Rising Together: A Journey of Support and Empathy
A Collaborative project of Christian Life Formation, Philosophy and Empowerment Technology.
DIVIDED KINGDOM
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After Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam became king, and Jeroboam returned from Egypt.(1 Kings 12:1–2). Rehoboam, a vain and foolish man, defied Jeroboam's advice to lighten the yoke of oppression, as his father had made the same mistake by taxing them to finance a luxurious lifestyle. Jeroboam warned Rehoboam to make the yoke even heavier and scourge him with scorpions. (1 Kings 12:14). Then A taxation schism divided the nation into two kingdoms, Judah and Israel. Rehoboam, Solomon's son, ruled the Southern Kingdom, consisting of Judah and Benjamin tribes. Jeroboam, a newly proclaimed king, ruled over the Northern Kingdom of Israel, consisting of the remaining ten tribes.
Rehoboam and Jeroboam during the Divided Kingdom-
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Rehoboam and Jeroboam were both kings reigning in Israel’s divided kingdom. Rehoboam was one of Solomon’s sons and king of Judah in the south (1 Kings 11:43). Jeroboam was one of Solomon’s former officials, an Ephraimite, and king of Israel in the north (1 Kings 11:26).
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While Solomon was still alive and Jeroboam was working for him, a prophet named Ahijah told Jeroboam that God would take ten of the twelve tribes of Israel away from Solomon’s son Rehoboam and give them to Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:29–31). This judgment against Solomon’s house came because they had forsaken God and worshiped idols (verse 33). Along with the announcement that Jeroboam would be king, God gave him a conditional promise: “If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you” (verse 38). When Solomon heard that God had chosen Jeroboam to rule, the king tried to kill Jeroboam, who fled to Egypt (verse 40).
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The people revolted against Rehoboam's oppressive rule, leading to the appointment of Jeroboam as the new king over Israel. (1 Kings 12:16–20). Judah and Benjamin tribes followed Rehoboam, son of Solomon, while the other ten sided with Jeroboam. King Rehoboam attempted to take back tribes, but God prevented it, saying, "This is my doing" (1 Kings 12:24). So King Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. Jeroboam reigned from Shechem and later from Tirzah in Israel.
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Once established in the northern kingdom, King Jeroboam feared that, if the people traveled to the temple in Jerusalem to worship, they would return to Rehoboam. So he set up centers of worship in Bethel and Dan, building golden calves and telling the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt” (1 Kings 12:28). Jeroboam made shrines on the high places, installed priests who were not of the tribe of Levi, appointed a festival, and sacrificed at the altars (1 Kings 12:31–33). In spite of God’s offer to establish his dynasty in Israel, Jeroboam chose idolatry, and the prophet Ahijah told Jeroboam that his family would not endure (1 Kings 14).
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As Jeroboam was turning people away from God in the northern kingdom, Rehoboam was turning people away from God in the southern kingdom. Rehoboam reigned in Jerusalem for seventeen years, but “he did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord” (2 Chronicles 12:14). After Rehoboam there were good kings and bad kings over Judah. Every other generation or so, a great king stepped forward and turned the people back to the true God. That never happened among the kings of the northern kingdom. They all followed the mold of Jeroboam. Jeroboam reigned over the ten tribes of Israel for twenty-two years and was succeeded by his son Nadab. But then Nadab was murdered after two years on the throne, and the assassin killed all of Jeroboam’s family, fulfilling Ahijah’s prophecy (1 Kings 15:25–30). All subsequent monarchs of the kingdom of Israel followed Jeroboam’s lead. Not one of them was faithful to Israel’s God.
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The schism that occurred during the days of Rehoboam and Jeroboam was the end of a united Israel. This division continued during their reigns: “There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam” (2 Chronicles 12:15) and for centuries afterward.
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God’s Nation was a United Kingdom under her first three Kings: Saul, David and Solomon.
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After the death of Solomon, a new era for God’s people began with the dividing of the kingdom into two parts (Israel and Judah).
