An interesting note about the Israelite kings is that they shared the same agrarian mindset as their earlier ancestors. The Book of Proverbs was written by Israel's greatest king, Solomon, and the book is written by a man who is intimately familiar with farm life. Solomon--the king, landowner, and farmer--is exhorting his son, who is clearly a farmer as well. "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine" (Proverbs 3:9-10).
The book also highly recommends a life of self-government, which is somewhat surprising when you consider that it was written by a king: "Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider her ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest" (Proverbs 6:6-7).
Even Proverbs 31, which is a description of a virtuous woman, describes a landlady who manages multiple farms. In fact, this particular woman was the mother of the king: "She considers a field and buys it; out of her earning she plants a vineyard" (Proverbs 31:16).
The later kings of Israel continue to show an interest in agrarian endeavors, which includes the importance of the private property rights of their subjects. The story of Naboth's vineyard in I Kings 21 illustrates a problem that would be unique in the ancient world: a king who is frustrated by his inability to take eminent domain. King Ahab desired the vineyard of a farmer named Naboth, but when he offers Naboth a large sum of money for his vineyard, he refuses to sell his family's inheritance (Leviticus 25). Ahab whines and pouts so much about this refusal that his scheming wife Jezebel has Naboth killed so that Ahab can take over his property. Most tyrants of Egypt or Babylon would just take the land anyway, without even bothering to ask for it; but in Israel, Naboth had the legal right to say no, even to the king.
The history of the Hebrews illustrates the respect they had towards farming, land, and an individual's right to hold private property. Their law created a culture where productive land, privately-held by self-governing landowners, was the key to individual liberty and freedom from oppression. This tradition continues to all those who read and followed the Old Testament; through Medieval Europe down to the Puritans who came to America.
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And not just the followers of the God of the Hebrews. The Greeks were champions of the pastoral ideal as well. Seems that the Garden of Eden is imprinted in the hearts of all men!
Oh yes, I'm getting to the Greeks next.
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