September 6, 2026

UNIT 1 History of Israel and Judah

LESSON: 1

Study Text: 1 Kings 11:1 through 12:24

Central Truth: Arrogance, injustice, and the lust for power lead to division.

KEY Verse-- Ecclesiastes 4:13 Beter is a poor and a wise child than as old foolish king, who (KJV).

will no more be admonished (KJV).

It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice. (NLT).

LET'S GET STARTED

We all know that far too many marriages end in divorce. But why? Is it because the couple never really loved each other to begin with? Probably not. Life happens, people change, and it takes regular and faithful devotion to keep a marriage alive once the novelty wears off .

DISCUSSION STARTER--Sugar Rush

What's your favorite snack that tastes great and gives you a little energy--however quickly it might wear off? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sometimes things start strong and eventually fizzle out. King Saul seemed to start well, but he later abandoned God. David had a strong start, but late in his career he made some huge mistakes. Then there's Solomon. He had a miraculous encounter with the living God. His desire for wisdom pleased God (1 Kings 3:3-15). But eventually, Solomon's devotion to God wore off, and his reign ended very differently than it began.

                                                          PART 1--Why the Kingdom Was Divided

          A Divided Heart                                     1Kings 11:1-8

Solomon's affinity for idol-worshipping wives should not be written off as an innocent mistake. God had warned the Israelites about the by temptations created by intermarrying (Exodus 34:15-16), yet as the author of Kings bluntly says, "Solomon insisted on loving them anyway" (1 Kings 11:2). We should not villainize Solomon's wives simply because they were not Israelites by birth. Remember, Solomon's great-great-grandmother Ruth was from Moab (Ruth 1:4), and through her, God established a covenant family of kings (4:22)! The Torah instructed priests to remain separated so they could minister on behalf of the general population (Lev 21:1); likewise, Israel was intended to be a separated nation of priests (Exodus 19:6) for the foreign peoples around them. For both political and personal reasons, Solomon chose to unite himself and his reign to many non-Israelite women. This decision led to the destruction of his union with God. These women simply continued worshipping the idols they had always worshipped, and Solomon was drawn in. Like all people, Solomon was influenced by those around him.

? What are some ways your friends' like or dislikes have influenced your own?

  A Rebellious Heart                       1 kings 11:9-13

The author of Kings makes it clear that Solomon understood his responsibility to keep the covenant God established with David (2 Sam 7:16). Not only was Solomon the son of David, but God appeared to him in person--twice (1 Kings 3:5-14; 9:2-9). God's third meeting with Solomon was not to grant a request or celebrate an accomplishment. This time, God was angry. Despite all the blessings and warnings, Solomon "heart had turned away from the Lord" (11:9). What caused this change of heart? Was it his sexual lust? Thirst for political power? His prideful assumption that God would always favor him no matter what? It may have been a combination of factors. God's words to Solomon in 1 Kings11:12-13 provide a bit of a spoiler for the events of chapter 12. God would strip most of the kingdom from Solomon's son. It was not a question of if Rehoboam would lose the kingdom, but how and when. God says that He would give Solomon's son one tribe, although he eventually ruled over two (Judah and Benjamin). For geographical and historical reasons, the author may have counted Benjamin and Judah as one tribe since they became the singular kingdom of Judah, or maybe God ended up being even more merciful than expected.

?How should godly people in authority lead with both justice and mercy?

PART 2--Emerging Threats to the Kingdom

Enemies from North and South                      1 Kings 11:14-25

Hadad ruled in Edom, at Israel's southern border (1 Kings 11:14), while Rezon ruled in Damascus, at Israel's northern border (v.24). Unsurprisingly, David's war machine created enemies in regions around Israel (vv.21,25). Now, Solomon's kingdom encountered pressure from both sides. This passage indicates that God worked through Israel's adversaries to carry out divine judgment. However, as passages like Exodus 9-10 or Isaiah 14 demonstrates we cannot assume God considers a leader's actions righteous simply any because He chose the leader to carry out divine plans. This is one reason our ultimate allegiance must be to God alone, never any human leader.

