Session 5 | From Tribal Society to Monarchies:
The Philistines, the Israelites, and their Neighbors
#17-21
#17. Introduction
The fundamental objective of this lecture is to examine the transition in Israelite society from a tribal system to a monarchical kingdom in the 10th century BCE. In the former, the leadership resided among the elders of the community; in the latter, power was embodied in a single individual, the king. The primary sources presented below provide the biblical perspective on two key issues: (1) the nature of intra-tribal relations prior to the rise of the monarchy [#18] and (2) the military threat of the Philistines in this transitional era [#19]. The secondary sources represent both a mainstream perspective on the rise of the Philistines [#20] and the current state of scholarship regarding the nature of the Israelite kingdom in the days of King David [#21].
#18. Judges
In the biblical sequence, the book of Judges occurs after the book of Joshua and continues the story of the Israelite possession of Canaan. Chronologically, it spans the 200 years following the death of Joshua. According to the biblical story, Israel was a fragmented society in this era but at times joined forces to fight a common enemy. The majority of these nemeses were foreign in origin but in the following passage, the Israelite tribes experienced a civil war. As you read these three chapters, try to locate a phrase that repeats itself and conveys the author’s perspective on this period.
Question
Based upon the issues that were brought up more than one time by the author, in particular at the beginning and end of the above text, what is the underlying argument of Judges 19-21, i.e., what point is the author seeking to make by writing the story in such a fashion? Be sure to write down which verses support your conclusion. In what ways could the Davidic dynasty have used these chapters in support of their throne?
#19. Samuel
The biblical books of 1 and 2 Samuel discuss the transition from the time of the judges to that of the monarchs. The portion given below focuses upon the Philistines, who, according to the Bible, were the primary military threat to the autonomy of the Israelite tribes as well as to the realms of the first two Israelite monarchs, Saul and David.
#20. Trude Dothan
Trude Dothan, an archaeologist and professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, is an expert on the history and archaeological remains of the Philistines. In the following work, she provides an overview of the Philistines by examining material culture and texts. Pay special attention to her discussion of ceramics.
Question
Based upon #19-20, who were the Philistines in terms of their origins and religious beliefs? How does one determine if an artifact was made by the Philistines or not? Be sure to support your answers by referencing the appropriate primary sources, be they biblical or archaeological.
#21. Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman
The analysis provided by Finkelstein and Silberman in this reading section seeks to hold the biblical account of the vast empire of David and Solomon up to the standards of archaeological research in order to determine the true nature of this period in Israelite history. In addition to overviewing archaeological remains, they will also discuss possible references made to David in two extra-biblical texts: the House of David Inscription (ca. 830 BCE) and the Mesha Stele (ca. 850 BCE). You will find their treatment greatly divergent from the Avi-Yonah reading that you have been assigned for this lecture. See if you can detect the differences in their respective perspectives on the historical credibility of the Bible.
Question
Was David a “real” figure? Support your opinion with evidence.