Part II: I Kings 11:1443 Hadad, Rezon, Jeroboam, Ahijah, and Solomons Death What Really Happened

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Part II: I Kings 11:1443 Hadad, Rezon, Jeroboam, Ahijah, and Solomons Death What Really Happened

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Title: Part II: I Kings 11:1443 Hadad, Rezon, Jeroboam, Ahijah, and Solomons Death What Really Happened


1
Part II I Kings 1114-43 Hadad, Rezon,
Jeroboam, Ahijah, and Solomons Death- What
Really Happened?
  • An Analysis by John Mayo

2
Background Information
  • In the Book of Kings, Yahweh acts through
    historical events
  • Because of Solomons sin and exploitive reign
    (using fellow Israelites as slave labor), Solomon
    is punished.
  • God raises up three adversaries (satan) meaning
    negative testers Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam

3
Part I The Bible
4
Hadad Whats in a Name?
  • Hadad means thunderer. The Arabic translation
    is Hadda which means to crush
  • This is a Baalist name Baal manifests himself in
    rain and thunder of winter (Gray)
  • First seen in Amorite chiefs in 19th century B.C.
  • An example of a hypocoristicon or truncating a
    theophoric name (Name bearing the name of a god)
    (Gray)
  • In list of Edomite kings in Genesis 36, the name
    Hadad is mentioned as one of the kings (vs. 35)

5
Hadad of 1 Kings
  • Hadad in vs. 14 is said to have been of the royal
    house of Edom.
  • As first witnessed in Genesis and later in
    extra-biblical materials, the Edomite throne was
    not hereditary.
  • Thus, Hadad may not have been born to the King of
    Edom, but he was probably of noble blood.

6
Edom in the Bible
  • But Edom said to him, You shall not pass
    through or we will come out with the sword
    against youThus Edom refused to give Israel
    passage through their territory so Israel turned
    away from them (Num 2018,21)
  • The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord
    concerning Edom We have heard a report from the
    Lord and a messenger has been sent among the
    nations Rise up! Let us rise against it for
    battle (Ob. 11)
  • What we see
  • Israel and Edom are enemies before and after 1
    Kings.
  • Edomites in the bible were descended from Jacobs
    brother, Esau (Gen. 361)

7
The Slaughter of Edom
  • Davids army under Joab slaughtered the Edomites
    in a slaughter Brugzmann parallels only to Exodus
  • Hadad probably got away partially due to a
    Bedouin tradition of sparing women and children
    under a certain age all other males are killed
  • After assuming control of Edom, David put
    garrisons in Edom throughout all Edom he put
    garrisons, and all the Edomites became Davids
    servants (2 Sam. 814)

Joab and his army getting down to business
8
Exile in Egypt
  • During this time, Hadad is taken by servants of
    his father through Midian and Paran, which is
    part of the Sinai Desert to Egypt. Probably some
    of the palace guard would have accompanied them
    (World Biblical Commentary)
  • Heading south would be the safest route for the
    escapees
  • These were probably not lowly servants, but
    courtiers and high court officials

9
Hadad in Egypt
  • When Hadad left Edom, he was a young boy
  • However, when he reaches Egypt, he is given a
    house, food, land, and eventually a wife.
  • Scholars are unsure of the relationship this wife
    is to the queen either it is the sister of
    Pharaoh's queen, or the queen mother, or the one
    who has given birth to the heir.
  • She bears him a son, Genubath
  • Genubath was probably raised as a page in
    Pharaohs court
  • This is only one of two recorded times in the
    bible and in history that Pharaoh gave one of the
    daughters in Egypt in marriage.

10
Hadads Return
  • News reaches Egypt that David and Joab had both
    died
  • Hadad requests that Pharaoh allow him to return
    to Edom now that those who would kill him are
    dead
  • Pharaoh at first refuses, probably because of
    diplomatic negotiations including the marriage of
    Pharaoh's daughter to Solomon
  • Eventually, Hadad does return, probably through
    some diplomacy, for in vs. 25 Hadad is making
    troubles as Hadad did

11
Rezon Whats in a Name?
  • Rezon means ruler
  • This name, then, is speculated as being his
    title Gray suggests that his real name is
    Hezion, in Arabic Razuna meaning dignified
  • This name would be in reference to El, a senior
    Canaanite god who is comparable in status to Baal
  • The name would thus also mean El notices

