The Divided Kingdoms

1. The Divided Kingdoms The Fall of Solomon

2. Solomon’s Kingdom Wealthier and more powerful than even David’s kingdom, Solomon had what might be considered one of the mightiest kingdoms on earth at the time. God became angry with Solomon, and told him he would lose everything because of his choices. But, God had already promised David He would make David’s son great, so He tells Solomon that his sons would pay the price.

3. Solomon’s Choices • What had Solomon done to make God mad? • He had broken nearly every command God had given the Kings of Israel • Building Projects God told him not to do • Pursuing great personal wealth • The final straw: • Married too many women. • 700 wives, 300 concubines. 1000 women that he has made his own. These women weren’t even Israelites, another no-no; they get Solomon to worship other gods.

5. How did the wisest man on earth end up making such a wreck of things? • He had wealth • He had wisdom • He had God • He had a loving wife (he wrote Song of Solomon about her!) • He chose money over people • He chose to please himself • He chose other gods to keep his wives happy • He married way too many women, forsaking God’s plan for marriage

6. So What? • All the wisdom and knowledge of God in the world won’t save you from a selfish heart…. • God cares deeply about marriage – it is the deepest, most intimate relationship a person can have, representing God’s relationship with His people. Pervert that image in any way, and don’t be surprised when it ruins your life.

7. Divided Kingdoms • Because Solomon was so disobedient, God allows Solomon’s enemies to grow powerful enough to threaten Israel • Hadad – a victim of David’s wars years ago • Rezon – leader of a group of raiders • Jeroboam, son of Nebat –one of Solomon’s superintendants.

8. Jeroboam, son of Nebat • A prophet of God, Ahijah, finds Jeroboam on the road in the wilderness. • Ahijah was wearing a new coat – when he saw Jeroboam, he stopped him, and tore it into 12 pieces • He tells Jeroboam to take ten of the pieces, because God is going to use Jeroboam to tear apart Solomon’s kingdom because Solomon insisted on worshipping other gods. • God also gives Jeroboam a warning – he will get to be king, and God will bless him if he seeks the Lord, but it won’t go well with him if he doesn’t.

9. Jeroboam Flees • Solomon finds out about Jeroboam and the prophecy God gave him. • Solomon tries to have Jeroboam killed, but Jeroboam escapes to Egypt. • Solomon kicks the bucket, having ruled Israel for forty years – his son Rehoboam takes over.

11. The Cause for War • 300 years before Solomon ruled, the seeds for civil war were sown between the tribes of Ephraim and Judah. • Genesis 48:17-22: Israel, while giving blessings to his sons, chooses to give Ephraim the inheritance and blessing before Manasseh, his oldest. • In this culture, that was a grave insult to Manasseh, and his brothers would have understood that Ephraim was first and thus the leader.

12. The Cause for War • For most of the Israelite’s history, Ephraim had been the tribe that held the most power. • When David was appointed King, it bumped Judah to the top – snubbing Ephraim • Ephraim would be jealous of Judah ever after that – they knew that Messiah would come from Judah, increasing their jealousy.

13. The Cause for War • Solomon’s Kingdom, being richer and more powerful than David’s, also became more expensive. • Solomon built a Temple, which used literally tons of Gold and marble, and other very expensive materials. • He then built himself a humongous palace, also made out of tons of marble and gold and cedar. • To pay for both, he boosted taxes, really high.

14. Cause for War • Rehoboam takes over the throne after his father Solomon dies • His advisors tell him he needs to be tough – to show the people he means business. “Where my father gave you a heavy yoke, I will add to it tenfold” -Rehoboam • He raises the taxes even higher, throwing a match onto a 300 year old powder keg….

15. Civil War • Because of Rehoboam’s headstrong and foolish leadership, the northern ten tribes (led by Ephraim) split away in revolt. • They bring Jeroboam back from Egypt, and appoint him King over them – they knew he had been appointed by God • Only the two tribes of Benjamin and Judah remain loyal to the rightful King, Rehoboam.

16. Civil War • Rehoboam puts an army together of 180,000 men to go take back the northern tribes. • Shemaiah, a “man of God” (A prophet), tells Rehoboam to stop – he says that God has said that this split is from Him. • Rehoboamobeys God, and doesn’t fight. (!)

17. Deepen the Divide • Jeroboam, in an effort to separate Israel from Judah, sets up his own temple for people to sacrifice at, so they don’t need to go to Jerusalem • This obviously is against God’s plan – God sends a prophet to Jeroboam • While Jeroboam is about to give an offering to his two golden calves, the prophet tells the altar that King Josiah, from Judah, will offer up a sacrifice of the altar’s own priests on it. The altar will break, and bleed ashes.

18. Deepen the Divide • Jeroboam, angered, points at the prophet and tells his guards to grab him • As he points, his hand shrivels up, and the altar bursts open, ashes come pouring out. • Horrified, Jeroboam begs the prophet to heal his hand, which the prophet does. • Jeroboam asks the prophet to come home with him