Regency in Ancient Israelite Kingdoms and Its Implications

The concept of kingship in ancient Israel underwent significant development, beginning with a period where the idea was resisted, transitioning to a monarchy established by divine command, and eventually leading to a divided kingdom. Initially, Israel was warned against seeking a king, and their desire for one was seen as a rejection of God's direct rule ^[5]. However, the establishment of an earthly monarchy was eventually mediated by the prophet Samuel, marking a turning point in the history of the Old Testament kingdom of God ^{[9, 15]}.

The term "king" in the biblical context does not always imply vast power or extensive territory; it can refer to a chief ruler or one with supreme authority over a nation, tribe, or country ^[2]. The earliest indications of Israel becoming a monarchy appear in Genesis, with prophecies stating that "kings will be among them" ^[14]. Despite these early mentions, the idea of a king was not universally embraced. Abimelech, for instance, was considered little more than a titular king whose reign was characterized as a "despotism" rather than a divinely authorized rule ^{[10, 11]}.

The monarchy in Israel was established at the people's insistence, with Saul being the first king, chosen by God through Samuel ^[9]. Initially, kingship was not hereditary ^[5]. However, it became hereditary in the family of David, as promised by God ^[5]. David reigned for forty years, with seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem ^{[3, 6]}. His son Solomon succeeded him, and it was during Solomon's reign that the kingdom reached a peak of power and influence.

After Solomon's death, the kingdom of Israel was divided due to the refusal of his son Rehoboam to lighten the heavy taxation and services imposed by his father ^[1]. The prophet Ahijah had prophesied this division, assigning ten tribes to Jeroboam and leaving one tribe (Judah) to the house of David ^{[1, 4]}. This split resulted in two separate kingdoms: the northern kingdom of Israel, comprising ten tribes, and the southern kingdom of Judah, which included Judah and most of Benjamin, and likely Simeon and Dan ^{[4, 12]}. The division weakened the Israelite state both politically and spiritually ^[12].

