Topical Bible: Land: King's Part In

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In the biblical context, the role of the king in relation to the land is multifaceted, encompassing governance, stewardship, and the administration of justice. The king's involvement with the land is deeply rooted in the covenantal relationship between God, the people of Israel, and their leaders.

Divine Mandate and Stewardship

The king's authority over the land is seen as a divine mandate. In Deuteronomy 17:14-20, God provides specific instructions for the king, emphasizing that he must not acquire excessive wealth or horses, nor should he lead the people back to Egypt. The king is to write for himself a copy of the law, ensuring that he rules in accordance with God's commandments. This underscores the king's role as a steward of the land, accountable to God for his actions and decisions.

Allocation and Administration

The king's part in the land also involves the allocation and administration of territories. In 1 Samuel 8:10-18, the prophet Samuel warns the Israelites about the implications of having a king, including the king's right to take the best of their fields, vineyards, and olive groves for his officials. This passage highlights the king's authority to redistribute land, which could be used to reward loyalty or consolidate power.

Judicial Role

The king serves as the highest judicial authority in the land, responsible for ensuring justice and righteousness. In 1 Kings 3:16-28, Solomon's wisdom in adjudicating the case of the two women claiming the same child demonstrates the king's role in resolving disputes and maintaining order. The king's decisions have a direct impact on the land and its people, reflecting his duty to uphold God's justice.

Economic Influence

The king's influence on the land extends to economic matters. In 1 Kings 4:7, Solomon divides the land into twelve districts, each responsible for providing provisions for the king's household. This system of taxation and resource management illustrates the king's role in sustaining the economic stability of the kingdom. The prosperity of the land is often seen as a reflection of the king's wisdom and adherence to God's laws.

Prophetic Accountability

Prophets often held kings accountable for their treatment of the land and its people. In 1 Kings 21, the account of Naboth's vineyard illustrates the abuse of royal power when King Ahab, influenced by Queen Jezebel, unlawfully seizes Naboth's land. The prophet Elijah confronts Ahab, declaring God's judgment for this injustice. This narrative underscores the expectation that kings should protect the rights of their subjects and respect the divine order concerning the land.

Symbol of National Identity

The land under the king's rule is not only a physical territory but also a symbol of national identity and divine promise. The king's relationship with the land is intertwined with the covenantal promises made to the patriarchs, as seen in 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God promises healing and restoration of the land if the people humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways. The king, as the leader of the nation, plays a crucial role in guiding the people towards faithfulness to God, which in turn affects the land's prosperity and peace.

In summary, the king's part in the land is a complex interplay of divine stewardship, governance, justice, and economic management, all under the overarching framework of God's covenant with Israel. The king's actions and policies concerning the land have profound implications for the spiritual and material well-being of the nation.

Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 48:21
And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the middle thereof.
Nave's Topical Index

Greek

937. basilikos -- royal
... royal. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: basilikos Phonetic Spelling:
(bas-il ... king's, nobleman, royal ... to (or befitting) the sovereign (as land, dress, or ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/937.htm - 7k

Library

The King's Courts
... had imported from Rome, where he had spent part of his ... Reasons of state forbade the
king from going in person to ... He knew that the land was filled with the fame ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/x the kings courts.htm

The King's Herald.
... old time, to prepare themselves to take part in the ... long-promised and long-expected
Saviour and King, was nigh ... news of the Kingdom has spread from land to land ...
/.../burbidge/the kingdom of heaven what is it/chapter i the kings herald.htm

The Buildings of More Eminent Note in Sion.
... into Pompey's hands, "he encamped on the north part of the ... the Upper City, he pitched
against the king's court." And ... But now, when the land of Judah was on the ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 23 the buildings of.htm

A Sight of Judea
... was the Philistines', which takes up the western part. ... of Judea, which is also called
"The king's mount." To the ... The land of Benjamin, in like manner, which is ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 9 a sight of.htm

Jehoiada and Joash
... And Athaliah did reign over the land.4. And the seventh year ... house of the Lord, and
shewed them the king's son.5 ... the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/jehoiada and joash.htm

The Four Captive Children.
... Israel had also been scattered, the whole land lay desolate ... was a great image standing
before the king, and shining ... were of iron, and the feet were part of iron ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxxi the four captive.htm

On the Holy Ghost and his Descent Upon the Apostles
... The king gave them good land (Gen.47), and they lived there in ... When Moses grew up
he was an officer in the king's army; but because he took the part of his ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 9 on the holy.htm

Group --The Two Sons, the Wicked Husbandmen, and the Marriage of ...
... husbandmen, and the marriage of the king's son, connected ... multitude, which, if for
the most part neither intelligent ... its impress deep on the whole land, was a ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/groupthe two sons the wicked.htm

The Life of Mr. Robert Bruce.
... it, because he wanted not the material part of ordination ... fear and respect even from
the greatest in the land. Even king James himself and his court had such ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr robert 3.htm

Esther, the Queen.
... of Hegai, who had the care of that part of the ... there was joy among the Jews all over
the land. ... Haman, and destroyed their enemies by the king's permission, so ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxxiv esther the queen.htm