Page 238 - History of The Quranic Text | Kalamullah.Com

218 THE HISTORY OF THE QUR'ANIC TEXT

the books ascribed to Moses were in fact written several hundred years later.
Only a short while afterwards Moses passed away, as had most of the
generation that fled across the sea four decades earlier. With Joshua in-
heriting leadership, he resumed the march towards Canaan and led them
across the Jordan River to victories overJericho and other towns."

The Time if the]udges - the Arkfalls into enemy hands (c. 1200-1020 s.c.)
The elders of Israel decreed that the Ark should be removed from the
35
temple of Shiloh, to lead the Israelite army in its assault on the Philistines.
But the Ark fell into enemy hands, and soon most of the Israelite cities,
including the temple of Shiloh, were reduced to ruins."

2. Jewish History AfterEstablishing the Kingdom

Saul's reign (c. 1020-1000 B.c.)
Given that the Israelites' hierocratic government had proved ineffectual
in resisting the Philistines, the prophet Samuel assisted in establishing a
hereditary monarchy. Saul became its first beneficiary, ascending to the
throne despite Samuel's possible misgivings."?

David's reign (c. 1000-962 B.C.)
Though expelled from Saul's court David had always demonstrated re-
markable qualities of leadership, and when Saul fell at Gilboa he declared
himself King. 38
Bathsheba's story is worth recounting: David once spied an exquisite
woman bathing in the moonlight. After inquiry he learned her to be Bath-
sheba, wife of Uriah, a Hittite officer on active service at the front. David
discreetly sent for her and made love to her, through which she became
pregnant. To avoid an impending scandal he recalled her husband from
the front at Bathsheba's request, that he might go to his wife. But as Uriah
spent his leave with friends instead of going to her, David plotted to have

34 James Hastings, D.D., Dictionary of the Bible (Second Edition), T.& T.Clark, Edinburgh,
1963, p. 433. Cited thereafter as Dictionary qf the Bible.
35 According to Deuteronomy 10:1-5, the Ark contained the second pair of stone
tablets on which God had again chiselled the Ten Commandments - "It has been
suggested that the original Ark was a box containing sacred stones in which the Deity
was conceived to dwell." [Dictionary qf the Bible, p. 53].
36 Dictionary qf the Bible, p. 434.
37 ibid, p. 434.
38 2 Samuels 2:4.