Chapter 21

^“And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.” 1 Samuel 16:23.

David was a talented musician and he continued to play the harp, compose songs and write poems even after he became king of Israel. Of the 150 psalms in the Book of Psalms in the Bible, 73 were written by King David.

“As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on. The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.” 1 Samuel 18:6-11.

King Saul’s troubled spirit was calmed by the music of David. He became jealous after David’s popularity soared following his victories over Goliath and the Philistines. He made numerous attempts to kill David, but they all failed. Fast forward 1,000 years later, and recall i. The Kiss of Judas. ii. The last words of Julius Caesar “et tu Brute?”

 Not all those who hail your success publicly may actually wish you well. Jealousy and insecurity will drive some against you, and some will betray you. Remain faithful to God, and He will protect you. David refused to hurt Saul, and  said, “The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” 1 Samuel 26:11.

“David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’” 1 Chronicles 22:7-10.

“Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.” 1 Chronicles 22:9. God’s promise to King David was fulfilled.

The Queen of Sheba traveled to Jerusalem to bring gifts to King Solomon and learn from his wisdom. According to Ethiopian Orthodox Church, she was Queen Makeda. She bore his firstborn son Menelik who at the age of 22 visited King Solomon in Jerusalem. He went on to become the Emperor of Ethiopia from 975 BC to 950 BC. The Solomonic Dynasty continued in Ethiopia until 1974 when the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie came to an end.

Rehoboam succeeded his father Solomon as king of Israel. His reign was marred by unrest, and the country split into two when he threatened to raise taxes on the northern tribes.  The 10 norther tribes broke away and moved the capital of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) from Jerusalem to Samaria with Jeroboam, the leader of the revolt, as king. Rehoboam continued as king of the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with Jerusalem as the capital of the Southern Kingdom (Judah). The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians in 772 BC and the people were sent into exile. The Southern Kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Babylonians in 587/586 BC, they destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, and many Jews were forced into exile in Babylonia.