When David conquered Jerusalem around 1005 BC, he was a minor king subject to the Philistines. Israel`s first king Saul had been crushed at Gilboa by the Philistines, who resumed their customary dominance over the country. Instead of garrisoning the Hebrew towns they now preferred a policy of divide and rule.
At Saul`s death Israel was split into tribal groups, Saul`s son Ish-Baal ruled most of the Eastern tribes and David in the hill country of the South. At this point David was still a retainer of the Philistines, he proved far to ambitious and capable to remain anyones vassal.
At the death of Ish-Baal, all the tribes of Israel annointed David as king. Under his leadership Israel flourished briefly as a major military power. Its rapid growth from the shattered kingdom left by Saul into an empire dominating the whole of Syro-Palestine was remarkable.
REQUIREMENT: Civ2 MGE
At Saul`s death Israel was split into tribal groups, Saul`s son Ish-Baal ruled most of the Eastern tribes and David in the hill country of the South. At this point David was still a retainer of the Philistines, he proved far to ambitious and capable to remain anyones vassal.
At the death of Ish-Baal, all the tribes of Israel annointed David as king. Under his leadership Israel flourished briefly as a major military power. Its rapid growth from the shattered kingdom left by Saul into an empire dominating the whole of Syro-Palestine was remarkable.
REQUIREMENT: Civ2 MGE