Main Kingdoms in Israel

There are two main kingdoms in Israel. The first is the kingdom of Judah under the rule of Rehoboam, son of King Solomon. The people of Shechem had a few requests for Rehoboam when he arrived to be named the new King of their Kingdom. The idea of their requests was for Rehoboam to loosen the reigns and be easier on the people than his father. Rehoboam said he needed some time to ponder their requests and left to seek advice. The first advice he received said to give in to the people's requests so as not to upset them and the second said to be firm so as not to get walked all over. Rehoboam decided to go with the second opinion and denied the request of the people of Shechem. This upset a group of people and they overthrew the dynasty. The upset people migrated north and Rehoboam continued to rule the Kingdom of Judah in the south.

The second kingdom is the kingdom of Northern Israel. This kingdom is under the rule of Jeroboam. Because Jeroboam became the first king, he strived to create a state with an identity of its own. He knew that if things were not different from the Kingdom of Judah, he would lose his population. Jeroboam proceeded to create his own shrines of worship with two golden calves to keep the people of his kingdom from traveling back to Jerusalem for worship of the Lord. His idea seemed to work and his people stayed.

Each of these kingdoms has some distinct characteristics that make them unique. The Kingdom of Northern Israel contained the richer and more fertile part of Palestine, which included the valley of Esdraelon and the green hills of Galilee. It also had a greater population than that of Judah. Judah had a smaller population and the land consisted of desert, desert, and more desert. Although it did have advantages of a close unity of its people, loyalty to the house of David, and a more protected location from the stronger powers that resided in the east.