Having highlighted the “golden era” of Israel’s history under the reigns of David and Solomon the past two weeks, we begin this week with the crowning achievement of Solomon’s reign: the construction and dedication of a permanent temple in Jerusalem, effectively replacing the nomadic tabernacle that had served as a reminder of God’s presence with the people since the time of Moses. The Israelites were wanderers in the wilderness no longer; they were now established, ambitious, and seemingly ascendant.

Yet as has been the case many times throughout history, kingdoms and empires are far more fragile than one might realize in the moment. Discontent around Solomon’s accumulation of wealth seems to have been bubbling under the surface for years during his reign, but following Solomon’s death and the ascension of his son, Rehoboam, to the throne, the situation soon devolved into outright revolt. Led by Jeroboam (no relation, confusingly), a former advisor to King Solomon, ten of the twelve historic tribes of Israel broke away from the throne once occupied by David and Solomon to form what became known as the Northern Kingdom of Israel — launching the country into a wider civil war that lasted for nearly two decades, with enmity and resentment lingering far longer than that.

The Northern Kingdom of Israel and Southern Kingdom of Judah would remain separate from one another in the centuries that followed — and their fortunes would diverge sharply as well — yet out of this politically catastrophic time period known as the Divided Monarchy came a different kind of golden era: a golden era of biblical prophets. Starting this week with truth-tellers like Elijah — and continuing with numerous generations of prophets to follow — these messengers from God and the truth they speak to power begin to dominate the biblical text as we move past Solomon’s death in 930 BCE and into the centuries that follow.

<< Return to “Bible 100” home page