Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Ancient Israel
Following the death of King Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel was divided into two distinct entities: the Northern Kingdom, known as Israel, and the Southern Kingdom, known as Judah [7]. This schism significantly weakened the political and spiritual strength of the covenant nation [7].
The Northern Kingdom, often referred to as Israel, was primarily composed of ten tribes, with the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, sons of Joseph, being dominant [5, 7]. Its capital city was initially Tirzah, before Samaria became its prominent center [6, 1, 2]. Geographically, the Northern Kingdom extended from Gilead in the east to Jezreel in the north, with Ephraim in the middle and Benjamin forming its southernmost border [3]. Its northernmost settlements reached into portions of the Lebanon mountains, making the Sidonians their neighbors [4].
In contrast, the Southern Kingdom, Judah, largely consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin [7]. Its capital was Jerusalem [1, 2]. The southernmost settlement of ancient Israel, in the vicinity of Beersheba in the Negev, belonged to Judah [4].
The prophet Ezekiel uses an extended metaphor in chapter 23 to depict the histories of both kingdoms, personifying their capital cities, Samaria and Jerusalem, as immoral women. This imagery underscores the inevitable and deserved judgment they faced [1, 2]. The division of the kingdom marked a profound shift in Israelite history, leading to distinct political and religious trajectories for each entity [7].
Sources
- 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.”
- 2 Samuel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Samuel 2:9: 2:9 Gilead was the easternmost district of the northern kingdom, Jezreel the northernmost, and Benjamin the southernmost, with Ephraim in the middle. It is unclear which area was the land of the Ashurites. All the rest of Israel refers to the tribes that Ishbosheth ruled over rather than to the geographical area of his kingdom.”
- Joshua (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joshua 1:4: 1:4 Ancient Israel’s southernmost settlement was in the Negev, in the vicinity of Beersheba (15:28). Israel’s northernmost tribes settled in portions of the Lebanon mountains, which made them neighbors of the Sidonians. • The Hittites were one of the subgroups that made up Canaan’s population (see study note on 3:10).”
- Amos (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Amos 5:6: 5:6 The northern kingdom of Israel (literally the house of Joseph) was dominated by the tribes of Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (see study note on 5:15; see Hos 5:3, 5).”
- 2 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Kings 15:14: 15:14 Tirzah had been capital of the northern kingdom during Israel’s first two dynasties (1 Kgs 14:17; 15:21, 33; 16:8). • Menahem was an army commander.”
- 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 ”