India and Israel Against Islamic Terror

39
Solomon, the Wise
ujs son, Solomon, inherited the genes of his father. He improved

upon them by his own winning charm, a keen wit, worldly

wisdom, and a searching mind, appealing to Eastern instincts.

Aware of human frailties, he grew into a shrewd judge of men.

Seeing through intrigues, perfidy and obsequiousness, he saw

through his hangers-on and became known for his wisdom. He

could read hearts of men as he could the speech of birds and

the trees. With time his reputation grew and he became the

blessed son of Yahweh and the wisest among men. To him were

attributed much of the Biblical wisdom, the proverbs, the cynical

Ecclesiastes and portions of Appocrypha. Eulogised by some

historians and equally criticised by others for his pomp and

extravagance by despoliation of his subjects, his genius has never

been in doubt, known not for his spirituality but earthiness, a

characteristic of his times. As his fame in the Hebrew and Arab

world grew, he opened the Hebrew culture to new influences

and extended his boundaries while executing new projects.

Wreaking vengeance on some of David’s compatriots like Adonijah

and Abiathar, he secured his position and sent a clear message that

beyond sophistry of phrases he was a stern ruler of men. Having

inherited a secured kingdom through his father’s victory he turned

from the problems of war to those of peace. He was not overtly

concerned about the loss of territory of Edom and Moab or

Aramaeans at Damascus to the rebellion of Rezon. Forgoing the

lure of controlling troublesome aliens and their lands, he decided

to consolidate his own kingdom by dividing it into twelve districts

regardless of tribal loyalties under an overarching national unity.

His efforts in evolving a national consciousness succeeded to a

degree. He was a builder par excellence and had a passion for

constructing big cities and palaces, well defended marts

overflowing with trade that could equal his neighbours, and

finally he built a grand temple to Yahweh over the site of David’s

temporary handiwork. The cost to his subject was high. His

8reat construction odessey made a great state out of a nomad

People as all material and architectural assistance came from his

”iend and neighbour Hiram of Tyre, a sea-faring Phoenician
40 INDIA AND ISRAEL CHAPTER 2
state. Israeli fleets took to sea and commerce for the first time

through Tyre in return for supply of corn and oil. All population

including non-Hebrews like Cibeonites and Jebusites and

Canaanites, contributed to the building activities, sometimes under

duress. With tremendous national effort, exaction of the people

and unpopular taxes, at last a great temple was built to Yahweh

at David’s site. Splendid and majestic the structure bore testimony

to Solomon’s greatness, in spite of adverse home weather and

cost. His palace was equally decorous and awe inspiring.
So far the visit of Queen Sheba, the black beauty from

Africa, to the wise and powerful Israelite ruler, remained in the

realm of a Biblical myth. However, the latest excavations of the

ruins located 80 miles east of Yemen’s capital Sana, just a few

miles from the citadel of Marib at the edge of the Arabian

desert, have validated the story of Queen Sheba. ’Black Minerva’

to the Greeks, ’Makeda’ or greatness to the Ethiopians and

’Bilqis’ (a religious honorific title) to the Arabs, Queen Sheba

ruled around 950 B.C. in a Middle East royalty, mentioned

mainly in religious texts. The latest excavations in the north

Yemen also shed light on a 3500 years old temple to Mahram

Bilqis.
A custom grew up in the nation to resort to the capital on

religious festivals and bring gifts to the holy shrine as the Temple

became the heritage of the Hebrews and Jerusalem the centre

of their religious lives. As generations passed, the Temple

overshadowed Jerusalem and meanings read into every stone

and artifect. The use of iron, a symbol of war was scrupulously

avoided in the construction and then legend grew. For better or

worse the Temple became the centre of sacerdotal faith, with all

its rituals, priests, prayers, and sacrifices and even equated with

Sinai in its religious importance. In all this show and glitter, the

clean-simplicity of faith was the first casualty. Jerusalem grew

and glittered, while Solomon built, secured and consolidated his

kingdom with weapons of war and fortresses. New roads catalysed

commercial development and military mobility, while the

influence of the surrounding Semitic world permeated into the

land through treaties and marriages further securing Jerusalem.
CHAPTER 2
HISTORY OF ISRAEL 41
Solomon’s large harem included princesses from lands all round

such as Moab, Edom and even Egypt, leading to new religious

practices and diluting the old. The cost of splendour meant

increasing taxes and this was met by an expansion of trade

overseas upto as far as India. TheJisgaJ deficit grew and excessive

prodigality led to an almost bankrupt treasury. Forty years of

Solomon’s momentous reign led to the greatness of his nation,

Jerusalem its capital, and the rise in the dignity of the Temple.

