Mujahid_X wrote:Yes, thats the Mackabee era. No one contests this. But that's not mythical ancient Israel from the bible that's discussed here.
The Bible narrates hundreds of years of history, some of it more reliable than others. Yes, David and Solomon are the most memorable monarchs discussed but remember, the Deuteronomic History and Chronicles, as well as prophetic books like Jeremiah, Proto-Isaiah, etc, discuss many many Israelite Kings. Some of whom may be mythical, it is hard to tell. Some of which are very much historical. For example, the historicity of King Hezekiah of Judah is not in doubt, as he is attested to by name both biblicaly and extra-biblicaly.
The existence of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah from the 9th-8th century BC onward are basically historical consensus. David and Solomon may very well be composite characters, or fictitious, it is difficult to say. What is not in any serious historical doubt is the existence of the "Davidic" dynasty in Judah, or the Omride or Jehu dynasties in Israel. These are historical figures attested to in non-Israelite primary sources as well as archaeological evidence.
Are you seriously stating that the Kingdom of Israel (destroyed by Assyria in 722 BCE) and the Kingdom of Judah (destroyed by Babylonia between 597 and 582 BCE) are fictitious? Because if that is your assertion, there is nothing further to discuss.