Time: 6. Kingdom Divided
Span" 200 years
Books: 2Kings, 2Chronicles, Isaiah, Amos, Jonah, Hosea, Micah
Figures: Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah
Begins with: Rebellion of the ten tribes
Ascendant empire: Assyria
Time: 6. Kingdom Divided
Span" 200 years
Books: 2Kings, 2Chronicles, Isaiah, Amos, Jonah, Hosea, Micah
Figures: Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah
Begins with: Rebellion of the ten tribes
Ascendant empire: Assyria
In consequence of Solomon’s sin, the kingdom became divided into two, Solomon's house retaining the smaller kingdom. In this story, we can see three things divided...
Behind this story is the fact that, no matter how strong our faith might be, we can, like Solomon, let it slip by not paying sufficient attention to God's word daily.
The most pointed statement about Solomon is this: "His heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God as the heart of David his father had been" (1Kg 11:4). In other words, Solomon’s heart was divided.
A partial devotion to God is useless. A wholehearted devotion to God is necessary. We cannot divide our loyalties between God and other gods or other things.
We find God saying to Solomon, "I will tear the kingdom away from you" (1Kg 11:9-11).
While Benjamin clung to Judah, the other ten tribes were rebellious. When Solomon died, they rejected Solomon's son Rehoboam as king, and made Solomon's servant Jeroboam their king instead.
They rejected Jerusalem the holy city, and made their capital Samaria to the north. So there was a division into two kingdoms.
The tribes of Judah and Benjamin became known collectively as Judah, while the ten surrounding tribes retained the name Israel. Each kingdom had its own succession of kings, many of whom were evil, Israel's being the worst.
The Bible says, "Behold the goodness and severity of God —on those who fell severity, but to you kindness, if you continue in his kindness, otherwise you also will be cut off" (Rom 11:22). God has always been a God of both grace and wrath. This will one day result in the whole world being divided into "sheep and goats" (Mtt 25:31-46).
The story of Solomon begins very well. He began to reign with humility and dedication.
In Gibeon, God appeared to him in a dream, and invited Solomon to ask for anything he wanted. Solomon pleased God with his reply: "Give me wisdom to rule your people well."
God gave him great wisdom, as well as many blessings he had not asked: "riches and honour, so there will not be any among the kings like you all your days, if you walk in my ways, keeping my commandments and laws" (1Kg 3:3-15). God later appeared to Solomon a second time.
Toward the end of his reign however, Solomon's lovely relationship with God had become sadly reversed: "Now the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice."