David asked God if he would be
the one to build the promised
temple. God said, "You are a
man of blood, but your son will
be called upon to build the
temple." And Solomon did.

It was one of the seven wonders
of the ancient world. Solomon's
temple and the nation of Israel
was so magnificent that the
world began to envy what was
happening in Jerusalem.

The queen of Sheba came to see
for herself Solomon's leader-
ship and was impressed.

Saul became Israel's first king.
He did that which was evil in
God's sight. So Israel became
infected with evil.

David succeeded Saul. His king-
dom was the time of Israel's
greatest glory. It conquered
the nations around them and it
stood great in the Middle East.

Israel became a nation with
the 12 tribes , which were the
12 sons of Jacob, whose name was
changed to Israel by God. So
Israel became a nation with his
12 sons (tribes).

God ordained judges to govern
them. Israel was obedient to God
and it progressed as a nation.

But then they demanded to be
like other nations and have a
king. God didn't want it but
allowed it. He warned that their
king would take away many of the
things that they held dear.

The trouble that the nation
of Israel and Jerusalem has
had really began when
Ishmael was born.

Isaac, who was born to Sarah
was the child God promised.
Ishmael was the child of the
flesh.

And there has been wounding
between them from then until
now. Down through history it,
the nation (and city) has
been contantly troubled.

Abraham and Sarah didn't have
children when God told him that
He would make him a great nation.

Sarah suggested that Abraham and
her handmaiden Hagar have a child
for her, they named him Ishmael.

Ishmael was not well loved by the
family. After Isaac was born,
Ishmael and Hagar were cast out
of their home.

God took compassion on them, and
promised Hagar that Ishmael would
be a great nation also.