Divided We Fall - The Period of Divided Monarchy: Introduction to the Historical Books of the Old Testament

After King Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam's harsh policies led to a revolt by the northern tribes, who broke away and established the northern kingdom of Israel. This left Rehoboam ruling only the southern kingdom of Judah. The divided kingdoms existed for over 200 years, until the northern kingdom was conquered by Assyria in 722 BCE, and the southern kingdom was later conquered by Babylon in 586 BCE. The Divided Monarchy marked a major turning point in ancient Israelite history, with the once-united kingdom splitting into two rival states. This period also saw the rise of important prophetic figures like Elijah and Elisha.