David appointed his son Solomon to succeed him as king. Solomon's reign included four significant achievements and one fatal error (see 1 Kgs 1-11; 1 Chron 28-29; 2 Chron 1-9).

First, Solomon consolidated the territory conquered by his father into a powerful kingdom. His reign marked a "golden age" of peace and prosperity for Israel.

Second, many scholars believe Solomon led the effort to collect and preserve the stories of Adam and Noah, Abraham and Jacob, Moses and David. By preparing a written account of Israel's early history, Solomon's scribes made a major contribution to forming the Bible.

Third, Solomon replaced the temporary Tabernacle of the wilderness wanderings with a permanent Temple in Jerusalem. Historians count this magnificent structure among the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Fourth, Solomon launched the Jewish wisdom movement reflected in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Job, and some of the Psalms. According to this school of thought, "reverence for the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps 111:10; Prov 1:7; 9:10). Wisdom literature contains practical guidance for living well under God's lordship.

Sadly, Solomon did not follow his own wise counsel. In forming alliances with other nations, he married women from those nations and allowed them to bring their idols into Jerusalem (1 Kgs 11:1-13). By giving false gods a foothold in Israel, Solomon planted the seed that eventually destroyed his kingdom.

At Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam took the throne. Under the leadership of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, Israelites petitioned their new king to lower taxes and lessen the forced labor Solomon had imposed for his building projects. When Rehoboam refused, the northern tribes declared Jeroboam king and broke away (1 Kgs 12; 2 Chron 10). This division of the kingdom took place in 922 B.C.

In the south, only the giant tribe of Judah and tiny Benjamin remained loyal to Rehoboam. This southern kingdom took the name "Judah" (from which we get the terms "Judea" and "Jew"). Descendants of David continued to reign over Judah from Jerusalem for centuries.

Over time, the Northern Kingdom came to be known as "Israel," "Ephraim" (after its largest tribe), or "Samaria" (after its capital city). Jeroboam failed to establish a lasting dynasty, so a series of kings from various families ruled in the north.

The Bible provides brief histories of Israel and Judah in 1 Kings 12-22; 2 Kings 1-25; and 2 Chronicles 10-36. The writers critique each king based on his level of faithfulness to the Lord.

Jeroboam realized that citizens of his northern kingdom would continue to go south to Jerusalem to offer their sacrifices and attend religious feasts at Solomon's Temple. He feared that such contact would lead to reconciliation and reunion with Judah. Jeroboam therefore erected two golden calf idols -- one at Dan in the northern end of his kingdom and the other at Bethel in the south.

He said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." (1 Kgs 12:28)

Jeroboam also built religious shrines on the hilltops, appointed non-Levites to serve as priests, and established his own religious festivals. In this way, he led the ten northern tribes into Canaanite-style Baal worship (1 Kgs 12:25-33). Scripture declares:

This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth. (1 Kgs 13:34)

Reflect...

1. Read 1 Kings 3. What gift did God give Solomon, and how did Solomon display this gift?
   
   
2. Read 1 Kings 11:1-13. Why did God allow the division of the nation He had promised to Abraham and to David
   
   
3. Read 1 Kings 13. What message did God send to Jeroboam through His prophet? What happened to that prophet and why?

Christopher A. Davis, Ph.D.
Professor of New Testament
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

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