<P> Eventually, according to the Book of Samuel, David launches a counter-attack, and wins, although with the loss of Absalom . After having retaken Judah, as well as asserted control over Israel, David returns to the west of the Jordan, although he continues to suffer a number of rebellions by Israel, successfully suppressing each one . </P> <P> According to the biblical account, it was David who, following a civil war with Saul, created a strong and unified Israelite monarchy, reigning c. 1000--961 BCE . Solomon, David's successor, maintained the unified monarchy, c. 961--922 . </P> <P> David, the Second King of Israel, established Jerusalem as its national capital in 1006 BCE . Before then, Hebron had been the capital of David's Judah and Mahanaim of Ish - baal's Israel, and before that Gibeah had been the capital of the United Monarchy under Saul . Earlier parts of the Bible indicate that Shiloh had been seen as the national capital; which, from an archaeological standpoint, is considered plausible, as far as it being the religious capital . </P> <P> In the biblical account, David finally succeeds in truly unifying Judah and Israel . Some modern archaeologists believe there was a continued and uninterrupted existence of two distinct cultures and geographic entities, one being Judah, the other Israel, and if there was a political union it possibly had no practical effect on the relationship between the two nations . </P>

Reason for the division of the kingdom of israel