Kingdom of David

Chronicling the story of how a small band of tribes united to become the kingdom of Israel--home of a people whose religious and social practices continue to influence Western society today--Kingdom of David is another excellent entry in the PBS-aired Empires series. Divided into four 55-minute episodes, the epic saga opens with an historical overview covering the emergence of the world's longest-standing monotheistic religion, from the time of the patriarch Abraham through the reign of the poet-king David to the overthrow of King Zedekiah (about 580 B.C.) that sparked the Babylonian captivity. Part two continues with the Israelites' trials and tribulations--including the destruction of Solomon's temple and the emergence of the first religious martyrs--as well as their struggle to keep the culture alive by recording their history. Years later, the prophet Ezra came to Jerusalem and used the old historical writings to compile the first edition of the Bible from the first five books of Moses, which was then read aloud to the people, restoring the ancient law and establishing the Torah as a central part of Jewish life. Parts three and four continue with life under Roman rule and the birth of Christianity, closing with a look at the major effects that Jewish history, culture, and ideology have had on Western civilization. Combining reenactments, artwork, on-location photography, and scholarly interviews, Kingdom of David does a fine job of putting the Bible in a social and historical context. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (L. Stevens)