Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Government King - 1030 BCE 1010 BCE - 1010 BCE 1008 BCE - 1008 BCE 970 BCE - 970 BCE 931 BCE - 931 BCE 930 BCE Historical era - King Saul

Monarchy

Jump to: navigation, search This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Discussion about the problems with the sole source used may be found on the talk page. (December 2008) This article cites its sources but does not provide page references. You can help to improve it by introducing citations that are more precise.

King Saul King Ishbaal King David King Solomon King Rehobam Iron Age 1030 BCE 930 BCE

United Kingdom of Israel and Judah

1030 BCE930 BCE

- King Solomon

File:Davids-kingdom with captions specifying vassal kingdoms-derivative-work.jpg Different interpretations of what the Bible says about the extent of king David's empire. This article is about the kingdom of all the Israelites ruled by Saul, David, and Solomon. For the later kingdom of northern Israelites, see Kingdom of Israel (Samaria). For other uses, see Kingdom of Israel (disambiguation). According to Biblical tradition, the united Kingdom of Israel was a kingdom that existed in the Land of Israel, a period referred to by scholars as the United Monarchy. Biblical historians date the kingdom from c. 1020 BCE to c. 930 BCE, though there are differences of opinion as to exact dates. According to the Bible, before the united monarchy, the Israelite tribes lived as a confederation under ad hoc charismatic leaders called Judges. In around 1020 BCE, under extreme threat from foreign peoples,

Gibeah (10301010 BCE), Mahanaim Capital (10101008 BC), Hebron (10081003 BC), Jerusalem

the tribes united to form the first united Kingdom of Israel. Samuel anointed Saul from the tribe of Benjamin as the first king in c. 1020 BCE, but it was David who in c.1006 BCE created a strong unified Israelite monarchy. David, the second (or third, if Ish-bosheth is counted) King of Israel, established Jerusalem as its national capital 3,000 years ago. Before then, Hebron had been the capital of David's Judah and Mahanaim of Ish-bosheth's Israel, and before that Gibeah had been the capital of the United Monarchy under Saul. David succeeded in truly unifying the Israelite tribes, and set up a monarchical government. He embarked on successful military campaigns against Israel's enemies, and defeated nearby regional entities such as the Philistines, thus creating secure borders for Israel. Under David, Israel grew into a regional power. Under the House of David, the united Kingdom of Israel achieved prosperity and superiority over its neighbours. Under David's successor, Solomon, the United Monarchy experienced a period of peace and prosperity, and cultural development. Much public building took place, including the First Temple in Jerusalem. However, on the succession of Solomon's son, Rehoboam, in c. 930 BCE the country Main article: History of Ancient Israel and Judah

split into two kingdoms: Israel (including the cities of Shechem and Samaria) in the north and Judah (containing Jerusalem) in the south. Most of the non-Israelite provinces fell away.

History

Biblical account
Monarchs and Biblical chronology
There were four rulers of the United Monarchy Saul ben Kish (from the tribe of Benjamin), Ishbaal (name sometimes written as Ishboseth due to religious

prejudices), a son of Saul, David, son-inlaw of Saul through his marriage to Michal and from the tribe of Judah, and Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba. King David established Jerusalem as Israel's national capital; before then, Hebron had been the capital of David's Judah and Mahanaim of Ishbaal's Israel, and before that Gibeah had been the capital under Saul. Earlier parts of the bible indicate that Shiloh had been seen as the

national capital; which, from an archaeological standpoint, is considered plausible, as far as it being the religious capital. For this period, most historians follow either of the older chronologies established by William F. Albright or Edwin R. Thiele, or the newer chronology of Gershon Galil, all of which are shown below. All dates are Albright dates Thiele dates Galil dates Common/Biblical name

BCE. Thiele's chronology generally corresponds with Galil's chronology below with a difference of at most one year.[1]

Regnal Name and style

Notes

House of Saul
c.10211000 c.1030 1010

Saul

- Killed in battle, suicide Shaul ben Qysh,

Melekh Ysra'el

c.1000

c.1010 1008

Ishbaal (Ish-boseth)

