The division of the united kingdom of Israel into two separate entities, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, is a pivotal event in biblical history. This division occurred during the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, around 930 B.C. The split had profound religious, political, and social implications for the people of God.

Background and Causes

The seeds of division were sown during the reign of King Solomon. Although Solomon was renowned for his wisdom and the prosperity of his kingdom, his later years were marked by heavy taxation and forced labor to support his extensive building projects, including the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 5:13-18). Additionally, Solomon's marriages to foreign women led him to idolatry, as he built high places for their gods, provoking the LORD to anger (1 Kings 11:1-8).

The LORD's response to Solomon's apostasy was to raise adversaries against him and to declare that the kingdom would be torn from his son, though not entirely for the sake of David, Solomon's father (1 Kings 11:9-13). This divine judgment set the stage for the eventual division.

The Division Under Rehoboam

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