A Kingdom Divided (1 Kings 12: 1-16: 28)

By: Dr. Bill Creasy

Narrated by: Dr. Bill Creasy

Length: 48 mins

Publisher's summary

With the death of Solomon, his son Rehoboam, ascends the throne. All twelve tribes gather at Shechem to anoint him king—but they demand two concessions: 1) lower the taxes and 2) end conscripted labor. Rehoboam refuses, triggering a civil war. In 930 B.C., the united monarchy splits, ten of the twelve tribes forming the northern kingdom of Israel, with its capital in Samaria, and two of the twelve tribes forming the southern kingdom of Judah, with its capital in Jerusalem. Rehoboam reigns as king in Jerusalem (930-913 B.C.), and Jeroboam as king in Samaria (930-909 B.C.). Civil war rages. Jeroboam, knowing that if people continue traveling south to worship at the temple in Jerusalem, their loyalties will revert to the house of David, builds two places of worship in the north: One at his northern border in Dan; the other at his southern border in Bethel. Here Jeroboam places two golden calves, and he appoints a priesthood to serve them. In one of the Bible’s great understatements we read: “And this thing became a sin” (1 Kings 12: 30). In the south, people continue worshipping at the temple in Jerusalem, but they sink into idolatry and corruption. Both kingdoms begin a relentless downward slide.

©2014 William C. Creasy (P)2013 William C. Creasy