The northern kingdom of Israel was eventually invaded by several Assyrian kings. Tiglath-pileser carried away the trans-Jordanic tribes and inhabitants of Galilee into Assyria, and later, Sargon completed the conquest by taking Samaria and transporting its inhabitants ^[8]. This event marked the end of the northern kingdom. The southern kingdom of Judah continued for a longer period but eventually faced its own challenges, including the Babylonian exile, which was seen by some as a punishment for Israel's iniquity ^[13]. The concept of elders, or "old men," also played a significant role in the governance of ancient Israel, serving as heads of tribes and influential leaders ^[7]. These elders were present not only among the Hebrews but also among surrounding nations like the Egyptians, Moabites, and Midianites ^[7].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: 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 rais”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: King — "a chief ruler, one invested with supreme authority over a nation, tribe or country."--Webster. In the Bible the word does not necessarily imply great power or great extent of country. Many persons are called kings whom we should rather call chiefs or leaders. The word is applied in the Bible to God as the sovereign and ruler of the universe, and to Christ the Son of God as the head and governor of the Church. The Hebrews were ruled by a king during a period of about 500 years previous to the destruction of Jerusalem, B.C. 586. The immediate occasion of the sub”
I Chronicles “I Chronicles 29:27 (Geneva1599) — And the space that he reigned ouer Israel, was fourtie yeere: seuen yeere reigned he in Hebron, and three and thirtie yeere reigned he in Ierusalem:”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Israel, Kingdom Of — I. the kingdom.--The prophet Ahijah of Shiloh, who was commissioned in the latter days of Solomon to announce the division of the kingdom, left one tribe (Judah) to the house of David, and assigned ten to Jeroboam. (1 Kings 11:31,35) These were probably Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh), Issachar, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Benjamin, Dan, Simeon, Gad and Reuben; Levi being intentionally omitted. Eventually the greater part of Benjamin, and probably the whole of Simeon and Dan, were included as if by common consent in the kingdom of Judah. With respect ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Kings — Israel warned against seeking -- 1Sa 8:9-18. Sin of Israel in seeking -- 1Sa 12:17-20. Israel in seeking, rejected God as their king -- 1Sa 8:7; 10:19. Israel asked for, that they might be like the nations -- 1Sa 8:5,19,20. First given to Israel in anger -- Ho 13:11. God reserved to himself the choice of -- De 17:14,15; 1Sa 9:16,17; 16:12. When first established in Israel, not hereditary -- De 17:20; 1Sa 13:13,14; 15:28,29. Rendered hereditary in the family of David -- 2Sa 7:12-16; Ps 89:35-37. Of Israel not to be foreigners -- De 17:15. Laws for the governme”
1 Chronicles “The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. -- 1 Chronicles 29:27”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Elder — The term elder, or old man as the Hebrew literally imports, was one of extensive use, as an official title, among the Hebrews and the surrounding nations, because the heads of tribes and the leading people who had acquired influence were naturally the older people of the nation. It had reference to various offices. (Genesis 24:2; 50:7; 2 Samuel 12:17; Ezekiel 27:9) As betokening a political office, it applied not only to the Hebrews, but also to the Egyptians, (Genesis 50:7) the Moabites and the Midianites. (Numbers 22:7) The earliest notice of the elders acti”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Captivity — (1.) Of Israel. The kingdom of the ten tribes was successively invaded by several Assyrian kings. Pul (q.v.) imposed a tribute on Menahem of a thousand talents of silver (2 Kings 15:19, 20; 1 Chr. 5:26) (B.C. 762), and Tiglath-pileser, in the days of Pekah (B.C. 738), carried away the trans-Jordanic tribes and the inhabitants of Galilee into Assyria (2 Kings 15:29; Isa. 9:1). Subsequently Shalmaneser invaded Israel and laid siege to Samaria, the capital of the kingdom. During the siege he died, and was succeeded by Sargon, who took the city, and transport”
1 Samuel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Samuel 8 (introduction): II. The Monarchy of Saul from His Election Till His Ultimate Rejection - 1 Samuel 8-15 The earthly monarchy in Israel was established in the time of Samuel, and through his mediation. At the pressing desire of the people, Samuel installed the Benjaminite Saul as king, according to the command of God. The reign of Saul may be divided into two essentially different periods: viz., (1) the establishment and vigorous development of his regal supremacy (1 Samuel 8-15); (2) the decline and gradual overthrow of his monarchy (1 Samuel 16-31). The establish”
1 Samuel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 8:4: We have here the starting of a matter perfectly new and surprising, which was the setting up of kingly government in Israel. Perhaps the thing had been often talked of among them by those that were given to change and affected that which looked great. But we do not find that it was ever till now publicly proposed and debated. Abimelech was little better than a titular king, though he is said to reign over Israel (Jdg 9:22), and perhaps his fall had for a great while rendered the title of king odious in Israel, as that of Tarquinius did among the Romans; but, if i”
Judges (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Judges 9:22: GAAL'S CONSPIRACY. (Jdg. 9:22-49) When Abimelech had reigned three years--His reign did not, probably at first, extend beyond Shechem; but by stealthy and progressive encroachments he subjected some of the neighboring towns to his sway. None could "reign" in Israel, except by rebellious usurpation; and hence the reign of Abimelech is expressed in the original by a word signifying "despotism," not that which describes the mild and divinely authorized rule of the judge.”
1 Kings (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Kings 12 (introduction): II. History of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah to the Destruction of the Former - 1 Kings 12-2 Kings 17 After the death of Solomon the Israelitish kingdom of God was rent asunder, through the renunciation of the Davidic sovereignty by the ten tribes, into the two kingdoms of Israel (the ten tribes) and Judah; and through this division not only was the external political power of the Israelitish state weakened, but the internal spiritual power of the covenant nation was deeply shaken. And whilst the division itself gave rise to two small and weak ”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Zechariah 5:11: on its base On its permanence and on its base. Here He hinted [to Zechariah] that, because of the iniquity of Israel, who measured out [so to speak] with the measure of sins and wickedness, they were punished with the same measure. And there came two nations that ruled together; they were Babylon and the Chaldeans - the army of Nebuchadnezzar - and exiled [Israel] to Babylon where [Israel] stayed fixed on a base, a base that was established for them. That is according to the completion of the seventy years until now, when they returned. This in”
Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 17:6: 17:6 kings will be among them! This is the first indication that Israel would become a monarchy (see also 35:11; 36:31; Num 24:7; Deut 17:14-18; 28:36).”
1 Samuel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Samuel 1 (introduction): I. History of the People of Israel Under the Prophet Samuel - 1 Samuel 1-7 The call of Samuel to be the prophet and judge of Israel formed a turning-point in the history of the Old Testament kingdom of God. As the prophet of Jehovah, Samuel was to lead the people of Israel out of the times of the judges into those of the kings, and lay the foundation for a prosperous development of the monarchy. Consecrated like Samson as a Nazarite from his mother's womb, Samuel accomplished the deliverance of Israel out of the power of the Philistines, which had”

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