Page 19 - The Minor Prophets - Student textbook

To secure these taxes and levies of workers and to organize the government Solomon divided the
country into twelve districts, each of which had a governor. These districts did not coincide with the
territory of the twelve tribes, a break with the tribal traditions.

Solomon’s activities brought magnificence to Jerusalem, but roused discontent in many quarters.
Leaders in Edom and Syria revolted. Furthermore, Israelites themselves, particularly in the North,
resented the heavy taxes, the forced levies of workers, and the favored position of Judah. The prophets
objected to the introduction of the worship of foreign gods which came to Jerusalem with Solomon’s
foreign wives. Solomon had a reputation for wisdom, and he composed many proverbs, but his later
policies were not wise, for they harmed his people and compromised his faith in Yahweh.

The Separate Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (922-722)

Rehoboam, Solomon’s son and successor, by trying to carry on the oppressive policies of his father,
precipitated the secession of northern Israel. Jeroboam, the spokesman of the northern tribes, had
been superintendent of workers under Solomon, had been encouraged to lead a revolt of the northern
tribes by the prophet Ahijah, and had fled to Egypt in fear of Solomon. When Rehoboam arrogantly
refused to mitigate the taxes and forced labor, the northern Israelites seceded and chose Jeroboam as
their king.

After this break (c. 922), the two kingdoms continued a separate but interrelated existence for 200
years till the fall of Samaria in 722 BCE. The northern kingdom, including the territories of Ephraim,
western Manasseh, Asher, Zebulon, Issachar, Dan, and Naphtali West of the Jordan, and of eastern
Manasseh, Gad and Reuben East of the Jordan, was larger than the southern kingdom which included
only Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. The northern kingdom was also richer both agriculturally, because
of its plains, and commercially, because of the international trade routes running through it. The
southern kingdom was more mountainous and more isolated. For the above reasons, the northern
kingdom was more open to foreign cultural and religious influences as well as to foreign conquest. The
southern kingdom was more provincial, more faithful in maintaining the religion of Yahweh, and it
continued an independent existence for about 150 years after the fall of the northern kingdom.

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