Divided kingdoms

 The Collins Study Bible, New Revised Study Version (NRSV) of I Chronicles starts out thus:

In the Hebrew Bible, 1 and 2 Chronicles are called “The Events of the days.” The title Chronicles can be traced back to Jerome in the fifth century C.E. The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles were written after the exile and in Jerusalem, probably in the fourth century B.C.E. The author is conventionally called the Chronicler. While these books share many themes with the nearly contemporary books of Ezra and Nehemiah, a growing number of scholars believe they are separate compositions. Note, however, that the first verses of Ezra are identical to the last verses of Chronicles (2 Chr 36.22-23).

The introductory notes of the NRSV have me curious about the Divided Kingdom – the North, defined as Israel, and the South defined as Judah. I get the idea that the north does not have a very good press – the action is mostly in the south, particularly with David and Solomon. The notes say that the Chronicler treats David and Solomon “...as equals, often omitting negative information contained in his sources.” Their work centred on the building of the temple and the installation of its personnel.

It is said that the Chronicler includes the Northern Kingdom in the endeavour to champion the Second Temple and its ritual life in Jerusalem.

The NRSV notes end with this paragraph:

Interpreters now find a far more open attitude to the Northern Kingdom in Chronicles than was previously recognized. Those willing to return to the Lord and come to his sanctuary were to be welcomed (2Chr 30.7-8). Hezekiah’s Passover celebration was unique in its inclusion of the North, and both he and Josiah conducted reforming activities in the North. The Chronicler seems to be inviting Northeners to acknowledge the claims of the temple in Jerusalem and to participate in its ritual life.

I have to find out more about this Divided Kingdom! I understand that the division of Israel happened immediately after the death of Solomon (931 BCE) and in the reign of Rehoboam.

Here’s what one website says in a 1994 article titled Israel Divided into Two Kingdoms:

During Rehoboam's reign, the tribe of Judah and the majority of the tribe of Benjamin accepted Rehoboam as their king. They became the kingdom of Judah, or the southern kingdom of Israel, with its capital at Jerusalem. The other 10 tribes and the remainder of the tribe of Benjamin - usually spoken of as the Ten Tribes - chose Jeroboam as their king. The collective Ten Tribes retained the title of Israel, and became known also as Ephraim, which was the dominant tribe. It became the northern kingdom, with headquarters at Shechem in Samaria.

On the whole, Judah remained more faithful to Jehovah. Almost as soon as the northern kingdom of Israel was established, it went into apostasy. Although great prophets such as Elijah and Amos ministered in the kingdom, the people worshiped false gods and adopted many practices of Baalism.

Source: Church News Archives: Israel divided into two kingdoms

The Church News Archive site is very good on the history of the Northern Kingdom and its demise.

Joyce Voysey

 Ed. I like what Jesus said about divided kingdoms:

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
(Matthew 12:25, 26)