 |
|
|
United
Monarchy Ends
After Solomon's death (ca. 922 BCE), the leaders of the northern
tribes assembled at Shechem and rejected his son Rehoboam's claim
to sovereignty over them. They appointed Jeroboam as their king,
thus ending the united monarchy of Israel and Judah.
Some scholars suggest that the northern tribes rejected Rehoboam
because they did not accept the idea of a hereditary succession
and maintained that kings should be chosen on the basis of personal
suitability and charisma. The tribe of Judah, however, continued
to recognize the lineage of David in selecting their kings.
|
 |
So
Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day,
as the king
had said, "Come to me again the third day." The king answered
the people harshly. He disregarded the advice that older
men had given him and spoke to them according to the advice
of the young men, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I
will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips,
but I will discipline you with scorpions." . . .
When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them,
the people answered the king,
"What share do we have in David?
We have no inheritance in the son
of Jesse.
To your tents, O Israel!
Look now to your own house, O David."
So Israel went away to their tents. . . . When all Israel
heard that Jeroboam
had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly
and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who
followed the house of David, except the tribe of Judah alone.
|
|
DOCUMENT
SOURCE
|
FURTHER
READING |
 |
|
