Fourteen years after the visit by the Queen of Sheba, King Solomon died. At Solomon's death, thing would never be the same, so at this point we have to get certain things straight in our minds. First, the promises of God to Abraham, called the Abrahamic covenant were not with Judah, but with Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as we read of in Genesis 48:16-20.

Genesis 48:19, 20 "And his father [Jacob] refused, and said, "I know it, my son [Joseph], he also shall become a people, he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater than he [Manasseh], and his seed shall become a multitude of nations," [19] "And he blessed them that day, saying, "In thee shall Israel bless, saying, `God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh:' " and he set Ephraim before Manasseh." [20]

Because of the sins of Reuben, sleeping with his mother, The first born of Leah the first wife was reject. However Joseph was the firstborn of the second wife, Rachel.

Genesis 48:15, 16 "And he blessed Joseph, and said, "God, before Whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God Which fed me all my life long unto this day," [15] "The Angel Which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." [16]

So the Abrahamic covenant rests on Ephraim, with Manasseh also a blessed tribe under the eternal covenant that God made with Abraham. This blessing of Jacob being passed on to Ephraim and Manasseh came down in Egypt, some seventeen hundred years before the birth of our Messiah, Jesus The Christ. It would be over 900 years later that this event of the splitting of the kingdom of Israel into two nations would take place. The time of the captivity in Egypt, the 40 years in the wilderness, as well as the entering into the promise land to claim their rights to the land promised by God to Abraham. The time of the judges would come, and the nation of Israel would enter into nation under kings Saul, David and Solomon.

So now at the death of Israel's third king, Judah has become corrupt. Solomon has allowed heathen gods and religious forms to pollute the land, through the pleasing of his wives and their families. The very mount that our Lord would be crucified on, [Moriah] had become the center of sexual forms called the religion of Baal, as well as Molech practice of killing of their own babies, rather than animals for sins. God is saying its time for a change, and He let his will be known through the prophet Ahijah directly to Jeroboam.

God will never treat the house or nation of Israel the same a He treats the house or nation of Judah. Each will be separate nation, with separate governments, and later in a few years, Israel will be destroyed and carried away into bondage by the Assyrians [745-722 B.C.] while God will deal with Judah a hundred years later, when the Babylonians take them into captivity. Judah will always know who she is as a nation, where as the House of Israel will be split into many nations, named by many separate people. The entire house of Israel will be identified as Caucasians, for the time of their fleeing through the Caucasus Mountains into Europe, Americas, and around the world. This wound of spitting Israel into two peoples will not be healed until after the seventh trump sounds, and our Lord Jesus Christ returns to this earth to set up His kingdom here. That kingdom is what Ezekiel chapters 40 to 48 is all about.

The other item that is important to under stand is that the promise that God made to David, God has kept, as we saw in the lineage from David to Queen Elizabeth II. The lineage of David has not been broken, for the children of David are ruling over the tribe of Ephraim, England, yet the tribe of Manasseh has grown to that huge nation that God has blessed, the United States of America. So the split is about to take place in Israel, and it is ordered by God. Remember that, for it was not a insurrection against God, but against taxes that God had allowed to exist in raising Solomon to the renown that he was.

II Chronicles 10:1 "And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king."

The record of this chapter is found in I Kings 12; Solomon is dead, and Rehoboam is going to Shechem, about thirty miles north of Jerusalem to be crowned king over all Israel. Shechem is about seven miles south of the city of Samaria, which will be the center or capital of the house of Israel later. Rehoboam is out of the borders of the country that he will rule, as the tribe of Ephraim owns the land that Shechem is established on. Rehoboam wanted all the tribes to declare him the king of the entire nation, and he could see nothing that could prevent this.

II Chronicles 10:2 "And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Mebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt."

When the prophet in Solomon's court heard that Ahijah the Shilonite told Jeroboam the son of Nebat, would be king over a new nation called the "house of Israel"; Solomon wanted to kill him. Reminds me of that time when King Herod heard of another King that would be born in his kingdom, he wanted to kill all the newborns under the age of two, and Joseph and Mary had to take their family to Egypt for protection. Egypt was noted for giving protection to those in trouble back in their own homelands.

So Jeroboam fled to Egypt to same his life from the hand of Solomon who was trying to kill him. The news of Solomon's death had finally reached Egypt, and the degree of Solomon would be lifted and over. Jeroboam and the people of the tribes of Israel knew what the prophet had said, and it was time for Jeroboam to return to Shechem.

II Chronicles 10:3 "And they sent and called him, So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying."

Notice that it was the people of the northern tribes that had sent for him, and they would protect this future king of their. However before he could be king, there had to be certain things resolved. As Jeroboam is on his way back to Israel, the people made a request to Rehobom. Call this request a ultimatum from the king: "Grant our wishes and we will accept you as king." So what will the king do?

II Chronicles 10:4 ""Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee."

