Divided Kingdom, Divided Monarchy

The two-hundred-year period in ancient Judah and Israel from 922 to 722 BCE. Following Solomon’s reign, his son Rehoboam was unable to retain leadership in the northern state of Israel. Judah, the southern state, was much more at ease with the dynastic succession (son following father), but Israel did not follow suit. Therefore, when Rehoboam went to Shechem to be confirmed as king over Israel, as was the custom (1Kgs 12:1-20), his trip ended in failure. As a result Jeroboam I became king of the northern state and the Divided Kingdom was begun. Israel during this time had no fewer than eighteen kings, and Judah twelve kings. Although political leadership during the Divided Kingdom lacked distinction, included in the period are great eighth-century BCE prophets such as Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah.