By Mark D. Zimmerman
MELVILLE, New York — An estimated 7 million people attended No Kings rallies across America and in many foreign countries. Attendees protested Donald Trump’s actions which are seen by many as counter to democracy.
In calling for the strengthening of democratic rule, protestors pointed out such actions by Trump as court cases against Trump’s opponents, forcing corporations and universities to kowtow to his demands under threat of litigation, propelling his anti-immigrant stance through illegal arrests and deportations, and accusing members of the free press of being enemies of the American people.
While there was not a No Kings rally in Israel, the Jewish people have a mixed history with kingship. For example, in 1264, King Boleslaw of Poland issued the Statute of Kalisz, granting Jews personal freedom, legal autonomy, and protections against forced baptism and blood libel. In the 14th century, King Pedro I of Spain had so many Jewish advisors that his enemies referred to the “Jewish court.” But most European monarchs were not friends to the Jews, with such people as King Edward I of England, King Philip IV of France, and King Ferdinand II (and Queen Isabella I) of Spain all expelling Jews from their lands and/or forcing conversions.
The Jewish people themselves have a history of kingship, starting with King Saul, followed by King David, and then by his son King Solomon. After Solomon’s reign, the Jewish kingdom split into two–Israel and Judah, and each was led by a succession of kings, practically none of whom were considered good leaders of the Jewish people. For example, King Jeroboam of the Kingdom of Israel forced the people to participate in idolatrous practices, King Ahab of Israel built a temple for Baal, and Kings Zimri, Jehu, Shallum, Menahem, Pekah and many more became kings by assassinating their predecessors.
What was Athaliah, whose reign followed the assassination of King Ahaziah in the Kingdom of Judah, known for?
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A. It says in II Chronicles that King Ahaziah followed the bad practices of King Ahab because Athaliah “counseled him to do evil.”
B. Athalia established a Baalist cult in the Kingdom of Judah.
C. Athaliah seized the throne upon King Ahaziah’s assassination by murdering all the rivals to the throne.
D. Athaliah attempted to assassinate all of the line of King David, but did not know that one descendant, Joash, was saved and hidden at that time, and he then became king at age 7 upon Athaliah’s assassination.
E. Athalia was not actually a king of Judah, but rather she was female and was the only queen to ever reign over the combined kingdom or Israel or Judah.
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Link to answer: https://rrrjewishtrivia.com/no-kings-kings-of-israel-answer.html
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Mark D. Zimmerman is an author and freelance writer based in Melville, New York.