Question

Although a minority of archaeologists continue to disagree this convergence of the Bible_____ ______ is powerful evidence that a great kingdom existed at the time of David and Solomon spending all of Israel north and south with its capital Jerusalem

Answer 1

Archaeological evidence like the Tel Dan stele supports the existence of a great kingdom during the time of David, with Jerusalem as its capital, despite disagreements among a minority of archaeologists. The kingdom divided after Solomon's reign into Judah and Israel, with the former becoming the origin of the term 'Jew'. Historical and archaeological records offer insights but also show discrepancies with the biblical narrative.

Step-by-step explanation:

The convergence of biblical records with archaeological findings has been a point of vigorous debate among archaeologists, with a minority dissenting from the view that these findings are strong evidence for the existence of a great kingdom during the time of David and Solomon. One critical piece of evidence in this discourse is the Tel Dan stele, which references the "house of David" and is considered powerful evidence of the kingdom ruled by David with Jerusalem as its capital. Although the archaeological record has not been conclusive for Solomon's most famous projects, like the Temple in Jerusalem, there has been archaeological evidence supporting some of his other constructions such as the ancient city gates found at Gezer, Hazor, and Megiddo.

Historical accounts and extrabiblical sources corroborate many aspects of the biblical narrative, suggesting the existence of the united monarchy period under Saul, David, and Solomon. These records also align with Egyptian and other historical documents that mention threats like the Philistine migration during the Late Bronze Age Collapse, supporting the narrative of a unified kingdom formed in response to these external pressures. The division of the kingdom after Solomon's death left Judah and Israel as separate entities with Jerusalem remaining the capital of Judah.

The period of the divided monarchy saw the northern kingdom, Israel, as the larger and wealthier of the two, with Samaria as its capital. In contrast, the southern kingdom, Judah, was smaller and more conservative, becoming the origin of the prophetic movement and the term Jew for its inhabitants. Despite divergences in the archaeological record and biblical accounts, such as the absence of evidence for Joshua's conquest of Canaan, the historical context provided by these findings continues to offer valuable insights into this era.