Lesson Three
The Divided Kingdom

King Rehoboam
•	Rehoboam succeeded Solomon
•	Josephus called him a proud and foolish man
•	He had 18 wives, 60 concubines, 28 sons and 60 daughters
•	He was 41 when he became king
•	He reigned for 17 years 

King Jeroboam
•	First king of the Northern Kingdom
•	Employed by Solomon
•	In charge of the workmen building the Millo 
•	Ahijah told him that he would rule over ten tribes
•	Solomon sought to kill him
•	Pharaoh gave him protection
•	After Solomon died, he returned to Israel and became king of the northern ten tribes 

Revolt Under Rehoboam
•	After the death of Solomon, came a revolution which divided the nation
•	Rehoboam was aware of the dissatisfaction of the northern tribes  
•	The older men advised Rehoboam to be kind and ease the burden
•	Adoram was stoned to death 
•	Rehoboam retreated to Jerusalem

Differences Between the Kingdoms
•	Judah and Ephraim have been jealous of each other since the days of Egypt
•	Judah was largest and favored
•	Rivalry showed up several times between the tribes
•	The Northern Tribes were stronger, but the latter was spiritually stronger 

Kingdom of Israel
•	Kingdom of Israel continued for about 250 years
•	Overthrown by the Assyrians in 721 BC
•	Capital of the Northern kingdom was Shechem, then Samaria
•	Eight of the nineteen kings were assassinated or committed suicide 

Two Golden Calves
•	Jeroboam was a religious Apostate
•	He established new worship centers in Dan and Bethel
•	He founded a non-Levitical priesthood
•	Jeroboam opened the door for Baal worship 

The Kingdom of Judah
•	It continued for over 400 years
•	There were 20 kings 
•	There were three revivals
•	Seven prophets were sent to the Kingdom of Judah 

Lesson Three
Self Help Test

1.	Compare the character of these two men: Rehoboam and Jeroboam. 

2.	Explain clearly how Rehoboam might have kept the kingdom united. 

3.	Explain how the rivalry between Judah and Ephraim had an effect upon the conditions at this time. 

4.	Why did Jeroboam set up the golden calves at Dan and Bethel? 

5.	Write briefly the history of the Kingdom of Israel that took place after the division.