The Divided Kingdom

The Divided Kingdom

Q: Just as God told Solomon, after Solomon’s death, his kingdom was divided into two separate kingdoms. They were called

• a. the Eastern Kingdom and the Western Kingdom.
• b. Israel and Judah.
• c. Jerusalem and Babylon.

Solomon’s many foreign wives turned his heart from God (see yesterday’s devotion). Solomon not only allowed their idol worship, but he also took part in it. Because of this, God said the kingdom would be taken from Solomon’s son. The kingdom divided a few years after Solomon’s death.

Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, became king after him. The people asked Rehoboam to lighten the load Solomon had put on them and lower their taxes. Rehoboam asked some older, wise counselors who had served Solomon what to do. They told him to do as the people asked. If he did this, the people would be loyal to him. Rehoboam asked some younger counselors the same question. They told him to be tough on the people and to increase their burdens. So that’s what Rehoboam chose to do.

The 10 northern tribes revolted and formed their own kingdom. They became known as Israel (or the northern kingdom). Jeroboam, one of King Solomon’s officials, became their king. The two southern tribes that stayed loyal to Rehoboam became known as Judah (or the southern kingdom).

If Rehoboam had listened to the wise counsel of his father’s advisers instead of the young men he’d grown up with, things might have turned out differently.

For You

People gain experience as they live, as they encounter problems and solve them. The advisers who had served Solomon had more experience and wisdom than the younger counselors. But Rehoboam chose to listen to the younger ones because they told him what he wanted to hear. Listen to the advice of trusted adults when you need to make a decision. They are speaking to you with wisdom gained by experience.

Answer: b

Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah. . . . When the people of Israel learned of Jeroboam’s return from Egypt, they called an assembly and made him king over all Israel.   1 Kings 12:17, 20

(The Whole Story: 1 Kings 12:1-20)