Which Hebrew leader unified the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah?

Answer 1

One Answer

Israel and Judah were unified by King David. Saul did not rule over all Israel. This was prophesied:-

2Sa 3:10 [CEV] God said that he wouldn't let anyone in Saul's family ever be king again and that David would be king instead. He also said that David would rule both Israel and Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.

The House of Judah followed David:-

2Sa 2:10 Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

After 7 years so did the House of Israel:-

1Ki 2:11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron [ie capital of house of Judah, which was only part of Israel] and thirty and threeyears reigned he in Jerusalem [ie capital of both house of Israel and of all Israel]

He ruled over all of Israel:-

1Ch 18:14 So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.

Answer 2

The respected Israeli archaeologist, Israel Finkelstein, says that Israel and Judah were never unified. They were always separate, with their own culture, identifiable pottery and even their own dialect of the Hebrew language. It is only in biblical tradition that one sees the two kingdoms as once unified under King David, but later separated.

Answer 3

Saul ruled over all the Israelite tribes, unifying them, but his reign did not last. After his death, there was a period of disunity, with Saul's son ruling Israel, and David ruling Judah. Then David became king over all the tribes, as had been the case with Saul (1 Samuel 11:15, 14:47). See also the Related Links:

Link: More about King David

Link: Is the Hebrew Bible accurate?

Answer 4

King David (since after Saul's death, only the region of Judah was loyal to him at first, until he united all the tribes under his rule).Before David, Saul had also ruled over the unified tribes, though they had never previously been separate kingdoms.

See also:

List of Kings

More about David

Choosing the first king

Answer 5

King David was the first to unite the Hebrews. Today, the Arab nations are doing a good job of that.

Answer 6

David