We started class with Professor Cargill talking about the requirements (or guidelines) to make a golden age. David and Solomon's reigns were considered a golden age in Jerusalem. In order to create a golden age, you have to die, build great palaces, create a united kingdom, and build a great temple. However when Solomon died, the golden age ended and the kingdom was divided. The cause for the division was attributed to Solomon's son Rehoboam. Rehoboam listened to his peers rather than his father's advisors on how to deal with his peoples' plea for lower taxes. Rehoboam basically wants to show that his more manly than his father stating that his small thing is bigger than his dad's "loins." So by ignoring his father's advice, ten tribes in the north left to form Israel. The remaining two tribes become Judah. Although the north didn't really do anything wrong, the Bible is written in the perspective of the south so the north is viewed as rebellious.
Later we went back to discussing the vassal-king contract. During the 8th century, Assyria rose and conquered many lands. Jerusalem was so insignificant back then that the Assyrians didn't bother to capture it. However when this happened, the people from the north rushed to Jerusalem to seek shelter. This caused the Assyrians to focus on Jerusalem. Hezekiah planed that something fishy might happen so he fortifies the walls of Jerusalem. This lecture was pretty easy to follow because it had some action (I don't mean to detract from the other amazing lectures, but this one was more interesting for some reason).
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