12
Rezon an Upstart
  • Rezon is said to have fled from his master, King
    Hadadezer of Zobah
  • King Hadadezer of Zobah is noted for being
    defeated by David, killing 20,000 troops, and
    then also defeating an army from the Armeans of
    Damascus, killing 22,000 troops.
  • This forces Damascus to surrender.
  • David puts a garrison inside Damascus and
    received tribute from Damascus (2 Samuel 8 5-8)

13
Rezon, an Upstart
  • After Rezon fled, He gathered followers around
    him and became leader of a marauding band, after
    the slaughter by David they went to Damascus,
    settled there, and made him king in Damascus. He
    was an adversary of Israel (1 Kgs. 1124-25)
  • Rezon was not only an adversary to Israel, but
    the word used to describe this emotion is hadra,
    meaning loathe- the same word used by the
    Egyptians concerning Israel in Exodus (Ex. 112)

14
Damascus
  • Damascus is an important northern Arabian oasis
  • Israel was greatly affected by the capture, and
    its inability to recapture the city was
    indicative of its decline (Cambridge)

15
Jeroboam Whats in a Name
  • Jeroboam comes from the Arabic Yarobam, which
    contains a divine element meaning Let Baal
    uphold his own case
  • Roboam means a numerous great people, or may the
    people be great
  • Of the leading northern tribe, Ephraim
  • His background is impugned by the comment about
    his mother

16
Jeroboams Rise in Power
  • Jeroboam is identified as a youth as a man of
    valor
  • Solomon realized this and put him in charge over
    his house Joseph
  • Jeroboam is thought to have been in charge of
    forced labor camps for the house of Joseph, and
    disagrees with Solomon on this policy.
  • It is generally thought that Jeroboam rebelled
    against Solomon, which forced him into exile.
  • He is not identified as a satan
  • Bruegemann states that Jeroboam can be looked
    upon as a new David who is displacing one
    dynasty for another

17
Ahijah
  • Ahijah is a prophet from Shiloh where the Ark of
    the Covenant was first kept
  • Ahijah and the cult at Shiloh could have disliked
    the monarchy strong indicators that he saw the
    tribal confederacy still in effect
  • Prophets have authority though to speak out on
    any issue
  • Ahijah, due to his stance, must use the weapons
    of the weak such as speech (Wilson)

18
Ahijah and Jeroboam Meet
  • Ahijah and Jeroboam meet by chance (masa- to
    light upon by chance) on the road alone (Gray)
  • Ahijah tears a new garment (for the new kingdom)
    into 12 pieces and gives Jeroboam 10
  • Echoing Gods words to Solomon, he conditionally
    promises a kingdom to Jeroboam and then leaves

19
Yahweh through Ahijah
  • See, I am about to tear the kingdom from the
    hand of Solomon, and will give you ten tribes.
    One tribe will remain his, for the sake of my
    servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem the
    city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of
    Israel (1 Kgs. 11 31-32)
  • This is an example of a prophetic oracle- a
    succession oracle narrative
  • Yahweh chooses the next king, not men
  • The one tribe left would be Benjamin (Cambridge)

20
Yahweh through Ahijah Math Problem
  • There are 12 tribes of Israel
  • Jeroboam is told he will be given 10 and the
    House of David will be given 1
  • Where is this lost house?
  • The tribe of Benjamin had long been absorbed, or
    considered part of Judah.
  • Thus, Ahijah is prophesying the coming divided
    Kingdom Israel in the north and Judah in the
    south.

21
Jeroboams Future Reign
  • Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom
    away from him but will make him ruler all the
    days of his life (1 Kgs. 1134).
  • This use of ruler in the Massoretic text is the
    word nasi instead of melek
  • Nasi is used to describe the leadership of the
    tribal confederacy (cf. Num 72) rather than
    malak for the king (Gray)

Ahijah and the future tribal leader. All hail!
22
The Nature of Jeroboams Future Reign
  • Ahijah does not anoint Jeroboam
  • Ahijah uses words like tear
  • A lack of anointing and the word tear in vs. 31
    points to Jeroboams rise and reign to be violent
  • Along with the choice of words, he is probably
    not to be a king, either.