- -Assassinated Ishba'al ben Shaul,

Melekh Ysra'el

House of David
c.1000962 c.1008 970

David

Son-in-law of Saul, - brother-in-law of Ish boseth Dawidh ben Yishai, Melekh Ysrael

c.962c.922

c.970931

Solomon

- Sh'lomoh ben Dawidh, Melekh

Ysra'el

Son of David by Bathsheba, his rights of succession were disputed by his older half-brother Adonijah

[edit] Origins of the United Monarchy

According to the biblical account, the United Monarchy was formed when there was a large popular expression in favour of introducing a monarchy to rule over the previously decentralised Israelite tribal confederacy. Increasing pressure from the Philistines and other neighboring tribes is said by the Bible to have forced the

Israelites to unite as a more singular state. The bible treats the notion of kingship as having been an anathema at the time, it being seen as one man put in a position of reverence and power, which in their faith was reserved for God.

[edit] Civil war

rebelling, taking over Judah, and ultimately forcing David into exile on the east of the Jordan. According to the increasing majority of archaeologists, this isn't so much a case of rebellion by Israel against a mighty kingdom, but more a case of Israel re-asserting its authority over a poor, rural, sparsely populated, backwater. This section of the biblical text, and the bulk of the remainder of the books of Samuel is thought by textual critics to belong to a single large source known as the Court History of David; though reflecting the political bias of the later kingdom of Judah after Israel's destruction, the source is somewhat more neutral than the pro and anti monarchical sources that form earlier parts of the text. Israel and Judah are portrayed in this source as quite distinct kingdoms. Eventually, according to Samuel, David launches a counter-attack, and wins, although with the loss of Absalom, his son. After having retaken Judah, as well as asserted control over Israel, David returns to the west of the Jordan, though he continues to suffer a number of rebellions by Israel, successfully suppressing each one.

Map of the southern Levant, c.830s BCE. According to the first book of Samuel, due to his disobedience to God, Saul's reign was curtailed and his kingdom given to another dynasty. The Masoretic Text reads that Saul ruled for only two years, although some early manuscripts read forty-two years (cf. the New Testament, which gives him a reign of forty years). The bible portrays Saul as having died in battle against the Philistines. David and Saul had earlier become bitter enemies, at least from Saul's point of view, though the sources describe Jonathan, Saul's son, and Michal, Saul's daughter, as assisting David to escape Saul, ultimately leading to brief reconciliation before Saul's death. Saul's heir, Ishbaal, took over rulership of Israel but, according to Samuel, ruled for only two years before he was assassinated. David, who had become king of Judah only, acted as counter-rebel, ended the conspiracy, and was appointed king of Israel in Ishbaal's place; a number of textual critics and biblical scholars have suggested that David was actually responsible for the assassination, and his position as counter-rebel was a later invention to legitimise David's actions. Israel rebels, according to Samuel, and appoints Absalom, David's son, as their new king. The bible then describes Israel as

The "Golden Age"

In the Biblical account, David finally succeeds in truly unifying Judah and Israel. Some modern archaeologists believe there was a continued and uninterrupted existence of two distinct cultures and geographic entities, one being Judah, the other Israel, and if there was a political union it possibly had no practical effect on the relationship between the two nations.[2] David embarked on successful military campaigns against Judah's and Israel's enemies, and defeated bitter foes such as the Philistines, thus creating secure borders. Under King David, Israel grew from Kingdom to Empire, and its sphere of

influence militarily and politically in the Middle East expanded greatly, controlling a number of weaker client states like Philistia, Moab, Edom, Ammon, with a number of Aramaean city-states (Aram-Zobah and Aram-Damascus) becoming vassal states; the imperial border stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Arabian Desert, from the Red Sea to the Euphrates River. According to the biblical account, the empire had a large land area. Some modern archaeologists, though holding only a minority view, believe that the area under the control of Judah and Israel in this era, excluding the Phoenician territories on the shore of the Mediterranean, did not exceed 34,000 square kilometres (13,000 sq mi); of these, the kingdom of Israel encompassed about 24,000 square kilometres (9,300 sq mi). David was succeeded on his death by his son, Solomon, who obtained the kingdom in a somewhat disreputable manner from the rival claimant, his elder brother Adonijah, whom he later had killed. Living up to his name (peace), the rule of Solomon was one in which the nation knew unprecedented peace. Not all scholars see Solomon as a wise leader.[3] David and Solomon are both portrayed by the Bible as having entered into strong alliances with the (possibly unnamed) King of Tyre. In return for ceding land to Tyre, David and Solomon are said to have received a number of master craftsmen, skilled labourers, money, jewels, cedar, and other goods. David's Palace and Solomon's Temple are described as having been built with the assistance of these Tyrian assets, as well as to designs given by architects from Tyre. Solomon rebuilt a number of major cities, including Megiddo, Hazor, and Gezer; these have been excavated and scholars attributed elements of the archaeological remains, some of which are rather impressive such as six chambered gates

