The Kingdom Divided

GOLDEN TEXT: “If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” —Mark 3:24,25

I KINGS 12:12-20

UPON the death of Solomon his son Rehoboam ascended the throne. The greatness of Solomon, and his vast riches and personal glory are emphasized. Indeed, even Jesus spoke of “Solomon in all his glory.” (Matt. 6:29) The record indicates, however, that he was rather a severe taskmaster, that throughout his reign, and in order to maintain his glory and riches, burdensome taxes were imposed upon the people.

Now that a new king had come to the throne, he was presented with a petition, which read, “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.”—I Kings 12:4

King Rehoboam then consulted with what we might refer to today as the “elder statesmen” of the nation, those who had served faithfully during his father’s administration, and asked their advice as to what to do in the face of the people’s demand. They said to Rehoboam, “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 forever.”—I Kings 12:7

Rehoboam rejected this advice, and sought the counsel of the “young men that were grown up with him.” (vss. 8,9) These young men advised Rehoboam just to the contrary of what the elderly men had urged. Instead of yielding to the demands of the people, they told Rehoboam to threaten them with increased burdens, which he did. Then ten of the tribes rebelled against his rulership, Rehoboam being able to retain control only over Judah and the small tribe of Benjamin.

Jeroboam, who had served in the government under Solomon, but had fled to Egypt, now had returned, and the people of the ten tribes made him their king. He was an idolater, and led the people into the worship of false gods, setting up a “high place” for worship at Bethel to keep his subjects from going up to Jerusalem to worship Jehovah.

After the rebellion, Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem and from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin assembled a sizable army with the view of attacking Jeroboam and re-capturing control of all Israel. But the Lord instructed him otherwise. He said to Rehoboam, “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”—I Kings 12:24

Thereafter the ten-tribe kingdom was known as Israel, and the two-tribe kingdom as Judah. They were never again united. After the reign of a long line of wicked, idolatrous kings, the ten-tribe kingdom was overthrown and the people taken captive into Assyria. Somewhat later Judah, the two-tribe kingdom, was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, and the people taken captive to Babylon. A number of Judah’s kings, however, were faithful to the Lord.

The Lord said concerning this division, “This thing is from me” He had foretold that he would rend the kingdom from Solomon’s son. Undoubtedly, also, there were important lessons which the Lord wanted his people to learn from this experience. While the two segments of the nation remained divided until both were destroyed, the Lord assures us that in the age of Christ’s kingdom, when Jesus will be reigning as the antitypical David, they will again become one people. Concerning this we read:

“Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king [Christi shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them.”—Ezek. 37:21-24

The reference here is apparently to the antitypical David, who is Christ. However, David himself will then be raised from the dead, as will all the ancient servants of God, who will be “princes in all the earth.”—Ps. 45:16

QUESTIONS

Relate the circumstances which brought about the division of the nation of Israel.

What finally happened to both of the kingdoms?

Will the nation ever again become one?

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