23
Oath to Jeroboam
  • When your David days are fulfilled and you lie
    down with your ancestors, I will raise up your
    offspring after you, who shall come forth from
    your body and I will establish my kingdom (2 Sam.
    7 12)
  • The difference between these two oaths are
  • 1. Jeroboams is conditional
  • 2. Davids is absolute
  • If you will listen to all that I command you,
    walk in my ways, and do what is right in my sight
    by keeping my statues and my commandments, as
    David my servant did, I will be with you, and
    will build you and enduring house, as I built for
    David, and I will give Israel to you (I Kings
    1138)

24
Solomons Revenge
  • Surprisingly, there is no response from Jeroboam
    the conversation just ends (1 Kgs. 1139-40)
  • Solomon hunts for Jeroboam and tries to kill him,
    but Jeroboam flees to Egypt
  • Scholars believe that Jeroboam incited a failed
    coup and was forced into exile- it seems
    plausible that there may have been prophet(s)
    behind this
  • Solomon then dies after forty years of reigning

25
Part II Historical-Critical View
26
Solomon, We have a problem
  • He was an adversary of Israel all the days of
    Solomon, making trouble as Hadad did he despised
    Israel and reigned over Aram (1 Kgs. 1125)
  • This text is considered a problem text by
    commentators
  • He is apparently referring to Rezon, and the part
    about Hadad seems to have been put in the wrong
    place.
  • Theres just one minor problem
  • WHAT DID THEY DO?

27
Solomon, we have a problem.
  • Verse 41 states that there is a Book of the Acts
    of Solomon in which there is written the rest of
    Solomons deeds
  • This text, unfortunately, has been lost to
    history
  • Thus, we are still left with our question

28
Historical-Critical Method to the Rescue!
  • Scholars have been studying this text for quite
    awhile.
  • Unfortunately, there is no consensus about what
    is really happening here.
  • We will now examine what contemporary scholars
    have argued and archeology has found, then
    reaching some conclusions.

29
Solomon, what time is it?
  • First, we should establish what time period we
    are working in.
  • Iron Age I.
  • The bible states that Solomon ruled for forty
    years.
  • At first, this number is somewhat looked upon
    skeptically.

King Solomon
30
Solomon, what time is it?
  • Green (1978) states that evidence brings us to
    believe that Solomon did reign for about 40 years
  • He ruled somewhere between 970-931 BC or 962-922
    BC
  • This round number of 40 looks suspicious, but it
    is most likely accurate certainly he reigned for
    no less than 30 years

31
Solomon, what time is it?
  • How we arrive at this dating is by looking at the
    dating for the Egyptian dynasties, who were so
    closely tied to Israel during this time.
  • The father-in-law of Solomon, believed to by
    Siamun.
  • He is believed to have reigned 978-960 BC
  • It is believed that Solomon took this Pharaoh's
    daughter for his wife

32
Solomon, what time is it?
  • This would allow for his successor, Psusennes who
    reigned from 961-946 to be the Pharaoh involved
    with Hadad
  • His successor, and founder of the 22nd Dynasty,
    Sheshonk I c. 946 would have taken Jeroboam in.
  • This dating also works out well, since Egypt
    attacks Israel five years into the reign of
    Rehoboam, and Sheshonk is identified as the
    Pharaoh (Green)

33
Egypt A tale of two dynasties
  • The 21st dynasty includes Siamun and Psusennes II
  • This dynasty was established at a time when
    Egypts fortunes were low (Williams).
  • Egyptian policy at this time seems to reflect
    this allying with Israel, an up and coming power
    and then trying to set an adversary against them.
  • The 22nd Dynasty began with Sheshonk I.
  • He is identified as a Libyan, commander-in-chief
    of Egyptian armies who staged a coup with the
    assistance of the army
  • After taking power, Sheshonk seemed more
    interested in restoring Egypts power and
    prestige militarily (Wilkinson).

34
Where are you?
  • After having established the time frame of this
    chapter of Kings, it would be good to establish
    the existence and deeds of Hadad and Rezon
  • There is, however, no definitive proof that
    either of these two characters ever existed.
  • Theories abound as to what the author and editors
    of Kings are alluding to when they mention Hadad
    and Rezon.

