prevailed.” (See JACOB.) This is the common name given to Jacob’s
descendants. The whole people of the twelve tribes are called “Israelites,”
the “children of Israel” (Joshua 3:17; 7:25; Judges 8:27; Jeremiah 3:21),
and the “house of Israel” (Exodus 16:31; 40:38).
This name Israel is sometimes used emphatically for the true Israel (Psalm
73:1: Isaiah 45:17; 49:3; John 1:47; Romans 9:6; 11:26).
After the death of Saul the ten tribes arrogated to themselves this name, as
if they were the whole nation (2 Samuel 2:9, 10, 17, 28; 3:10, 17;
19:40-43), and the kings of the ten tribes were called “kings of Israel,”
while the kings of the two tribes were called “kings of Judah.”
After the Exile the name Israel was assumed as designating the entire
nation.
- ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF (B.C. 975-B.C. 722). Soon after the death of
Solomon, Ahijah’s prophecy (1 Kings 11:31-35) was fulfilled, and the
kingdom was rent in twain. Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon,
was scarcely seated on his throne when the old jealousies between Judah
and the other tribes broke out anew, and Jeroboam was sent for from
Egypt by the malcontents (12:2,3). Rehoboam insolently refused to lighten
the burdensome taxation and services which his father had imposed on his
subjects (12:4), and the rebellion became complete. Ephraim and all Israel
raised the old cry, “Every man to his tents, O Israel” (2 Samuel 20:1).
Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:1-18; 2 Chronicles 10), and
Jeroboam was proclaimed king over all Israel at Shechem, Judah and
Benjamin remaining faithful to Solomon’s son. War, with varying success,
was carried on between the two kingdoms for about sixty years, till
Jehoshaphat entered into an alliance with the house of Ahab.
Extent of the kingdom. In the time of Solomon the area of Palestine,
excluding the Phoenician territories on the shore of the Mediterranean, did
not much exceed 13,000 square miles. The kingdom of Israel
comprehended about 9,375 square miles. Shechem was the first capital of
this kingdom (1 Kings 12:25), afterwards Tirza (14:17). Samaria was
subsequently chosen as the capital (16:24), and continued to be so till the
destruction of the kingdom by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:5). During the
siege of Samaria (which lasted for three years) by the Assyrians,
Shalmaneser died and was succeeded by Sargon, who himself thus records
the capture of that city: “Samaria I looked at, I captured; 27,280 men who