David and Solomon
In Search of the Bible's Sacred Kings and the Roots of the Western Tradition
Introduction
David, Solomon, and the Western Tradition
Ancient Legends, the Bible, and Archaeology
From the soaring cathedrals and elegant palaces of medieval Europe, to the hushed galleries of world famous art museums, to America's backwoods pulpits and Hollywood epics, the story of ancient Israel's sacred kings, David and Solomon, is one of western civilization's most enduring legacies. The figures of David -- shepherd, warrior, and divinely protected king -- and of his son Solomon -- great builder, wise judge, and serene ruler of a vast empire -- have become timeless models of righteous leadership under God's sanction. They have shaped western images of kingship and served as models of royal piety, messianic expectation, and national destiny.
Thanks to archaeology, we now -- for the first time -- can dissect the main elements of the biblical story to see when and how each one emerged. The results of our searc ... read full excerpt from: David and Solomon: In Search of the Bible's Sacred Kings and the Roots of the Western Tradition ebook
