Solomon and the split of the Kingdom

Question: What caused the northern Kingdom of Israel to become separate from the southern Kingdom of Judah?  Was it a result of choice, conquest, migration, or other factors?

 

Rooted in the death of Solomon, as who should succeed him as King!

Who succeeds Solomon as king after he died?

Upon Solomon's death, his son, Rehoboam, succeeded him, but ten of the Tribes of Israel refused him as king, splitting the monarchy into the northern Kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam, while Rehoboam continued to reign over the smaller southern Kingdom of Judah.  Henceforth the two kingdoms were never again united.

Biblical account: Wikipedia:

The life of Solomon is primarily described in 2Samuel, 1Kings and 2Chronicles. His two names are traditionally taken to mean "peaceful" and "friend of God", both considered "predictive of the character of his reign".[15]  A 2023 textbook described three possibilities for the etymology of Solomon’s name: “compensation or a substitute,” “the ruler of peace,” or based on the deified evening star Shalim.[16]

Chronology

The conventional dates of Solomon's reign are derived from biblical chronology and are set from about 970 to 931 BCE.[17]  Regarding the Davidic dynasty, to which King Solomon belongs, its chronology can be checked against datable Babylonian and Assyrian records at a few points, and these correspondences have allowed archaeologists to date its kings in a modern framework.[18][dubious – discuss]  According to the most widely used chronology, based on that by the Old Testament professor Edwin R. Thiele, the death of Solomon and the division of his kingdom would have occurred in the fall of 931 BCE.[19]

Childhood

Solomon was born in Jerusalem,[20] the second-born child of David and his wife Bathsheba (widow of Uriah the Hittite).  The first child (unnamed in that account), a son conceived adulterously during Uriah's lifetime, had died seven days after birth.  It is suggested in Scripture that this was a judgment from God. Solomon had three named full brothers born to Bathsheba: Nathan, Shammua, and Shobab,[21] besides six known older half-brothers born of as many mothers.[22]

The biblical narrative shows that Solomon served as a peace offering between God and David, due to David's adulterous relationship with Bathsheba.  In an effort to hide this sin, David sent Bathsheba's husband, Uriah the Hittite, to battle, and specifically to the front line wherein David ordered the commanding officer Joab to withdraw support for Uriah in order to have him killed in battle by the enemy.  After he died, David was finally able to marry Bathsheba.  As punishment, the first child, who was conceived during the adulterous relationship, died.[23]  Solomon was born after David was forgiven.  It is this reason why his name, which means peace, was chosen.  Some historians cited that Nathan the Prophet brought up Solomon as his father was busy governing the realm.[24]  This could also be attributed to the notion that the prophet held great influence over David because he knew of his adultery, which was considered a grievous offense under the Mosaic Law.[25]

 

 

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