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The Kingdom of Israel never had good kings. The first king established an alternative place to worship instead of the temple at Jerusalem, and things went from bad to worse. Although God sent many prophets to steer them back to Him, they were eventually taken away into Assyrian captivity and ceased to exist.
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Judah was the smaller kingdom after the division. Some of Judah’s leaders were good but eventually, one leader after another turned away from God. God sent prophets to speak to the Kingdom of Judah like He had Israel.
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Jerusalem and the Temple were eventually destroyed, and the people of Judah were taken away into captivity to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. But even in captivity, there was always a remnant of Jews who followed God.
Ruler
Kingdom
Reign
Scripture(s)
Judah
Good→Bad
Israel
Bad
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The period of Biblical history known as the Divided Kingdom or the period of the Kings and the Prophets refers to the time when the nation of Israel broke into two rival kingdoms—Israel in the north and Judah in the south—each governed by its own succession of kings.
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After the death of Solomon, a schism over taxation divided the nation into two kingdoms. Rehoboam, Solomon's son and anointed successor, ruled over the Southern Kingdom, which was composed of the territory belonging to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
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Our study of the divided kingdom has helped us to see the decline of God's people. Finally, as the prophets had warned, first Israel and then Judah collapsed and were led into captivity.
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Jesus told this parable to teach the truth about a kingdom being divided against itself with internal conflicts and factions will not be able to stand or prosper.
From Scripture to Today: Unraveling the Timeless Relevance
of the Old Testament
A collaborative Project of Christian Life Formation, Philosophy and Empowerment Technology
script
Narrator: Kyle’s mother is out of town so Kyle, and his friends were thinking about doing drugs during a house party although his friends were hesitant about it
Jushly: Are you sure about this Kyle? This seems a little overboard…
Kyle: Stop being a wuss! Try this, you’ll not regret a thing. Suwayi ni, dili gyud ka mag mahay
Friends: *Look at eachother*
James: Aysus you only live once
Tresa: Bitaw, ta *she brings Jushly to join*
NARRATOR: The next day….Kyle and his friends decided to clean up before his mother arrives home
Kyle: Lets finish fast, My mom’s about to arrive!
NARRATOR: After cleaning up in haste, they accidentally left a packet of drugs beneath a chair.
Angelika: *enters the house* I'M HOME! *she puts her things down and notices a pack of drugs on the floor, she held it up in shock*
Angelika: KYLE SANTO PALAUTOT!! GET DOWN HERE!!
Kyle: *Kyle immediately went to her in olllconfusion*
Angelika: *Angrily goes up to Kyle showing him the pack of drugs* WHAT IS THIS?!?! THIS IS NOT THE SON THAT I RAISED, I SUFFERED SO HARD TO GIVE BIRTH TO YOU AND RAISE YOU AS A SINGLE MOTHER AND NOW YOURE DOING THIS?!? THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD READ THE BIBLE!!
Kyle: I DON'T CARE! THE BIBLE IS FULL OF FALSE CRAP!! THAT IS WHY YOU ARE A FREAKING SINGLE MOTHER!
ANGELIKA: TAKE THAT BACK!! RIGHT NOW!
Kyle: NO!!
NARRATOR: Kyle walked out the house and visited his friends to rant about his mother
*Next scene*
Kyle: Kapoya jud aning mama oi tanan solusyon kay bible jud. What can I even do with the Bible?! She’s so dumb, it annoys me.
Friends: *silence, then they look at each each other*
Kyle: What are you guys looking at? Don’t you guys side with me?
Tresa: Look…Kyle…We wanted to talk to you about your behavior
Caleb: Are you crazy?! What behavior do you mean?!
Jushly: You’ve been a bad influence Kyle, and we agree with your mother. We believe you should change your ways and try reading the Bible…..
Caleb: OH SO NOW ALL OF YOU ARE AGAINST ME?! The bible is full of flipping CRAP!! I thought you were my friends! All of you are the same! Freak you all!
