THE HISTORY OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH (NORTHERN KINGDOM AND SOUTHERN KINGDOM)

The divided kingdom of Israel emerged after the death of King Solomon. This division of the kingdom of Israel resulted from a combination of governmental folly, high taxes, and the exploitation of the people. In 930 BC, Rehoboam, Solomon's son, ascended to the throne, but his rejection of the northern people's just demands led to the tribes' revolt under Jeroboam, dividing Israel into two kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).
The Northern Kingdom, composed of ten tribes, faced political and religious instability, with violent dynasties and idolatrous practices, culminating in its fall to the Assyrians in 721 BC. Judah, with Jerusalem as its capital and a lineage of kings descended from David, also suffered from idolatry and was warned by prophets of imminent divine judgment. Despite some reforming kings, such as Asa and Josiah, moral decline led to the Babylonian conquest and exile in 586 BC.
The history of the divided kingdom of Israel illustrates the consequences of disobedience and corruption, but it also highlights God's sovereignty and the eventual restoration of Judah, paving the way for the advent of the Messiah as foretold in biblical prophecies.