and ashlar palaces, to this building programme. Structures within these remains are identified as the stables for the vast collection of horses that Solomon is believed to have kept, together with drinking troughs.

End of the "United Monarchy"

Main articles: Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and Kingdom of Judah Following Solomon's death in c. 926 BCE, tensions between the northern part of Israel containing the ten northern tribes, and the southern section dominated by Jerusalem and the southern tribes reached boiling point. When Solomon's successor Rehoboam dealt tactlessly with economic complaints of the northern tribes, in about 930 BCE (there are difference of opinion as to the actual year) the united Kingdom of Israel split into two kingdoms: the northern Kingdom of Israel, which included the cities of Shechem and Samaria, and the southern Kingdom of Judah, which contained Jerusalem; with most of the nonIsraelite provinces achieving independence. The Kingdom of Israel (or Northern Kingdom) existed as an independent state until 722 BCE when it was conquered by the Assyrian Empire; while the Kingdom of Judah (or Southern Kingdom) existed as an independent state until 586 BCE when it was conquered by the Babylonian Empire.

Evidence
According to textual critics[who?], a number of distinct source texts were spliced together to produce the current books of Samuel. The most prominent in the early parts of the first book are the promonarchical source and the antimonarchical source. In identifying these two sources, two separate accounts can be reconstructed. The anti-monarchical source describes Samuel (thought by a

number of scholars to be a cipher for God himself) to have thoroughly routed the Philistines, yet begrudgingly accepting that the people demanded a ruler, and thus appointing Saul by cleromancy. The promonarchical source describes the divine birth of Saul (a single word being changed by a later editor so that it referred to Samuel instead), and his later leading of an army to victory over the Ammonites, which resulted in the people clamouring for him to lead them against the Philistines, whereupon he is appointed king.[4][page needed] In 2010, archaeologists excavating in Jerusalem found two sections of 5 and 6 meter high wall, with a gatehouse, tower, as well as storage vessels inscribed with the phrase "to the king", which they interpreted as indicating royal use. The engineering level involved was interpreted as indicating a ruling presence. The archaeologists dated the ruins to the 10 century BCEand King Solomon. They also claimed that the architecture was similar to other contemporary ruins in Meggido, Beersheba and Ashdod.[5] According to Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman, authors of The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts,[2] the idea of a United Monarchy is not accurate history but rather "creative expressions of a powerful religious reform movement," possibly "based on certain historical kernels." Although in a later book Finkelstein and Silberman do accept that David and Solomon were real kings of Judah about the 10th century BCE,[6] they cite that the earliest independent reference to the Kingdom of Israel is about 890 BCE, while for that of Judah is about 750 BCE.
.. In the accounts of the kings, we see King Saul, driven by greed and paranoia, on

murderous missions to keep himself on the throne, losing the throne not in spite of his precautions, but because of them. Alongside him we see the future King David hunted and in constant danger, yet so loyal he refused golden opportunities to rid himself of Saul and make himself king called a man after God's own heart, guided by God to success in every venture. We see King Jeroboam, propositioned by God with a wonderful promise, reject that promise in favor of bad advice, and as a result not only lose his own kingship, but in the end, doom the entire kingdom as well. We see King Jehoshaphat, who also had an excellent promise from God, believe that promise completely, and thereby defend his kingdom against three united armies each stronger than his own, without sending a single soldier into battle! We see kings pleasing to God, and kings revolting to God. And we see what made them pleasing or revolting. What does God love in a leader? What does He hate in a leader? The stories of the kings give us the answers! . The Kings of Israel In our schools we have blackboards on which we solve problems. Israel was God's blackboard upon which He worked out some great national and international problems in the past. In this brief study, however, I wish only to call attention to the general characteristics of the kings who sat upon the Davidic throne. When Saul was rejected on account of disobedience, God chose David, a man after His own heart, who did His will with the exception of the time when he sinned and remained for a season in an unrepentant state. He is held up in the Scriptures as the ideal ruler, for he was a foreshadowing of the Messiah, who, on account of David's typical character, is also called David. Solomon was indeed a wise ruler, but at the same time he did many very foolish things. His reign, though outwardly a success, was in reality a failure (Note: On the accompanying chart the dates given indicate the year in which each king began his reign. These are given in both the B.C. and A.H. dates).

