The Best Kings were those who were also Prophets

Jews often feel that they were blessed because they had more Prophets than they had Kings. There were 42 kings and one queen who ruled over Israel (19); and Judah (20); and 3 who ruled over the unified kingdom (Saul, David and Solomon). The Rabbis taught that 48 named male prophets and seven named female prophets prophesied in Israel. Who were the seven female prophets? Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Hulda, and Esther. Esther was a messenger Prophet because Esther also wrote the Biblical Book of Esther.

The Israelites demanded a king to lead them into battle against their enemies; and Prophet Samuel who opposed having any king, gave in when God announced that Saul- Talut was the new king of Israel.

After King Saul’s death in battle, Prophet Samuel at God’s word, made David King. King David was also a prophet, a poet and a musician. He himself wrote or inspired more than half of the 150 hymns in the Book of Psalms-Zabur. These ancient prayers and poems are still sung and prayed by Jews and Christians throughout the whole world.

Prophet David’s son Prophet Solomon, who built the Jerusalem Temple, wrote much of the wisdom texts in the Hebrew Bible. Prophet Solomon’s most famous book was called Ecclesiastes in Greek, and its wisest wisdom is found in chapter 3:1-8 and. 3:11-13

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace!

3:11  He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good (works) while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their work; this is a gift of God.

By God’s design Prophet Abraham’s biological descendants through Isaac and Jacob became the first ongoing monotheistic community to last to this very day. “And remember Our servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – those of strength and [religious] vision. Indeed, We chose them for an exclusive quality: remembrance of the home [the “safe haven” Land of Israel]. And indeed they are to Us among the chosen and outstanding.” (Qur’an 38:45-7)

“And We certainty settled the Children of Israel in an agreeable settlement [the Land of Israel] and provided them with good things. And they did not differ until [after Torah] knowledge had come to them. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ. So if you [ Muhammad] are in doubt, about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.(Qur’an 10:93-4)

Qur’an 5:20-21 states: “Moses said to his people: O, my people, remember the favor of Allah upon you when he appointed among you prophets and made you possessors [of the Land of Israel] and gave you what he had not given anyone among the worlds. O my people, enter the holy land which Allah has assigned to you.”