Rehoboam was standing here with a few men from the court, right in the center of many people that were not happy with how Solomon, Rehoboam's father, had treated those living outside the land of Judah. As Solomon was laying the taxes on the foreigners that were left in the promise land, and not killed as God commanded; he also put heavy taxes on the Israelites lifting in those tribal lands. The people were upset over these taxes, and Rehoboam knew there had better be a cooling off period, and a time for counsel before any decision could be made. Sounds like what goes on at city hall today.

II Chronicles 10:5 "And he said unto them, "Come again unto me after three days." And the People departed."

So Rehoboam, Solomon's son told the people to come back in three days. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin are not included in this group meeting here at Shechem, for they accept Rehoboam as their king, and all the money from those taxes went to make their land beautiful. Remember from Judges 19 through 21 when the nation went to war against Benjamin, the entire tribe of Benjamin was killed. All of them except for 600 men. The men of Judah allowed their daughters to marry into these men, and continue the tribe of Benjamin. So the tribe of Benjamin is made up of the men of Benjamin, and the ladies of Judah, though small in number, they grew into quite a people.

II Chronicles 10:6 "And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, "What counsel give ye me to return answer to this People?"

The old men of Judah that stood before Solomon and observed the taxes being placed on the people that were unfair, knew what the result would be if those taxes were not lifted. Remember that most of Solomon's army were from those tribes outside of Judah, and once their commander and chief was dead, their loyalty was to their families back home. These old men knew that, and God gave them wisdom and advice. Rehoboam sought the advice of these men, and wanted to know what he should tell them.

Sort of how it is today, when our President surrounds himself with the wise men of our land; of the military, the intelligence community, and all the other offices and seeks the wisdom of their offices before opening his mouth and committing to something foolish.

II Chronicles 10:7 "And they spake unto him, saying, "If thou be kind to this People, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever."

It's no different today then in Rehoboam's time. You be good to your people and listen to their problems, and try to help them out, and they will serve you and stand by you for ever. This is exactly what we hear in every speech from every president, for they want to be reelected. It's just good common sense.

Remember that the land of the tribes of Judah had been built on the sweat and taxes of the other ten tribes. Before these ten tribes will commit to Rehoboam, they want a commitment from him that this is going to change. The wise men from Judah told Rehoboam tell the people that there would be changes to their likening when I become king; Say things they want to hear and they will back you. Would have they? Probably, just like the lies that politicians tell our people to get elected today, and then turn their backs on them once their in office and back in Washington [Jerusalem of our day].

II Chronicles 10:8 "But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him."

When Rehoboam left the old men, he left their advice behind also. Rehoboam then went to the tribe of kids that grew up in or with the elate of Solomon's court. Those young people that saw only the finer things of life, and had not tasted of the hardships of Solomon's tax collectors. When the government says to collect the taxes, those collectors really don't care what measures they go through collecting the dues put on the people. Remember that lowering the taxes meant less money for Jerusalem, for government programs, and that their families could feed off of. What type of advice do you think Rehobaom could expect to receive? That's right; all bad.

II Chronicles 10:9 "And he said unto them, "What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, `Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?" 

All Rehoboam's life he sat and watched the burdens that his dad, Solomon, placed on the people, as he messed around with his thousand wives, and fell deep into paganism. Solomon allowed the Kenites to not only enter his land and take over the construction projects, but even went into business with them in shipping, construction and so on. He placed the Kenites in positions within God's house, and took their king's daughter for his wife. These kids and their parents were all on the receiving end of those good times under Solomon.

These old elders of Israel had been there in the hard times, they saw the trouble of brother killing brother, and all the other troubles prior to Solomon's reign. They knew what a split kingdom would do to Israel, yet God allowed Rehoboam to take the advice of those royal kids in the neighbor in Jerusalem. These kids had become callous to God's ways, for they were the offspring of all sorts of heathen women, that offered their sacrifices to idols, and in some cases, even offered their own children as living sacrifices. One generation can make a big difference.

Those that lived in the north could see the moral decay in their capital, and they did not like it. Those wicked things and bad advise is exactly what is going on in our nation today, only those outside the capital do not have the sense to do anything about it, as our judges turn their backs to God, and give an open ear to the wickedness of perverts, and those that would destroy our nation by turning their backs on the ways of God. God warned us in Deuteronomy 28:15-63 what he would bring down on our nation if we turned our backs to His Ways, and yet those in authority think they can defy God, and bid the devil's kids ways.

II Chronicles 10:10 "And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, "Thus shalt thou answer the People that spake unto thee, saying, `Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, `My little finger shall be thinker than my father's loins."

Stop and look at the advise these young people gave to Rehoboam. "To make the yoke lighter", means less taxes and less wealth for those at the top in Jerusalem. It would mean not only a change in life styles, but would require man of them to go out and work for their living. Today our leaders take a poll before they commit to something, and these young kids, friend of Reheboam are the only ones that he will listen to.