? Why do you think God sometimes works through ungodly people to accomplish His purposes? 

  Prophecy to Jeroboam             1 Kings 11:26-43

The New Living Translation introduces Jeroboam as a "rebel leader" (1 Kings 11:26), but this label foreshadows his role later in the account. Here in chapter 11, Solomon merely identifies Jeroboam as a skilled leader and gives him authority over a large project (v.28). So what did Jeroboam do to make Solomon want to kill him 12 verses later? Absolutely nothing! There is no record of Jeroboam stirring up rebellion or making a grab for power. We only know Jeroboam received the prophecy from God that he was next in line to the throne. We also know for sure is how Solomon reacted to God's message through the prophet. Instead of turning his heart back to God, Solomon tried to eliminate the threat on his own. In the next chapter, we will see how Solomon's son Rehoboam also responded to threats by attempting to tighten his grip on royal power. Insecure leaders often try to seize more power--groping for control and lashing out at perceived threats instead of dealing with root issues.  Contrast Solomon's reaction with that of the repentant King of Nineveh (Jonah 3:6-10). Would God have relented if Solomon humbled himself and repented? It's impossible to know.

 ? Why is it important that we do not become too attached to positions or possessions?

PART 3-The Kingdom Divides

                  Rehoboam Follows Terrible Advice              1 Kings 12:1-15

Jehoboam approaches Rehoboam--the king he is destined to supplant--and commits to serving him if he will show empathy to the Israelites. The people's plea to "lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes" (1 King 12:4) shows that, even under Solomon's kingship, the people experienced oppression--just as Samuel prophesied before he anointed Saul as Israel's first king (1 Sam 8:4-18). Rehoboam foolishly ignored the elder's advice and listened to his friends instead. Then he tried to show his strength by making threats. How differently things might have turned out if he listened to good advice based on maturity and experience! Just as God used Pharaoh's hard heart to bring about His plan for the Israelites (Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 8:15), Rehoboam's leadership failure led to "the will of the LORD" (1Kings 12:15).

? How do you discern when to follow someone's advice and when to ignore it? 

The People Rejected Rehoboam                   1 Kings 12:16--24

Although Rehoboam's terrible decisions finalized the division of Israel, Solomon's unfaithfulness eroded the foundation long before. The Israelites went home, refusing to recognize Rehoboam as their king (1 Kings 12:16). Only the people of Judah remained under his authority (v. 17). Rehoboam tried to send an emissary named Adoniram to Israel, but the people of Israel quickly murdered the king's messenger (v. 18). The execution of Adoniram caused Rehoboam to hide out in Judah's capital city, Jerusalem. These events marked the end of his reign over the northern tribes of Israel, who called upon Jeroboam to be their king

 instead (vv.18-20). Rehoboam gathered an army and tried one last time to seize control over the northern tribes. Somewhat surprisingly, he listened to God's message through Shemaiah, who told the people not to attack their kinsmen. It was time for a new chapter of Israel's history to begin. Instead of one kingdom and one king, there would now be two kingdoms and kings.

? How should Christians respond when human decisions--their own or someone else's--lead to disaster?

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US?

Since God both gives and takes away (Job 1:21), we must hold our blessings loosely. Instead of focusing on earthly rulers who are certain to fail, we must fix our eyes on Jesus--the King of Kings--who models sacrificial service.

LIVING IT OUT

List 10 blessings you did nothing to earn (like sunshine, music, or your family's love). Then thank God for these and all His other gifts. 

             DAILY BIBLE READINGS

                      Monday: Saul Loses a kingdom. 1 Samuel 15:19-28

                                  Tuesday: David's Kingdom Lasts Forever. 2 Samuel 7:8-16

                     Wednesday: This Is the Lord's.1 Chron. 29:10-13

                                  Thursday: Losing the kingdom of God. Matthew 21:33-43

               Friday: Look for a Higher kingdom. Acts 1:1-8

                                         Saturday: God's Never-Ending Kingdom. Revelation 11:15-19

RADIANT LIFE

Volume 107 Number 3 Mar. Apr. May 2026

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