across the divinely parted Jordan River and onto the Promised Land, Saul, from the tribe of Jacob and Rachel's 2nd and last son Benjamin, became the 1st king to rule over the Israelites. David was born into the tribe of Judah, descended from Jacob and his 1st wife Leah, and Jacob and Leah's 4th born son Judah. Over a decade after David was born, David was anointed by Samuel, the priest, prophet and judge from the tribe of Jacob and Leah's 3rd born son Levi, to reign as king. When David was 30 years old, he began to reign only over the tribe of Judah in the Promised Land. When David was 37 1/2 years old, he began to reign over all of the Israelites. Solomon, the 2nd child born to David and Bathsheba, was the 3rd king to reign. Rehoboam, the son born to Solomon and Naamah, was the 4th king to reign over all of the Israelites. After Rehoboam gave a specific answer, the Israelites split into 2 kingdoms, according to the will of the Lord God, due to the idolatry and other wickedness of Solomon. Judah was the nation in the south, Jerusalem was the royal city and Rehoboam was the 1st king to reign. Israel was the northern nation, Samaria was the final royal city and Jeroboam, the son born to Nebat and Zeruah, was the 1st king to reign. Less than 200 years after Jeroboam's son Nadab became the 2nd king to rule the northern nation of Israel, the Assyrians invaded the kingdom and conquered Samaria, according to the will of the Lord God, due to the idolatry and other wickedness of the Israelites. Less than 140 years after Samaria was conquered, the Babylonians (Chaldeans) invaded Judah and conquered Jerusalem, according to the will of the Lord God, due to the idolatry and other wickedness of the Israelites. Moreover, the Babylonians looted and burned the temple of the Lord. Less than 70 years after Jerusalem was conquered, King Cyrus, ruler of the Persian Empire, allowed Israelites to return to Judah and Jerusalem and build a temple. According to historians, centuries thereafter, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Syrian-Greek king, was controlling Judea and enforcing his brand of worship throughout the land. Antiochus outlawed all the religious practices of the Israelites, installed a pagan altar in the temple of the Lord, and brought in animals that were detestable to the Israelites to be sacrificed on the altar. Matthias, a temple priest, refused to engage in idolatry and revolted against the unholy worship and practices. After Matthias died, his sons, including Judas (Maccabaeus/Judah the Maccabee), continued the revolt and were victorious. The pagan altar was removed and the temple was cleansed, purified and rededicated to the Lord God, with the Israelites freely worshiping the Lord God. Moreover, only 1 pure jar of beaten olive oil was found in the temple, enough to keep the lampstand in the temple lit for only 1 day. However, the lampstand remained lit for 8 days. The yearly, 8-day-long Festival of Lights celebrates these events. The Festival of Lights was celebrated before Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary, and during the years Jesus was teaching, preaching and performing miracles among the Israelites, the treasured and chosen people of the Lord God. Moreover, the Festival of Lights continues to be celebrated today, over 2,000 years after
Jesus was betrayed, arrested, crucified, buried in a tomb, resurrected, seen by over 500 people, and returned to heaven.-Genesis 11:26-50:26, Exodus, Leviticus 11:1-47, Numbers 11:1-14:45, 20:1-29, 27:12-23, Deuteronomy 31:1-30, 32:44-52, 34:1-12, Joshua 1:1-4:24, 23:1-24:33, Judges 1:1-2:23, 1 Samuel 1:1-3:21, 8:1-31:13, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles 1:1-34, 2:1-17, 3:1-24, 7:20-29, 10:1-29:30, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 1:1-26
Reference Scripture:
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.-Psalm 82:6
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