Rehoboam lacked wisdom and judgment. He refused to listen to the older men who had had experience but chose rather to accept the untried theories of the young and inexperienced. This action brought about the

disruption of the kingdom a national calamity. In the fifth year of his reign Pharaoh, king of Egypt, came up and overran the country, which invasion proved to be a national calamity.

Asa was a good king, who reigned for fortyone years. He sought to do that which was right in the sight of God as did his father David. He endeavored to bring the nation back to God. He was measurably successful; nevertheless there were problems which he was unable to solve. His son, Jehoshaphat, likewise was an excellent ruler, and sought to do the will of God. He likewise brought about reforms and a spiritual awakening. The next to mount the throne to whom I wish to call attention was Athaliah, the daughter of Jezebel. She was indeed a notorious character ruthless and unprincipled like her mother. She came to the throne of David by marriage.

It was truly a sad day when she came to power. On the death at Amaziah, who endeavored to do good but was very weak and yielded to outward pressure, there was an interregnum in the Davidic line. For eleven years the throne was vacant. The Bible is silent as to the conditions that obtained at that time. When the data is studied and the proper calculations are made, we see that there was this period during which the house of David was without a king. God did not see fit to reveal to us the condition of that time. In this connection let me say that there were two interregnums in the northern kingdom. (For a full discussion of the evidence

which leads to this conclusions see the volume, Messiah: His First Coming Scheduled) Uzziah was another great outstanding king on the throne of David. Great prosperity was enjoyed by the southern kingdom during certain portions of his reign. It was at this time that Isaiah came forth with his fiery oratory and great statesmanship. Yet this sovereign's reign was marred by various defects. He was unable to stem the tide of wickedness and corruption, the waves of which beat constantly against the shores of Judah. Jotham, his successor, in some respects was a good man; but he made no special contribution to the kingdom or the advancement of the cause of the Lord. Ahaz, a stripling of an upstart, who was wickedness personified, succeeded his father. His foreign policies all but wrecked Judah. He lacked faith and sought to make alliances with the king of Assyria. Isaiah, however, opposed such a policy. Nevertheless, Ahaz had his way. Hezekiah was a great and a noble king. He was one of the great reformers in Israel and brought about a mighty national revival. It was during his day that the little Passover was observed (see Numbers 9). Although Hezekiah was a great man, he had serious faults and made many mistakes. In the fifteenth year of the reign a major crisis developed. For an account of the times and the conditions, see Isaiah 36-39 and the parallel passages in the Book of II Kings. Manasseh enjoyed the longest reign in Judah of any of her kings. He was on the throne for fifty-five years. He was one of the most reprobate and wicked kings who ever sat upon that throne. Why he was allowed to reign that long, God has not said. We might guess, but we cannot be dogmatic. God sometimes allows wickedness to hold sway until conditions are ripe for judgment. Hints are not lacking that there was a great crisis in his day. His son, Amon, succeeded him and reigned two years. He was undoubtedly the most wicked monarch who ever sat upon the throne of Judah. Josiah, who reigned for thirty-one years, was indeed one of Judah's great kings. He fell heir to the wretched conditions which had resulted from fifty-seven years of apostasy from God during the two preceding reigns. Being influenced by the high priest, Hilkiah a very godly and consecrated man the young king set his heart to seek the Lord. In the eighteenth