NARRATOR:
Caleb walked out and angrily walked in the rain, when suddenly..
*BOOM, LIGHTNING HIT HIM*
Caleb: *KIRIG KIRIG*
*Magical teleportation, while caleb is nah kirig2 sa ground*
NARRATOR: kyle woke up in an unusual place, it seems to be the a place stated in the bible. But the most unusual thing he will realize…is that he cannot seem to control his body
Caleb: *he woke up in a bed (Jeroboam’s) holding his head*
What happened? Where the heck am I? Why is everything so old and weird? Why am I wearing a robe?
James: *knocks on door and enters*
Caleb: *suddenly acts normal*
James: God has sent me to inform you that you will be king due to the prophecy.You have to leave and go to King Shishak as soon as possible.
Caleb: And why is that ahijah?
James: Rehoboam, son of Solomon, is planning and will try to kill you. You have to go now! *leaves*
Caleb: Weird….it seems like my body moved on its own when i was speaking with that guy
*teleporting sound*
Caleb: huh- w-aiittt *kirig kirrig again*
NARRATOR: Kyle teleported to a place called shechem and he noticed a strange man talking to a group of people
Caleb: where am i… *hides behind a chair*
Vince: What do you want? Speak quickly.
Jushly (pleadingly): Dear Rehoboam, your father, Solomon, burdened us with heavy taxes and hard labor. We seek relief, a lighter yoke, and we will serve you faithfully.
Vince: hmmm I will think about this, be back in 3 days to give my answer *vince walks away*
Narrator: Rehoboam seeked for advice and he received two responses, one from the old advisers and one from the younger advisers .
NARRATOR: Rehoboam took both scrolls and examined them; he first took the first scroll but ultimately ignored it as it came from the old advisers. He took the young advisers’ scroll, and then read it out loud.
Vince: “My father placed heavy burdens on you, I will make them even heavier. He beat you with whips, I’ll flog you with bullwhips” THIS! THIS advice I shall follow! *evil laugh*
NARRATOR: The Israelites invited him to a meeting in Egypt and made him king
*teleport music*
Narrator: Jeroboam was afraid that his people would go to jerusalem, transfer allegiance to rehoboam and will kill him. So after thinking, he made two bull-calves of gold for his people to worship so they wont leave, ultimately betraying God.
Jeroboam (speech): “Going up to Jerusalem for you to worship is too much. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, I have made two-bull calves of gold for you to worship. I will set up one in Bethel and one in Dan.”
Jeroboam: My people, today we gather to honor the strength and abundance bestowed upon us by these sacred calves!
Everyone: (cheers)
Jeroboam: (raising his hands) Let our sacrifices be a testament to our gratitude! May the blessings of the calves continue to flow upon us! We shall have a festival!
Everyone: (cheers and music starts, everyone goes to the stage and acts)
Caleb: wow….It seems as if I betrayed god out of fear that my people will betray me.
Narrator: They continued to party but suddenly it started to rain and everyone took cover
God: Jeroboam! you have disobeyed my orders! You need to be punished!
Caleb: God? Is it reall- *got hit by thunder*
“Teleport to real world”
Narrator: Kyle wakes up from a coma learning the lesson he have learned during his time in the bible
Angelika: Oh son! You’re finally awake! How are you?
Friends: KYLE!! HOW ARE U OKAY??? WE WERE SO WORRIED “hugs kyle”
Caleb: wha…what just happened? I miss you guys so much! I……….I hope you guys forgive me
Angelika: how are you feeling? everything is going to be fine son, what's important is your awake
Caleb: im okay now, mom. dont worry too much, lets just say I learned my lesson.
Narrator: Our story shows that our actions have consequences, simply, if we do something bad, then we will pay for it like how jeroboam did. Kyle learnt his lesson about his own actions, and since he witnessed God himself he has changed his ways. Hopefully you can take kyle as an example and change too for the better
The end