II Chronicles 10:11 "For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastise you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.' "

King Rehoboam went back to Shechem, only he brought with him the head tax collector for all the land. Adoram came with Rehoboam to tell the people that he would follow the king's orders no matter what they said. When the people of the ten tribes heard what Rehoboam said, the people of the ten tribes stoned the man as he approached them to speak, and he died on the spot. Rehoboam saw the hatred in the eyes of the people; he and his guards mounted their chariots and and headed south for Jerusalem. When Rehoboam saw the stir that his words caused, he sold out cheep. The tax collector paid the price with his life for Rehoboam's stupidity."

II Chronicles 10:12 "So Jeroboam and all the People came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, "Come again to me on the third day."

II Chronicles 10:13 "And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,"

II Chronicles 10:14 "And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

There was a rebellion taking place and it could not be put down. All Israel except the tribes of Benjamin and Judah were rebelling against the house of David. So keep in mind that from this point in the Scriptures, when you hear of "Israel" in the scriptures, it is talking about the ten tribes to the north that are binding into a nation, and will put Jerboam as their king. The kingdom will split into two separate nation, and Hosea 1:10 tells us how to identify them in these latter times.

Hosea 1:10 "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my People,' there it shall be said unto them, `Ye are the sons of the living God."

In the lands and places where these children [house] of Israel are, in the last day, they are not going to even know who they are. They will look around of other people to identify them of Israel, rather than know their own heritage. Today we point a finger to Jews, mostly Kenites of the seed of Rachab, of Hamath, and call them of Israel and Abraham. Friend you can number the Jews easily, but those of the ten tribes and their ancestors, most Christians can't go back over a few hundred years, and their lineage is all washed out. Israel has multiplied, and from the earliest times they have been known by many names: Celts, Cimmerons, Gauls, Scathians, Saca, and so many others. But one name stuck with them, as all those tribes came pouring through the Caucasus Mountains to become the Caucasians.

However the one thing that does identify each of those nations, is that "Ye are the sons of the living God." When Jesus Christ overcame death and came out of the tomb and ascended into heaven to be at the right hand of the father, He is now known as "the Living God". These people are called "Christians", meaning people of Christ. Try to have a Christian crusade in Jerusalem, and don't know who will hate you the worst, the Kenite Jew, or the Islamic Arab.

II Chronicles 10:15 "So the king hearken not unto the People: for the cause was of God, that the Lord might perform His Word, which He spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat."

Its important to pay attention to this verse because God revels His Will within the Scriptures. When God speaks, it happens exactly as God stated it. God intended of all the splitting of the nation of Israel back before the death of Solomon. Ahijah the prophet of God warned Jeroboam of this split, and told him that he would reign over the new nation of the house of Israel. The Kenites had been seated in their position of control and had gained respect within the government. God placed the Kenite people to where the rest of the Scriptures would be fulfilled; concerning Jesus' birth, life, death and resurrection.

Today we are in the end times, and each and ever detail of our time is spelled out in His Word, and God will cause peoples and nations to do what they do, and even the hidden dynasties of the Kenites will move to bring the world under control, and set for the Devil and scorpions [fallen angels] that will come to earth with him. Is it all a sacred? No, God put it in His Word so that His people would be warned and not deceived in that day when the entire world is tested by Satan.

At the writing or hand of Ahijah, and at the word of God spoken to Shemaiah the man of God, Jeroboam was given the Word that He would be the appointed over ruling over the House of Israel..

II Chronicles 10:16 "And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the People answered the king, saying, "What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house." So all Israel went to their tents."

When the tribes of Israel refused to follow Reheboam, they thought the battle was all over and they went to their tents, but it was not over.

I Kings 12:21 "And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, and hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon."

When the prophet of God spoke to Rehoboam, and the people, they listened. The split of the kingdom was of God, and the nation would be split into two separate nations. The land of the house of Israel is called Judah, and the people on that land are called Jews. That land is composed only of the land of the Judah, and Benjamin and that part of Levi that was allotted to them. The rest of the land is to the House of Israel. Of course a portion of the tribe of Levi was assigned to Judah and they would also be included in Judah. Also within the kingdom were the many Kenites that came under David and Solomon in the construction of buildings and cities, as well as those involved in the commerce that started with Solomon joined with king Hiram of the Kenites in Shipping and other business.

I Kings 12:22, 23 "As this great army was set for battle, God spoke to Shemaiah the man of God, saying," [22] "Speak unto Hehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the People, saying." [23]

When the prophet of God spoke, the people listened.

I Kings 12:24 "Thus saith the Lord, `Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house: for this thing is form Me.' They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart, according to the Word of the Lord."

The people of Judah listened and went home, they did not go to war, and thus the two nation were established.

II Chronicles 10:17 "But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them."

There were also many people of the other tribes that were in Judah, and those that came to be near the Temple, or Jerusalem, those people would remain under the reign of Rehoboam.

II Chronicles 10:18 "Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem."

II Chronicles 10:19 "And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day."

We know from I Kings 12 that the rebellion of the house of Israel was not met with force, as we will see into in the next chapter.