year of his reign, he began to purge the land of all idolatry and to cleanse the Temple from the debris and rubbish that had accumulated during the preceding reigns. While the workmen were engaged at this task, a copy of the Book of the Law was discovered in the Temple. It was brought to the king and read before him. He believed God; he saw the situation and immediately instituted national reforms which resulted in a mighty spiritual awakening and turning to God. There can be no doubt concerning Jeremiah's taking a prominent part in this reform, because he was very active at the time. Huldah, a prophetess, likewise was a mighty factor in this revival. Hilkiah and certain ones whom the king commanded went to her for advice. She spoke to them the word of the Lord. At this time there was a great observance of the passover. (For a full discussion of the events of those stirring times, see II Chronicles 34 and 35 and the parallel passages in II Kings.) By the time we reach the reign of Jehoiakim, Judah had plunged on the toboggan of sin and rebellion against God to such an extent that she had gotten beyond all remedy. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, which was 3520 A.H., the king of Babylon came against Jerusalem and carried the outstanding men of the realm into captivity. This was the first deportation of exiles. Jehoiakim was succeeded by Jehoiachin, who reigned only three months. He, with numbers of captives, was taken to Babylon. The final overthrow of the Jewish nation occurred in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, which was the year 3539 A.H. Thus ended the Davidic line of actual rulers. Since then the throne has been overturned and will not be set up again until He whose right it is shall come (Ezekiel 21:27). When He returns, He will mount the throne of David and will establish His authority from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth. Glorious times are yet in the future. .

Genesis
Creation Adam and Eve (covers creation and fall of man) The Fall of Man

Cain and Abel Adam's descendants The Nephilim Noah and the Flood The Covenant of Noah The Curse of Ham Sons of Noah The tower of Babel Abram's migration Partition between Abram and Lot Chedorlaomer Abraham and Melchizedek The Covenant of Abram A wife confused for a sister (featuring Abraham, Sarah, and Pharaoh, as characters) Hagar and Ishmael The first circumcision Sodom and Gomorrah Lot's drunkenness The cave of Machpelah A wife confused for a sister (featuring Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech, as characters) The Binding of Isaac Keturah's sons Isaac and Rebekah Jacob and Esau The Covenant of Isaac A wife confused for a sister (featuring Isaac, Rebekah, and Abimelech, as characters) The blessing of Isaac The exile of Jacob Jacob's Ladder Jacob and Rachel/The sheep and the stone Rachel and Leah Jacob's children The blemished flock The stones of Galeed Jacob's gifts to Esau Jacob wrestles with an angel Jacob's reconciliation with Esau The rape of Dinah Reuben and Bilhah The birth of Benjamin The list of Edomite Kings Joseph enslaved Judah and Tamar

Potiphar's wife The butler and the baker Pharaoh's Dreams Joseph and his brothers Israel's migration Ephraim's pre-eminence The blessing of Jacob The burial of Jacob The death of Joseph's generation

[edit] Exodus
See main article: Book of Exodus. The Hebrew midwives Moses' exile The Burning Bush The Signs of Moses Zipporah at the inn Let my people go Bricks without straw With a strong hand and an outstretched arm Aaron's rod becomes a serpent The Plagues of Egypt The Passover The Exodus Passage of the Red Sea The Song of the sea Massah U-Meribah Amalek Jethro Encamping at Sinai The Ten Commandments (first set) The Covenant Code The Golden Calf The Ten Commandments (second set)

[edit] Leviticus
See main article: Leviticus. The Priestly Code The Holiness Code The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons The Death of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-20)

A Blasphemer Stoned (Leviticus 24:10-23)

[edit] Numbers
See main article: Numbers. The Israelite Census Departing Sinai The shower of quails Snow-white Miriam The report of the spies Korah, Dathan and Abiram Aaron's rod sprouts and bears fruit Waters of Meribah The short route to Canaan The Nehushtan The conquest of the eastern route Balaam and the Donkey The Heresy of Peor The appointment of Joshua The War against the Midianites. Machir, Reuben, and Gad, in Gilead and Jazeer The distribution of Canaan

Charge from God to Joshua. Joshua takes charge, 1:1-18 Rahab and the Spies The Fall of Jericho The Sun Stands Still

