David’s+Conquests

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= **Background** =

During his reign (1010 B.C.-970 B.C) King David actively pursued an expansionist policy that pushed Israel’s borders into its Golden Age. Although its uncertain exactly how far his reach extended, he easily doubled the kingdom. Instilling it with an economic and political influence that dwarfed its physical presence. Because its exact extent is unclear, its “better to think of [David’s expansion] as access to territory and subjugation of peoples rather than control of governance of lands” David came to power with the dearth of King Saul on Mt. Gilboa in 1010 B.C.. Israel’s defeat on Mt. Gilboa marked the low point in their struggle against the Philistines; ethnic Mycenaean Greeks who had migrated to Palestine several centuries before David. [i] By the twelfth century the Philistines had established a semi-urban culture centered around five city states laid across. Through a successful utilization of Iron weapons and inter-state cooperation, [ii] the Philistines were able to push the Israeli shepherds out of the Shephelah, threatening their population centers in the highlands [iii]. Israel’s expansion under David grew out of a political power vacuum in the eastern Mediterranean and Mesopotamia. Egypt was in the midst of 120 year decline, unable to hold exert her former influence. Similarly, the routinely aggressive Assyrian’s were suffering from a lack of unity and internal leadership. Babylon too was relatively tame during this period, still smarting from its military defeat by the Assyrians in 1081 B.C. [iv] = **Physical** =

**Saul**
By the end of Saul’s reign in 1010 B.C, the Philistines had driven the Israelites out of the Coastal Plain district, through the Shephelah, to threaten their basis in Central Hill country. On its eastern border Israel still maintained a small foothold extended 10 to fifteen miles in a irregular semicircle across Jordan Rift. [v] Even though Saul’s kingdom did stretch from Dan in the North of Israel to Beer-Sheba, a distance of a 180 miles, [vi] there significant were “holes” in his territory where Israel lost influence. The Jebusites in Jerusalem (II Samuel 5:6-8) are a prime example.

**David**
Although its uncertain exactly how far David’s reign extended, its clear from his campaigns against the Philistines (II Samuel 5:17-25), Moab (II Samuel 8:2), Cis-Euphrates (II Samuel 8:3-4), Aram of Damascus (II Samuel 8:5-12), Ammon (II Samuel 8:12), Amalek (II Samuel 8:12), and Edom (II Samuel 8:13-14) that he easily doubled it. [vii] Through direct conquest and treaties, David’s extended Israel’s borders to include all the land promised Abraham and his descendants [viii] (Genesis 15:18) (Numbers 34-12). Excluding the Coastal Plane, which was still held by the Philistines. The area controlled by David, either through direct administration or as a vassal states, extended from the city of Elath on the Gulf of Aqaba and the Brook of Egypt in the south, all the way to the northern boarder on the river Euphrates. A stretch of over 400 miles. [ix] David’s rule also succeeded in plugging up some of the “holes” in Israel’s influence, such as the conquest of the Jebusites in Jerusalem (II Samuel 5:6-8) Its true that several of the subdued nations kept their own kings, such as Moab, Edom, and the Arameans kept their own sovereigns, they had been so badly beaten by David’s armies they became mere vassals-states.

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**Tribute**
David’s territorial expansion had profound economical ramifications for Israel. An immediate effect was tribute that poured into the country from the subjected kingdoms. The infusion of assets from the kings share as well as that carried by the returning soldiers would have stimulated both consumer spending and capital infusion. Although these funds would be mitigated by the cost of the campaign the general indication is they would have provided a significant perk to the economy.

**Trade Routes**
However, a more long term economic to gain control of the major trade routes crisscrossing the region. The norm for the Iron Age (roads 3),the period when David reigned, “the highways and byways of Israel were bustling with activity.” Naturally political instability, such as existed in the times of the judges [x] (Judges 21:23) would disrupter both domestic and international travel, however, the expansion of David’s reign would have provided the security needed to for travel to flourish. Israel maintained a steady trade with her neighbors, exporting agricultural products such as olive oil, grain, wine and dried fruits, along with cloth. [xi] In turn, Israel imported both base and precious metals, cedar wood, linen, and spices. However, economic benefit of Israel’s direct trade with its neighbors was dwarfed by the stimulus achieved through “flow-through” traffic. Two international highways pass through Israel: “The Way of the Sea” [xii] linking Egypt with Mesopotamia and ‘The Way of the Kings” connecting Egypt with Babylon. Israel is at the joining of three continents [xiii], making it the “Land Between.” Caravans would need to travel through Israel on these major highways to reach its markets in the Mediterranean world and the greater middle east. Access was needed to major trade centers, such as Sidon, Tyre and Damascus By controlling these highways, David was in a position to levy tolls and taxes on the caravans in exchange for safe passage.

**Other**
Apart from international trade, David’s expansionary policies would have given Israel access multiple sources of revenue. Each of the conquered territories were forced to pay tribute (II Samuel 8:6-8), providing a steady stream of liquid assets. Israel would also have benefited from the piece of the action garnered from the subjugation of major trade centers, such as Damascus (II Samuel 8:5). Additionally, Israel would have gained access to natural resources normally outside their reach, such as copper from Edom [xiv]. In summary, David’s expansion launched Israel into its golden age under Solomon. It set the foundation for the trade and military influence necessary for Solomon to make “silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones” (2 Chronicles 1:15). For the first and only time in its history Israel was able to reach the borders promised to her in the Mosaic and Abrahamic covenants.

[i] Carol Meyers, //The Oxford History of the Biblical World//, ed. Michael D. Coogan (New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 168. [ii] Ibid., 166. [iii] Ibid., 168. [iv] Ibid., 233-234. [v] Andrew Hill and John H. Walton, //A Survey of the Old Testament//, Third. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 2009), 45-47. [vi] “Bing Maps-Directions From Beersheba, Israel to Dan Israel,” http://www.bing.com/ [vii] Ronald F. C. Youngblood, //1,2 Samuel//, vol. 3, The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Zondervan, 1973), 908. [viii] Leon Wood, //A Survey of Israel's History// (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970), 227. [ix] “Bing Maps-Directions From Euphrates to Elat,” http://www.bing.com [x] David A. Dorsey, //The Roads and Highways of Ancient Israel// (Baltimore, Maryland: The John opkins University Press, 1991), 3. [xi] Ibid., 5. [xii] Ibid., 57. [xiii] Hill and John H. Walton, //A Survey of the Old Testament//, 49-50. [xiv] Ronald F. C. Youngblood, //1,2 Samuel//, 3:908.

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