King David established his infant kingdom by ruling the land through the unified tribes of Israel. The tribes ruled from 'cities', but we are better to see them as small fortified towns in prominent positions [1]. Should a threat come, the Israelites from the surrounding countryside could come and take refuge, whilst a force could be mobilized to tackle the threat. Before the united kingdom, some cities were still in control by Canaanites, and they complained to the Pharaoh of Egypt in the Armana letter, EA 148, about the 'Habiru', the Hebrews. However in the united kingdom, Solomon has control of the cities thanks to his father, King David. He enlists the help of the King of Tyre to help build the temple and his palace. Solomon's fame spreads as he fortifies the cities through conscripted labour of captive Canaanite slaves. Through an alliance with an another Pharaoh of Egypt, king Solomon gains control of the city of Gezer. 

 

We know that the unified kingdom was short lived; Solomon is seen to put his trust in Man rather than God. The heavy tax burden to pay for the massive building projects caused a rift that Jeroboam I would exploit. Jeroboam I  returned from Egypt to rule after Solomon's death by tearing away 10 tribes to make a northern kingdom (which retained the name Israel) . Jeroboam I did more evil than all who lived before - he made two golden calves that he set up in Bethel and Dan. He said that these idols brought them out of Egypt (similar to the idol that was set up during the Exodus). This became a sin as the people worshiped them. At the same time Jeroboam was king of Israel, Rehoboam I was king of Judah - in his time Judah sinned by reverting back to the detestable practices of the Cannanites. In the 5th year of Rehoboam I's reign, Pharaoh Shishak (Shoshenq I) attacked Jerusalem and ransacked the temple.

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The writing was already on wall when king Solomon completed the temple.