In the social order, an acquisitive rich aristocracy lorded it over

a poverty ridden proletariat. This led to a class djcjiotorny in

early history which resulted in a bitter harvest later. Despite all

his splendour and profligacy Solomon’s statesmanship and

innovations more thanrnade up for the hardships of his people

by breaching the barriers around Palestine by developing Yahweh

into an idea that outranged Israel’s little Hebrew world.
The Prophets
The same tolerant policy towards dilution of the pristine Yahweh

faith was continued by Ahab, the next king in the series of

monarchy. The subordination of religion to diplomacy did not

amuse the prophets and purists. Though broadmindedness had

a civilising effect, in reality it preyed on religious uniqueness and

national unity. Anger simmered against the house of Omri. Baal

worship and other heathen practices that stole in Hebrew life

were the ultimate straw. The Prophets revolted against what’

they calj_ed the blasphemy aTfcTapostacyT A Iong~war followed,

intolerant and ruthlessunrj amidst This chaos of religious crises,

rose the towery figure of Prophet Elijah, a popular and the most

romantic figure in Jewish history; who was harsh, severe, and

intolerant of existing corruption in the civilised life of the Hebrews.
With time his austere and uncompromising image got softened

into a champion of the oppressed, and a true interpreter of

Jewish faith, who could show the path of salvation through

martyrdom. A deity at rituals, such as circumcision and Pass

over feast, he is known as the gate keeper to Heaven and a

messiah to open a new world. Challenging mainly the Tyrian

nibbling into Yahweh’s greatness, he suffered no compromise.
42 INDIA AND ISRAEL CHAPTER 2
Battling for long on the peaceful slopes of Mount Carmel, Elijah

won spectacular victory against prophets of Jezebel through

Yahweh’s miracles and nourished the roots of old Judaism while

Judaic became the guardian of Hebrew fajth. Simultaneously

began its division through internecine quarrels. While some states

became pliable, Judah remained isolated from the Asiatic world

and bore the brunt of attacks through a non-compromising

stance and lost to Assyria. Judean King Hezekiah was more

pragmatic. His kingdom prospered even while he retained the

true faith of Yahweh. As the situation around changed rapidly

in their favour, the believers abandoned their policy of

supplication. Encouraging news from Egypt of Syrian decline

catalysed an alliance of coastal countries against the Syrians who

were now also threatened by the Chaldeans of Babylon. But this

premature attempt at insurrection was stymied by a bold

preemptive blow by Sargon who inflicted heavy casualties on

the conspirators. Hezekiah kept a low profile and waited till his

chance came in 705 B.C. when the mighty Sargon of Assyria

fell. Even though it offered a temporary relief, in which Egypt

and the league of the Palestinian States and judea hoped to

prey on the remains of Assyria, the march was halted. Inspite

of Isaiah’s remonstrance advocating wisdom of temperance, the

hotheaded amongst Judah actively conspired. Vindicating Isaiah’s

fears, the successor king Sennacherib ruthlessly eliminated his

Babylonian rivals and wreaked heavy vengeance on Philistine

cities of Edom and Moab and then destroyed Judah sparing no

one, burning and pillaging. Jerusalem was ruined and Hezekiah

lost most of his territories; even his daughters were herded to

the conqueror’s harem. Sennacherib now turned to Egypt, but

strangely, though assured of success, he abandoned the invasion

and turned back baffling all reason and Biblical historians. Possibly

it was the outbreak of the Bubonic plague and mice that

destroyed all his weapons. However, Assyria retained its power.

