The Kingdom of David

Session Three:

The Gift of the Jews

Introduction: We begin this course with reading chapters 13-16 in Kirsch's King David followed by viewing episode one of the accompanying film The Kingdom of David- "The Gift of the Jews."

After having completed the readings for this session and reviewed the accompanying video you may choose - on a purely optional basis - to answer the study questions and submit them at etwimber@hotmail.com or to contact Dr. Wimberley by phone or email to request a time for dialogue about what you have learned. You may do so by phone or dialogue via Skype or Facetime. Dr. Wimberley's phone number is 239.405.4164. We may also convene group meetings of the class using the Zoom application on our computers. You can enroll in this course by emailing etwimber@hotmail.com or by texting Dr. Wimberley at 239.405.4164.

Readings: Kirsch, Jonathan (2008) King David: The Real Life of the Man Who Ruled Israel. Chapters 13-16.

Video: The Gift of the Jews

Study Questions:

1. Describe the death of Absalom.
2. How did David deal with the followers of Absalom after his demise?
3. Summarize David's deathbed politics.
4. How did Solomon go about carrying out David's final instructions?
5. Describe the threat of the returning Judeans from Babylon posed by Hellenism.
6. What was the nature of the conflict between the returning Judeans from Babylon and those Judeans and others who had remained in Judea during the Babylonian Exile?
7. How did the Selucids govern the Jews?
8. Who were the Macabees and what was their importance?
9. Who was Matithias and his son Judas Macabee?