35
5 Theories
  • Diana V. Edelman in Solomons Adversaries of
    Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam A Trio of Bad Guy
    Characters Illustrating the Theology of Immediate
    Retribution (1995) states that Hadad and Rezon
    are fictitious characters inserted later to
    correct Theology
  • 2. Hadad alone existed
  • 3. A. Lemaire argues that Rezon alone existed
  • 4. Josephus in his Antiquities of the Jews states
    that Hadad went up to Damascus and helped Rezon
    to take control of Damascus
  • 5. Both of these characters existed. Represents
    two separate traditions.

36
Theory One
  • Using literary criticism, Edelman finds a pattern
    common in folk literature- creating 3 bad guys,
    each one more dangerous than the former
  • These two characters are not even that important
    to the story. In 2 Chronicles, they do not even
    appear.
  • Literary criticism seems to dismiss the existence
    of these characters

37
Theory One Hadad and Rezon
  • Edomite sites found date to the late 8th century
    B.C. which is too late for Hadad
  • Earlier sites are only small chiefdoms and it is
    unclear if Hadad ruled over any of these
  • Archeological evidence shows Edom did not start
    expanding till the 7th century B.C.
  • If Edom was a small collection of chiefdoms, how
    could this maintain a stranglehold on Israel,
    especially with a fleet of ships? (Cambridge)
  • Rezon cannot be shown to exist with archeology,
    either
  • This is especially difficult with Damascus
    continually being rebuilt over the same site
  • Assyrian texts from the period do not attest to a
    takeover of Damascus
  • The location of Zobah, Rezons homeland cannot be
    firmly established

38
Theory One Conclusion
  • In general then, Edelman believes that Archeology
    and Literary studies cannot bear either of these
    characters out to be historical
  • Their stories and names were simply put together
    to be as plausible as possible- its all really a
    folk tale
  • However, more recent studies and other scholars
    beg to differ about Edelmans overt denials of
    Hadad and/or Rezon

39
Hadad New Archeological Evidence
  • In 2002, a team led by Thomas Levy from the
    University of California- San Diego found new
    sites in the biblical land of Edom.
  • What they found was evidence of two large copper
    ore production times, with 100 buildings,
    industry, and fortifications
  • This area had previously been ignored due to the
    difficulties of working in this area
  • These new discoveries push back dates that 10
    years ago were in the 7th century to the 12th
    through 9th centuries BC- Around the supposed
    time of Hadad

Could this newest archeological discovery be
linked to Hadad?
40
Hadad Objections Still Remain
  • Even though there is new archeological evidence,
    there is still questions surrounding Hadads rule
    of Edom
  • If Hadad caused a great amount of trouble for
    Solomon, then how was Solomon permitted to trade?
  • In 1 Kgs. 926-28, Solomon built a fleet of
    ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the
    shore of the Red Sea and he traded with Ophir
  • However Eloth is in Edom
  • Therefore, if Hadad was successful in breaking
    away from Solomon, how can 1 Kgs., nor any other
    sources record the destruction of his fleet due
    to either a lack of port or being destroyed in
    port?

41
Hadad Conclusions
  • Until more archeological evidence is found about
    the true nature of Edoms power during this
    period and any evidence of a revolt, I come to
    the same conclusions as J.R. Bartlett did in 1976
  • Bartlett concludes that Hadads role in the bible
    has been overestimated, that Edom probably was
    not freed of Israelite control during his time,
    and at best he led a failed coup

42
Rezon
  • The case for Rezon is also hard to make
  • As stated previously, the city of Damascus has
    been rebuilt several times over the same site
  • Thus, any archeological digs are nearly
    impossible to conduct today

Present-day Damascus
43
Rezon
  • However, scholars have been able to assemble a
    great amount of details surrounding this story
  • A. Lemaire believes that all references to Hadad
    should be to Rezon
  • No Edom in time of David
  • Hadad is an Armean prince name
  • Naval expedition problem with Eloth
  • Therefore, all references to Edom are meant about
    Aram, the area in which Damascus was located, and
    Rezons (leader) name really was Hadad

44
Problems with Theory
  • Recent archeology would dispute there not being
    an Edom
  • There are distinct characteristics between each
    man
  • No common ancestor named which would link them
  • Always treated distinctly in the bible

