Topical Bible: Rebellion: Revolt of the Ten Tribes

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The Revolt of the Ten Tribes is a significant event in the history of Israel, marking the division of the united monarchy into two separate kingdoms: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. This schism is rooted in political, social, and spiritual factors that unfolded during the reign of King Solomon and culminated in the reign of his son, Rehoboam.

Background and Causes

The seeds of rebellion were sown during the latter years of King Solomon's reign. Solomon, despite his wisdom and the prosperity he brought to Israel, imposed heavy taxation and forced labor on the people to support his extensive building projects, including the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem and his royal palace. This burden fell heavily on the northern tribes, leading to growing discontent.

Moreover, Solomon's departure from exclusive worship of Yahweh, influenced by his foreign wives and their deities, contributed to spiritual decline and dissatisfaction among the tribes. As recorded in 1 Kings 11:4 , "For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been."

The Division of the Kingdom

Upon Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam ascended to the throne. The people, led by Jeroboam son of Nebat, approached Rehoboam at Shechem, seeking relief from the heavy burdens imposed by Solomon. The elders advised Rehoboam to lighten the people's load, but he rejected their counsel, opting instead to follow the advice of his younger advisors to increase the yoke (1 Kings 12:10-11).

Rehoboam's harsh response led to the revolt of the northern tribes. As recorded in 1 Kings 12:16 , "When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: 'What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!' So the Israelites went home."

The Establishment of the Northern Kingdom

Jeroboam was subsequently made king over the northern tribes, forming the kingdom of Israel, while Rehoboam retained control over Judah and Benjamin, forming the kingdom of Judah. This division fulfilled the prophecy given to Jeroboam by the prophet Ahijah, who had torn a new cloak into twelve pieces, symbolizing the division of the kingdom (1 Kings 11:30-31).

Jeroboam, fearing that his subjects might return to Rehoboam if they continued to worship in Jerusalem, established alternative centers of worship in Bethel and Dan, setting up golden calves and appointing non-Levitical priests (1 Kings 12:28-31). This act of idolatry led Israel into sin and set a pattern of apostasy that plagued the northern kingdom throughout its history.

Spiritual and Historical Implications

The revolt and subsequent division had profound spiritual and historical implications for the people of Israel. The northern kingdom, often referred to as Israel or Ephraim, quickly fell into idolatry and was characterized by a series of unstable dynasties. The southern kingdom, Judah, maintained the Davidic line and the temple in Jerusalem, preserving the worship of Yahweh more faithfully, though it too experienced periods of apostasy.

The division weakened the once-united nation, making both kingdoms more vulnerable to external threats. Ultimately, the northern kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC, leading to the dispersion of the ten tribes, while the southern kingdom fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC.

The Revolt of the Ten Tribes serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God's commandments and the importance of faithful leadership. It underscores the need for unity under God's covenant and the dangers of turning away from His prescribed ways.

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1 Kings 12:16-20
So when all Israel saw that the king listened not to them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to your own house, David. So Israel departed to their tents.
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2 Chronicles 10:1
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.
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2 Chronicles 13:5-12
Ought you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
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Library

The Instrumentality of the Wicked Employed by God, While He ...
... and yet how this same will originated the revolt. ... expressly commanded it; and yet
the rebellion of the ... same time, with his will the ten tribes were alienated ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 18 the instrumentality of.htm

The New Garment Bent
... put forward as the reason for the revolt, and, no ... for the readiness with which the
ten tribes rallied to ... must suppose an attempt at armed rebellion by Jeroboam ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the new garment bent.htm

The Assumption of Moses
... and tyrants [133] eighteen years; and ten tribes shall revolt for nineteen ... 134] As
for the ten, they shall ... under Adrian as a punishment for the rebellion of Bar ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the assumption of moses.htm

Chapter x
... be covered very briefly in chapters ten and eleven ... so frequently in exhorting others
to rebellion, that finally ... So this inciter to revolt (Nimrod) came to be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter x.htm

North and South
... This is the Great Rebellion the Revolt of Manhood ... If you cannot edify a thousand,
perhaps you can influence ten; if you cannot with a regular congregation ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/north and south.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... of feudal lordships"Belharrdn-beluzur"Shalmaneser V. and Egypt: rebellion of Hoshea ...
in deep veneration by pilgrims belonging to the ten tribes.*** It is in ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians ...
... good; I cannot, I dare not now revolt or deny ... intent of my words, savoured either
of heresy or rebellion. ... church and all, as he served the ten tribes at one ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/john bunyan on the terms.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... Offerings to ten times the usual amount were bestowed on ... Once more, in BC514, another
revolt took place under ... but this did not prevent a third rebellion in the ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... of the ark"Wars with the peoples of the East"Absalom's rebellion; the coronation ...
and prophets"The death of Solomon; the schism of the ten tribes and the ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Beginning at Jerusalem. --Luke xxiv. 47.
... like vagabonds among the nations; yea, and when they rendered rebellion and blasphemy ...
himself up to devilism: a company of men, the ten tribes, that worshipped ...
/.../bunyan/jerusalem sinner saved/beginning at jerusalem luke xxiv 47.htm