Names of Northern and Southern Kingdoms After Solomon
Division of the Kingdom After Solomon
After Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel divided into two separate kingdoms: Judah and Israel. This division occurred during the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon's son, as recorded in 1 Kings 12 [1, 2]. The northern kingdom retained the name "Israel," with its capital eventually established in Samaria, while the southern kingdom was known as "Judah," with Jerusalem as its capital [3].
The division was a result of the ten tribes rebelling against Rehoboam's harsh rule, led by Jeroboam, who had been an official in Solomon's administration. Jeroboam became the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel [4, 5]. The southern kingdom, Judah, continued the Davidic dynasty with Rehoboam as its king.
The biblical account in 1 Kings 12 describes how Jeroboam established two cultic centers in Dan and Bethel to prevent his people from worshiping in Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. This act was seen as a significant departure from the traditional worship practices in Jerusalem [10]. The division and subsequent developments in both kingdoms are seen as a fulfillment of prophetic warnings against Solomon's idolatry [7].
The northern kingdom, Israel, was often associated with idolatry and was eventually conquered by Assyria in 722 BCE. The southern kingdom, Judah, survived longer but was eventually conquered by Babylon in 586 BCE [6]. The prophets Ezekiel and others used the metaphor of two sisters, representing Samaria (Israel) and Jerusalem (Judah), to describe their spiritual adultery and subsequent judgment [8, 9].
The extent of Solomon's kingdom before the division is described in 1 Kings 4:21, indicating that he ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt. This dominion included various tributary kingdoms and regions [11].
The division of the kingdom after Solomon's death marked a significant turning point in Israel's history, leading to distinct paths for the northern and southern kingdoms. The historical and theological implications of this division are reflected in various biblical accounts and interpretations throughout Jewish and Christian traditions [12, 13].
The Rabbinic tradition, as seen in the Babylonian Talmud, discusses Solomon's kingship and its extent, noting that while he ruled over a vast territory, his reign was not considered complete because he did not maintain control until his death [13, 14].
The historical context and the theological interpretations of the division of the kingdom after Solomon's death continue to be subjects of study and reflection in biblical scholarship, with various traditions offering insights into the significance of this event [7, 12].
Sources
- I Kings “I Kings 4:21 (BSB) — And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.”
- I Chronicles “I Chronicles 3:10 (YLT) — And the son of Solomon <FI>is<Fi> Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,”
- STEPBible TBESG “[H8111] H8111 = (H8111) — <BR> § Samaria = "watch mountain"<br> 1) the region of northern Palestine associated with the northern kingdom of the 10 tribes of Israel which split from the kingdom after the death of Solomon during the reign of his son Rehoboam and were ruled by Jeroboam<br>2) the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel located 30 miles (50 km) north of Jerusalem and 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Shechem<br>”
- STEPBible TBESG “[H3379] H3379H = (H3379H) — A king of the Kingdom of Israel, living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.13.13; <br> son of: Joash (H3101J); <br> father of: Zechariah (H2148P)<BR> § Jeroboam = "the people will contend"<br>1) the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel when the kingdom split at the death of Solomon and the 10 tribes split off from Judah and Benjamin and the kingdom under Solomon's son Rehoboam; idolatry was introduced at the beginning of his reign<br>2) the 8th king of the northern kingdom of Israel, son of Joash, and 4th in the dynasty of Jehu; during h”
- STEPBible TBESG “[H3379] H3379G = (H3379G) — A king of the Kingdom of Israel, living at the time of United Monarchyand Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.11.26; <br> son of: Nebat (H5028) and Zeruah (H6871); <br> father of: Abijah (H0029H), Nadab (H5070H)<BR> § Jeroboam = "the people will contend"<br>1) the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel when the kingdom split at the death of Solomon and the 10 tribes split off from Judah and Benjamin and the kingdom under Solomon's son Rehoboam; idolatry was introduced at the beginning of his reign<br>2) the 8th king of the northern kingdom of Israel, son ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Israel, Kingdom of — (B.C. 975-B.C. 722). Soon after the death of Solomon, Ahijah's prophecy (1 Kings 11:31-35) was fulfilled, and the kingdom was rent in twain. Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, was scarcely seated on his throne when the old jealousies between Judah and the other tribes broke out anew, and Jeroboam was sent for from Egypt by the malcontents (12:2, 3). Rehoboam insolently refused to lighten the burdensome taxation and services which his father had imposed on his subjects (12:4), and the rebellion became complete. Ephraim and all Israel rais”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 21.--OF THE KINGS AFTER SOLOMON,: BOTH IN JUDAH AND ISRAEL. The other kings of the Hebrews after Solomon are scarcely found to have prophesied, "through certain enigmatic words or actions of theirs, what may pertain to Christ and the Church, either in Judah or Israel; for so were the parts of that people styled, when, on account of Solomon's offence, from the time of 359 Rehoboam his son, who succeeded him in the kingdom, it was divided by God as a punishment. The ten tribes, indeed, which Jeroboam the servant of Solomon received”
- Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 23:1: 23:1-49 This chapter, like ch 16, gives the history of the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and Judah in the form of an extended metaphor. It graphically depicts Samaria and Jerusalem, the capital cities, as two immoral women. The metaphor emphasizes that their judgment was inevitable and well-deserved.”
- Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 23:1: 23:1-49 This chapter, like ch 16, gives the history of the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and Judah in the form of an extended metaphor. It graphically depicts Samaria and Jerusalem, the capital cities, as two immoral women. The metaphor emphasizes that their judgment was inevitable and well-deserved.”
- 1 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Kings 12:29: One in Beth-el, and the other - in Dan - One at the southern and the other at the northern extremity of the land. Solomon's idolatry had prepared the people for Jeroboam's abominations!”
- 1 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Kings 4:21: Solomon reigned over all kingdoms - The meaning of this verse appears to be, that Solomon reigned over all the provinces from the river Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, even to the frontiers of Egypt. The Euphrates was on the east of Solomon's dominions; the Philistines were westward on the Mediterranean sea; and Egypt was on the south. Solomon had, therefore, as tributaries, the kingdoms of Syria, Damascus, Moab, and Ammon, which lay between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean. See Calmet. Thus he appears to have possessed all the land that God covenanted”
- 1 Kings (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Kings 12 (introduction): II. History of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah to the Destruction of the Former - 1 Kings 12-2 Kings 17 After the death of Solomon the Israelitish kingdom of God was rent asunder, through the renunciation of the Davidic sovereignty by the ten tribes, into the two kingdoms of Israel (the ten tribes) and Judah; and through this division not only was the external political power of the Israelitish state weakened, but the internal spiritual power of the covenant nation was deeply shaken. And whilst the division itself gave rise to two small and weak ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 64a.22:1: After mentioning three kings who ruled over the world, the Gemara presents a mnemonic for the names of other kings that will be discussed below: Shin , Solomon, i.e., Shlomo; samekh , Sennacherib; dalet , Darius; kaf , Cyrus, i.e., Koresh. The Gemara asks: But is there no other king besides those previously mentioned who ruled over the entire world? But there is King Solomon who ruled over the world and should be added to the list. The Gemara answers: Solomon did not complete his kingship, as he left the throne during his lifetime, and therefore, his name ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 64b.22:1: After mentioning three kings who ruled over the world, the Gemara presents a mnemonic for the names of other kings that will be discussed below: Shin , Solomon, i.e., Shlomo; samekh , Sennacherib; dalet , Darius; kaf , Cyrus, i.e., Koresh. The Gemara asks: But is there no other king besides those previously mentioned who ruled over the entire world? But there is King Solomon who ruled over the world and should be added to the list. The Gemara answers: Solomon did not complete his kingship, as he left the throne during his lifetime, and therefore, his name ”