Unit 4 Old Testament Survey

Israel's leaders talk to the prophet Samuel and demand a king

1 CE

Israel demands Samuel (God's prophet) to give them a king because they want their leader to be visible and that wanted to be like other nations who has a king. Samuel warned them about the negative points about having a king, but the people ignored those warnings and still demanded a king. This shows that Israel rejected God (since he's invisible) as their leader and that people like us want to serve something we can see.

Saul is anointed as the first king of Israel

2

God told Samuel to give in to their demands. God chose a guy named Saul to be Israel's first king. This shows that God gives the people what they demand only because He wants them to feel the consequences of having a king.

Yahweh rejects Saul as king for disobedience (fails to kill livestock and foreign king because he doesn't want to disappoint his army) and Saul dies in battle as a failed leader.

3

God told Saul to have his army to kill ALL living beings. Saul doesn't want to disappoint his army and has them kill all their people except for their king and livestock. God was not pleased that Saul disobeyed Him and rejects Saul as king. Eventually, Saul dies in battle as a failed leader.

David becomes king of Israel and Israel prospers

4

Once Saul died, David became the king of Israel. David obeys God's commands with all his heart and God let Israel prosper under David. This shows that God rewards His people when they obey His commands fully.

David commits adultery with Bathsheba and David repents of his sin, son Solomon is born

5

David lusted for Bathsheba but she was already married. So, he commits adultery and sent her husband to the front lines of war so that he can die. Once David realizes that he had sin, David repents. God punished David because David still needed to face the consequences of his sin. This shows that God wants His people to truly learn their lesson when they do wrong. David's first son by Bathsheba dies but their second son, Solomon, still lives because God allowed that to happen.

God makes a covenant with David, that his offspring will always be on the throne

6

Since David had faith in God wholeheartedly and repents his sin, God rewarded him by making a covenant with him by promising David a dynasty of rulers. This shows that God rewards those who fully have faith in him and those who repent after they sin.

David dies and Solomon becomes king

7

When David died, his son Solomon became king of Israel. This shows that God kept his promise to David for a dynasty.

Solomon asks God for wisdom

8

God appears in a dream to Solomon and offers Solomon one thing of anything. Solomon chose to gain wisdom. God granted it to him and also gave him lots of riches. This showed that God prefers people who are humble and rewards them. Rulers and representatives of rulers came to Israel to seek advice from Solomon.

Solomon builds the temple in Jerusalem and Solomon builds his palace in Jerusalem

9

Due to how God blessed Solomon, Solomon decided to thank God and build him a temple in Jerusalem. This shows that not just Solomon but humans are thankful when someone helps them a lot. Solomon also builds a palace for himself using the wealth God had given him. That was one of the decision Solomon made when he was given lots of wealth.

Solomon dies and Israel has a civil war

10

Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Lots of his wives were from foreign nations. Eventually, his wives turned him away from God to other gods. So, God was not pleased and said to Solomon that he will split his kingdom into two. Once Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king of Israel. With bad leadership, Israel erupted into a civil war and Israel split into Judah and Israel as the outcome. Rehoboam's kingdom was Judah. This showed that God really fulfills His promises.