Under its conquering heels Judah was kept under total heathen

subjugation by their greatest conquerors, Essar-Haddon and

Assur-Bani-Pal, and Judah was ruled for 45 long years under

their king Manasseh who turned to heathen practices to the

extent of total apostasy.
--”7 _ o HISTORY OF ISRAEL 43
CHAPTtK •*•
However, materially the people prospered as the long period

f peace healed the scars of earlier devastations and they

bandoned the earlier Puritanism of Hezekiah’s day. While

Assyria remained in power, peace reigned in Judah. And then

new threats appeared from Median and Scythian tribes and the

Chaldean power now in possession of Babylon challenged the

thousand years of Assyrian dominance of the Semitic world.

The Scythians ravaged Syria and swept on to Egypt leaving Judah

unscathed and then met a reverse at the Nile. The Egyptians

emboldened by a weakened Assyria, and a powerful Navy struck

back at Judah in the battle of Meggido. The young king Josiah

died fighting gallantly and Judah became a principality of Egypt

paying tribute to the suzerain who now occupied the throne of

David. But these were turbulent times. The Chaldean leader of

Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest Eastern potentate since

Hammurabi, having mopped up the remains of Assyria now

assisted by the Medianites inflicted a crushing defeat on Egypt in

the battle of Carchemish in 601 B.C. and Babylon now wrote

a new world order with the new arts of life and construction.

Judah now submitted to the inevitable. As long as it acquiesced

Judah stayed out of trouble. But the King ill advised by the

prophets defied Chaldean potentate and resorted to minor

skirmishes, and guerrilla attacks. Incited by Judah’s surrounding

enemies, Nebuchadnezzar finally struck and devastated the land.

He invaded Jerusalem in 579 B.C. and occupied the little capital.

He plundered and sacked and carried into captivity large number

of warriors and artisans and craftsmen leaving Zedekiah, the last

Hebrew king exhausted and miserable. In spite of all this

ruination, fire still burnt among the Judeans and inspired by

everyday news trickling in from abroad, Zedekiah defied the

mighty sovereign and ceased to pay tribute. Thereupon, an

impatient and enraged Nebuchadnezzar once again swooped

upon Judah, destroyed all that stood before him. The valiant

I’ttle people defended Jerusalem till the end. When that also fell,

the Temple was destroyed, the princes and priests slaughtered

and Zedekiah, blinded and chained, was carried back to Babylon.
44 INDIA AND ISRAEL CHAPTEI 2
On the ruins of Judah Nebuchadnezzar placed Cedaliah as

a royal governor ruling from Mizpah. Cedaliah ruled well aid

wisely but some malcontents assassinated him and fearful of

Babylonian reprisals fled to Egypt carrying with them the old

prophet Jeremiah. Despite the exile abroad and devastation at

home, the spirit of Judea refused to die. And there from tie

ashes of political upheavals arose, phoenix like, the generation

of prophets who combined all that was best in Hellenic art,

Roman law and their own ancient culture. Innately pious and

uncompromising they rose above narrow parochialism, greed

and rituals, acted as guardians to the people and fearlessly defying

even the king, they awakened amongst the Judeans a new mo-al

zeal. The prophets of three centuries ending 600 B.C., Amos,

Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah and Jeremiah, great geniuses,

persecuted while alive, gave Hebrew religion a progressive thought

combining a strict moral code with prevalent rituals; keeping

conscience above law and became an example for successi’/e

generations, raising religion from its heathen depth to the height

of spiritualism. It was this inspiration that enabled the Jewish

nation to survive all onslaughts and stick to their faith, a

phenomenon unseen in history. The jews, a people who survived

the destruction of their state, and in spite of persecution through

ages, the Diaspora and pogroms, kept their spirit alive which

refused to be extinguished. Not tied to any temple, city, sacra,

or rituals they attained a religious solidarity which no power

could destroy.
Then came the time of Jeremiah, when the temple was

resurrected and Jerusalem rebuilt in spite of the hostility of

Ammonites, Edmonites, and the surrounding Arabs. Encircled

by the heathen there was a real possibility of dilution of the

Jewish faith. But a zealous Babylonian scribe Ezra took charge

and reinforced his people through immigrants from Babyloi.

Armed with royal authority from the Persian king he along with

Jeremiah brought about a reformation and purified the faith.

Despite doubts about Ezra’s historicity, the purified reformation

was an undeniable reality. The scribes, the forerunners of

Pharisees, interpreted the law and became natural leaders in the