Page 252 - Bible History

THE DIVISION OF SOLOMON'S KINGDOM 225
the Temple and of the king's palace. This expedition of Pharao was part of the scheme of Jeroboam. Jero­ boam knew that as long as Roboam was troubled by Sesac, he could not turn his attention to the Kingdom of Israel.
:
Meanwhile the neighboring nations were growing in power. Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia were coming forward. Even the united kingdom of David and Solomon would have needed its greatest strength to preserve its independence against such powerful ene­ mies. But now the Jewish nation was split up into helpless divisions.
Prosperity was at an end, because neither king was strong enough to trade with other countries. Besides, almost four times as many soldiers .were needed in the divided kingdom as in David's united kingdom. Then there were the civil wars ich ruined great portions of the country. Great numbers of soldiers on the battle eld meant great numbers of men taken from the trades and agriculture. Scarcity of food and high cost of living naturally followed.
Roboam died after reigning seventeen years, and he was succeeded by his son, Abiam, who reigned for three years. He fought successfully against Jeroboam and drove him back into his own territory. He cap- tured and retained many cities near the border of his
kingdom.
A period of peace for the southern kingdom fol-
lowed this victory. Asa, the son of Abiam, was king, and he governed the nation wisely. For ten years the people devoted themselves to peaceful pursuits and
Da1
ions

Pr y nished
Abiam's : y Jeroboam
a s Jud ' _
p ity