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Psalm 132 encapsulates the OT applause for the Golden Reign of King David, especially for his capture of the cultured and sophisticated Canaanite city, Jerusalem, and the triumphant installation of the Israelites' God, YHWH, within its shrine. The Ark of the Covenant and the Tent of Meeting took pride of place over the displaced gods of Jerusalem, and David's own family was established as the new dynastic rulers for evermore.

Behind this glittering façade of success, however, there was a more human story of tensions between the people of the old Canaanite culture and the incoming Israelites. At first all appeared well, while Jerusalem's leading citizens bowed to the new regime, but as time went by they began to re-assert themselves, and their natural Canaanite priorities, as before.

Their ability to read and write was a ready-made asset for David's new administration, but it was their language that became the norm for all, known to us now, as 'ancient Hebrew';

It was their civil administration and their civil servants who organized David's growing empire; it was their imperial guard, under Benaiah, which became David's private army, in addition to Joab's Israelite troops; it was their court prophet, Nathan, who became David's chief adviser; and it was their chief Priest, Zadok, who kept his position too, alongside Abiathar, the descendant of YHWH's priest ,Eli of Shiloh. It may easily be imagined that Abiathar was considered to be a country-bumkin!

When David conceived the idea to build a grand Temple in Jerusalem that would outshine anything already there, Nathan diverted David's attention to the more urgent need of Jerusalem, once again to establish stability for the sake of commerce, and the new 'Davidic Covenant' was agreed in the name of YHWH, that David's successors would become the unquestioned kings of the future in Jerusalem. (This was the beginning of all the Messianic theologies of future centuries!). The new Temple could wait until greater Jerusalem-influence could be brought to bear on its development.

David was well-established as an autocratic, authoritarian, priest-king, ('after the order of Melchi-sedech'), ie Canaanite style, very differently from the concept of monarchy set up by Saul, over the Israelite Tribal Confederacy. This would lead to great tension eventually.

WRITING The language and the writing of the educated elite of Jerusalem became the means of developing the continuing history of the Empire of David from now on, but a big question hung over Israel's oral history in story-form! Would it survive? Or would it be considered of such little importance that no-one would bother to conserve it?

More immediately, Jerusalem's scribes busily recorded the events concerning themselves in the new regime, and the so-called 'Court Chronicle', or Succession Saga, describes the plot which led to Solomon, the son of a Jerusalem-mother, and Jerusalem-born, being anointed as David's successor as King of Jerusalem, - just before David died, but by his decree! It is so vividly written that most scholars accept it as a contemporary record, and therefore it is worthy of great note. It is a good story too, and can be found in the OT, in 2 Sam 12 - 20, and 1 Kgs 1 - 3, as part of the prophetic, Deuteronomic history books. These editors were good administrators of historical facts, even when they found much to criticize, as in the Book of Judges. By contrast, the priestly histories, in 1 & 2 Chronicles, omit this document completely, as it did nothing to enhance David's reputation.

THE COURT STORY The story begins with David remaining in Jerusalem when Joab led the fighting forces out on the campaign against the Ammonites. David spotted the beautiful wife of the respected soldier, Uriah, and seduced her. When she announced she was pregnant, David tried to cover his embarrassment by bringing her husband back from the war. His plan failed, and he enlisted loyal Joab's help to ensure that Uriah died in the next battle.

David married Uriah's widow, but when there was gossip in Jerusalem he was severely criticized by a very brave Nathan, who told David a parable that demanded judgment, and David found he had condemned himself! Eventually the baby died, but Bathsheba's next son was Solomon. Solomon, the 10^th son of David, grew up in Jerusalem, 'their' prince.

David was obviously an over-indulgent father to his sons, and couldn't bear to say 'No' to any of them. Consequently he did not designate one of them to be his heir. They grew up in rich and idle luxury, - too much leisure, and too much money for healthy development, while they each wondered who would be the next king.

Soon the eldest, Amnon, fell in love with his half-sister, Tamar, and found the opportunity to rape her. When he discarded her she turned to her brother, Absalom, in her disgrace.

Absalom waited his opportunity for revenge, and Amnon was murdered at a party. Absalom then had to flee the country to escape justice, leaving David in mourning for two of his sons. After several years Joab was instrumental in winning a partial pardon for Absalom who was allowed back to Jerusalem, though not back to his privileged place in the palace.

By the time Absalom was tired of this arrangement, he tried to make Joab speak for him again to David. When Joab ignored the young prince, Absalom organized the burning of Joab's field of barley, and forced Joab to do his bidding. Absalom returned to the palace!

Soon Absalom took the initiative again, and began to persuade people all over the country that he would be a more efficient ruler than his age-ing father, king David. After four years of preparations, he raised the standard of revolt at Hebron, and was so successful, with his youth and handsome good looks to recommend him, that he was very nearly successful in seizing the kingdom.

David, with only a few faithful friends and his own personal bodyguard, was forced to leave Jerusalem and flee for his life. Absalom entered Jerusalem in triumph. Then he took the advice of Hushai, (David's secret agent), instead of Ahitophel, (traitor to David), and eventually decided to lead the pursuit of David himself. Ahitophel committed suicide.

By this time David was safely across the Jordan, and Joab took control. David was persuaded to keep out of the way, and Joab seized the opportunity to kill Absalom when opportunity presented itself, (Absalom was caught suspended in the branches of an oak tree), even though David had plaintively pleaded with them to 'deal gently with the boy'.

David went into such deep melancholy over his death, that Joab had to remind him very forcefully that his soldiers had won a victory, enabling David to go home!

David returned to his throne in Jerusalem, but had to woo the Israelites again, reminding them of their freedom from fear of the Philistines. Gradually they grovelled back and received mercy, even Amasa, Absalom's army commander, but the tensions were still there.

The next rebellion was much more serious, because it reflected growing discontent among the Israelites. Sheba, a Benjaminite, tried to persuade them to secede altogether from David's kingdom, - 'to your tents, O Israel' was the ominous battle cry. Amasa proved unreliable, so was killed first, before Joab set off after Sheba, now with the undivided support of his men. At the town of Abel, the wise woman saved her hometown from Joab's attack by delivering Sheba's head to him, so Joab could return to David with no more trouble in sight.

Here the new list of David's ministers includes 'Adoram, over the forced labour', - a sign that all was not quite as good as it had been in earlier years.

When David eventually lay dying in the palace in Jerusalem, his next oldest son, Adonijah, consulted with both Joab and Abiathar, who supported his claim to the throne. While they were out of the city, however, the Jerusalem plotters took the initiative. They, Bathsheba, Nathan and Zadok, persuaded David to pronounce Solomon as his heir, and he was anointed without delay, becoming King even before his father's death.

King Solomon quickly took strong control. He took the earliest opportunity to have Adonijah, and then Joab, murdered by Benaiah at the Tent of YHWH, as well as Shimei, in revenge for his behaviour during Absalom's rebellion. Only Abiathar, the old priest of YHWH remained, but he was exiled to Anathoth for the rest of his life. From now on, Bathsheba was the honoured Queen Mother, Benaiah, the commander of the whole army, and Zadok, the undisputed Chief Priest of Jerusalem. The coup d' etat was complete!