having answered the wife,

-- that because of disloyalty to God there will come evil to the house of Jerobeam
-- the house of Jerobeam will be exterminated and the town the dogs will eat the dead bodies and in the fields the birds will eat the dead bodies
-- the son will die when the woman is returning to the town (p.184)
-- the son will die because he is the only loyal to God in the Rehab clan (p.184-185)
-- God will destroy Israel as a punishment and will disperse them at the other side of the Euphrates (1st Kings 14, 7-16) (p.185).

According to Finkelstein / Silberman there is the strong suspicion that Josiah has written all this himself "coordinating" his prophecies (p.185).

According to OT Jerobeam was followed by his son Nadab (p.189).

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