Kingdom of Judah

JRSLM 300116 Tel Dan Stele 01

Kingdom of Judah was an ancient kingdom located in the Southern part of the Land of Israel, existing from the 10th century BCE until 586 BCE when it was conquered by the Babylonian Empire. The Kingdom of Judah was established following the split of the United Monarchy, which was a kingdom consisting of the twelve tribes of Israel under the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon. After Solomon's death, the monarchy was divided into the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and the southern kingdom of Judah.

History

The history of the Kingdom of Judah begins after the death of King Solomon, around 930 BCE, when the united kingdom of Israel split. The Kingdom of Judah consisted primarily of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Its capital was Jerusalem, which housed the First Temple, also known as Solomon's Temple, a central place of worship for the Jewish people.

During its existence, the Kingdom of Judah had periods of prosperity and autonomy as well as times of strife and subjugation by neighboring empires. Notably, it managed to survive the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrian Empire in 722 BCE, maintaining its independence for over a century thereafter.

However, in the late 7th century BCE, Judah became a vassal state of the powerful Neo-Babylonian Empire. The final blow came in 586 BCE, when the Babylonians, led by King Nebuchadnezzar II, besieged Jerusalem. The city fell after a lengthy siege, and the First Temple was destroyed. The elite of Judah were exiled to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity.

Religion

The religion of the Kingdom of Judah centered around the worship of Yahweh, with the First Temple in Jerusalem being the focal point of religious life. This period saw the development of significant religious texts and practices that would shape Judaism.

Government and Society

The Kingdom of Judah was a monarchy, with the king serving as the central figure in both the political and religious spheres. The society was agrarian, with a significant emphasis on family and tribal connections. The Law of Moses played a crucial role in the legal and moral standards of the kingdom.

Cultural Contributions

The Kingdom of Judah is credited with significant cultural and religious contributions, including parts of the Hebrew Bible. The experiences of the kingdom, especially those related to exile and return, have had a lasting impact on Jewish identity and religious practices.

Fall and Legacy

The fall of the Kingdom of Judah and the subsequent exile of its people left an indelible mark on Jewish history and consciousness. The period of exile is a central theme in Jewish thought, and the desire for return to Zion has influenced Jewish prayers and hopes for millennia. The destruction of the First Temple is mourned annually on the Jewish fast day of Tisha B'Av.

Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, the Jewish exiles were allowed to return to Judah, leading to the establishment of the Second Temple period. However, the Kingdom of Judah would never regain its former independence, eventually coming under the control of the Roman Empire and seeing the Second Temple destroyed in 70 CE.