45
Defense of Lemaire
  • The idea of the name Hadad being for an Armean
    prince does have some basis (in addition to an
    Edomite kings name)
  • In 1 Kgs. 1518, King Ben-hadad made an alliance
    with King Asa of Israel as Asa was being invaded
  • Ben-Hadad means Son of Hadad, which could be a
    reference to this Rezon Hadad of Solomons time
    (Easton Bible Dictionary Smiths Bible
    Dictionary)
  • Edelman rejects this idea, saying that this is
    simply a humoristic flair in the folktale,
    because Rezon Hadad means Ruler, Son of God
    knows (190)

46
Additional Evidence for Rezon
  • Wayne Pitard (1987) believes that Rezon did take
    Damascus
  • He cites a rise in the importance of Damascus
    during this time, with a new state of Aram with
    Damascus as the central city-state, increasing in
    power
  • Israel could have kept its northern trading
    partners by using Biqa valley.

47
Additional Evidence for Rezon
  • Yohanan Aharoni (1967, 1979) in The Land of the
    Bible a Historical Geography cites evidence that
    the northern city of Tadmor and Hamath-Zobah were
    fortified during Solomons reign
  • It seems that Solomon would not do this if he
    still held the important city of Damascus
  • Thus, it seems possible that Solomon could have
    lost Damascus to Rezon and fortified other cities
    surrounding Damascus to
  • Keep important trading partners in the north
  • Contain Rezon

48
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49
Rezon Conclusions
  • There is circumstantial evidence to suggest that
    Rezon successfully revolted against Solomon and
    began building a powerful state to challenge
    Solomon
  • However, without more definitive archeological
    evidence, this will remain just a theory.

50
Conclusion to theories 2 and 3 Could either of
these two have acted alone?
  • This is certainly possible, given that the
    accounts in 1 Kgs. 11 come from different
    sources, and one may truly be a fictitious
  • However, without more definitive evidence,
    neither one of these stories can be totally ruled
    out
  • Therefore, at this time, we seem to have to
    accept both of these stories as having some basis
    in history

51
Theory 4 Hadad helps Rezon take over Damascus
  • Other than Josephuss writings, there seems to be
    no other contemporary scholars supporting this
    position
  • Thus, this position is discounted for now

52
Theory 4a Hadad and Rezon are the same person
  • Again, with the difficulties posed above with no
    common ancestor and the clear distinction in the
    bible, this option does not seem open to
    contemporary scholars as an option right now due
    to a lack of any evidence to dispute the bible on
    this point
  • However, this could change with a archeological
    find naming a Hadad also as Rezon.

53
Theory 5 The Bible is Correct
  • This theory would seem right now to have at least
    circumstantial evidence supporting it
  • However, I question this fact was Israels
    decline so rapid that two whole garrisons were
    defeated by these two upstarts and any subsequent
    attempts to reinforce by Solomon unsuccessful?
    This is certainly possible, but highly unusual in
    military history.

54
Jeroboam and Ahijah
  • While Jeroboams early career in the bible may be
    fictitious, he did exist and was made king as far
    as archeology can tell.
  • In 1905, there was a royal seal found with an
    inscription of belonging to Shema, the servant
    of Jeroboam, at first believed to belong to
    Jeroboam II, but later was proved to be of
    Jeroboam of Solomons time period
  • This seal does not prove Jeroboams reign, but it
    strongly suggest it (Edelman)
  • The story about Ahijah seems to have a historic
    core to it
  • Whether the prophets name was actually Ahijah is
    somewhat disputed, but this point is not really
    important
  • Further, it seems likely that Jeroboam would not
    begin his revolt or subsequent exile looking to
    return as ruler of Israel without some sort of
    prophetic/divine blessing
  • Thus, the Ahijah section of the story is
    plausible, if not highly likely

55
Conclusion
  • Jeroboam would return with the support of
    Sheshonk I of Egypt and rule Israel Ahijah
    reappears
  • Rezon and Hadad never are mentioned again
  • Whoever these characters are, they will continue
    to invoke much speculation in years to come

56
Conclusion (Cont.)
  • Even though scholarship cannot affirm totally
    this story, the bible is still in tact- nothing
    on faith or morals is diminished
  • In parish ministry, this could be useful to
  • Illustrate how the historical-critical method is
    a useful tool to study the bible without denying
    the vital content
  • Demonstrating the importance of listening to
    Gods voice in ones life
  • Demonstrating the importance of finding God
    working in ones life
  • Importance of listening to critics
  • In the end, we all die

57
THANK YOU!
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