The Kingdom Divided: Israel Splits in Two
After Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam's harsh response to the people's petition causes ten tribes to rebel, splitting Israel into two kingdoms that would never reunite.
1 Kings 12:1-24
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The Story
Solomon's glory came at a price—heavy taxation and forced labor that burdened the people. When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam journeyed to Shechem, where all Israel gathered to make him king. Jeroboam, Solomon's former servant who had fled to Egypt after a prophet promised him ten tribes, returned to lead the delegation. Their petition was reasonable: 'Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.' Rehoboam requested three days to consider. He first consulted the old men who had advised Solomon. Their counsel was wise: 'If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.' Servant leadership would secure the kingdom. But Rehoboam forsook this wisdom and turned to the young men who had grown up with him, companions of privilege who knew nothing of the people's burdens. Their counsel dripped with arrogance: 'Thus shalt thou speak unto this people... My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.' When Rehoboam delivered this harsh answer, the northern tribes rebelled: 'What portion have we in David?' They made Jeroboam their king over Israel, leaving only Judah and Benjamin loyal to David's house. Rehoboam assembled 180,000 warriors to restore the kingdom by force, but God sent Shemaiah the prophet: 'Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren... for this thing is from me.' The division fulfilled God's word to Solomon: because of his idolatry, the kingdom would be torn from his son. Thus began a tragic chapter—two kingdoms where God intended one, a division that would last until both fell to foreign conquerors, Israel to Assyria, Judah to Babylon.
One Kingdom Becomes Two
Kids Version
When King Solomon died, his son Rehoboam was supposed to become the next king. But first, all the people came to meet him in a city called Shechem. They had something important to ask him. A man named Jeroboam spoke for all the people: 'Your father, King Solomon, made us work very hard. He made us pay a lot of taxes and forced us to do hard jobs building his cities and palaces. If you promise to be kinder and not make life so hard for us, we will gladly serve you as our king.' This seemed like a fair request! Rehoboam said, 'Give me three days to think about it.' First, he asked the wise old men who had helped his father Solomon. They said, 'This is your chance to be a good king! If you're kind to the people and treat them well, they'll love you and serve you forever. Make their lives easier!' That was great advice! But Rehoboam didn't like it. So he asked his friends, the young men he grew up with. They had never done hard work in their lives, and they didn't care about regular people. They said, 'Don't be weak! Tell them you're going to be even tougher than your father! Tell them, "My father was hard on you, but I'm going to be much worse! My father punished you with whips, but I'll punish you with scorpions!"' Rehoboam thought that sounded strong and powerful. When the people came back three days later, Rehoboam gave them the mean answer. The people were shocked and angry! Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel said, 'If that's how you're going to treat us, we won't follow you! We'll get our own king!' They chose Jeroboam to be their king instead. Only two tribes stayed with Rehoboam. The kingdom of Israel split into two kingdoms that day—Israel in the north and Judah in the south. They never joined back together again. All because of one foolish, prideful decision!
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Scripture — 1 Kings 12:1-24 (KJV)
1And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
2And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
3That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
4Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
5And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
6And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
7And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
8But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
9And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
10And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
11And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
13And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; roughly: Heb. hardly
14And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
15Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
17But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. made: Heb. strengthened himself
19So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. rebelled: or, fell away
20And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
21And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors , to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
22But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
23Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
24Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
Memory Verse
“And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.”
— 1 Kings 12:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Kingdom Divided: Israel Splits in Two” in the Bible?
After Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam's harsh response to the people's petition causes ten tribes to rebel, splitting Israel into two kingdoms that would never reunite. This story is found in 1 Kings 12:1-24.
Where is “The Kingdom Divided: Israel Splits in Two” found in the Bible?
“The Kingdom Divided: Israel Splits in Two” is found in 1 Kings 12:1-24, in the book of 1 Kings.
What can children learn from “The Kingdom Divided: Israel Splits in Two”?
This story teaches children about Consequences of foolish counsel, Fulfillment of prophecy, Pride and oppression, Division and civil strife. When Solomon's son became king and was mean to the people, the kingdom of Israel split into two parts that never came back together.