[edit] Judges
Israel Disobeys God, 2:1-23

Othniel Othniel's Campaign as Judge, 3:7-11

Ehud Ehud gains the victory over Moabite King Eglon 3:1230

Shamgar 3:31 Deborah Deborah, 4:1-24 The Song of Deborah, 5:1-31

[edit] Deuteronomy
Moses Begins to Retell Wilderness Stories, Deuteronomy 1-3 The Deuteronomic Code The Song of Moses, Deuteronomy 32 The Blessing of Moses, Deuteronomy 33 The Death of Moses, Deuteronomy 34

Gideon The Lord Appears to Gideon, 6:1-40 The Sign of the Fleece and Gideon's Three Hundred, 7:1-25 Midian Subdued, 8:1-35

Abimelech Abmilech, son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) made king at Shechem after destroying his own family, 9:1-6 Jotham, the lone survivor and brother, tells The

[edit] Nevi'im
[edit] Joshua

Parable of the Trees. He speaks against Abimelech then flees, 9:7-21 Shechem betrays Abimelech. He attacks and destroys the city. Abimelech captures the town of Thebez, but he is mortally wounded by a woman. 9:22-57 Tola Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. He judged Israel for twenty-three years, 10:1,2

Other Stories

Micah's Idloatry, 18: 1-

31 The Levite's Concubine and Gibeah's Crime, 19:1-30 Battle of Gibeah. War with the Benjamites, 20:1-48 Wives for the Benjamites, 21:1-25

[edit] 1 & 2 Samuel

Hannah and the Birth of Samuel David and Goliath David and Jonathan David and Bathsheba Absalom's Conspiracy

Jair Jephthah Jephthah and His Vow, 11: 1-40

[edit] 1 & 2 Kings

The Wisdom of Solomon Solomon builds the Temple The Queen of Sheba Elijah on Mount Carmel Elijah Taken up to Heaven The Sunnamite's Son The Healing of Naaman Hezekiah

Ibzah 12:8-10 Elon 12:11, 12 Abdon 12:13-15 Samson The Birth of Samson, 13:1-25 Samson's Phlistine Wife, 14:1-20 The Philistine's Defeated, 15: 1-20 Samson and Delilah, 16:1-31 The Death of Samson, 17:1-13

[edit] Isaiah [edit] Jeremiah

Call of Jeremiah, 1:1-10 Jeremiah sees an almond rod then a boiling pot, 1:11-19 Jeremiah's message at the temple gate, 7:1-34 Jeremiah buys a linen waistband and puts it in the crevice of a rock near the Euphrates. 13:1-11 The LORD tells Jeremiah that he can't get

married or have children, 16:121 Jeremiah stands at the city gate proclaiming the Sabbath's importance 17:19-27 Jeremiah visits the potter, 18:1-23 Jeremiah takes a potter's clay jar and some of the elders to the valley of Ben-hinnon, 19:1-15 Pashur, the chief officer in the house of the LORD, beats Jeremiah and puts him in stocks. Jeremiah's complains to God. 20:1-18 Zedekiah, Pashur, and Zephaniah ask Jeremiah if there is a positive message from the LORD. Jeremiah prophesies doom for them. He predicts the coming of the Branch. 21:1-23:40 Jeremiah summarizes 23 years of prophetic ministry; lists the nations under judgment and predicts 70 years of captivity. 25:1-38 Jeremiah prophesies against the temple and the city. He is accused of a capital crime. His life is spared after discussion of precedence. Thanks to Ahikam the son of Shaphan. 26:1-24 Following the LORD's directive, Jeremiah puts himself in bonds and a yoke. He relates that the LORD has given Nebuchadnezzar the land until his time comes. Hananiah breaks Jeremiah's yoke and prophesies the opposite message. 27:1-22 The Exile
Ezekiel Hosea Joel Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Jonah and the Fish

Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

Ketuvim

Psalms Proverbs Job Song of Songs Ruth

Boaz and Ruth

[edit] Lamentations [edit] Ecclesiastes [edit] Esther

Esther and Mordechai

[edit] Daniel
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Daniel in the lions' den The Fiery Furnace The writing on the wall

[edit] Ezra/Nehemiah
The Return to Jerusalem The Building of the Second Temple

[edit] Chronicles (I & II)