WHO WAS THE FIRST KING OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

• A. Jeroboam ✓
• B. Rehoboam
• C. David
• D. Solomon

The first king of the divided kingdom of Israel was Jeroboam. After the death of King Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel split into two separate kingdoms: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Jeroboam became the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after leading a rebellion against King Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, who ruled over the southern kingdom of Judah.

Jeroboam was originally a servant of Solomon but rose to prominence due to a prophecy by the prophet Ahijah. The prophet had foretold that Jeroboam would become king over ten tribes of Israel. When Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, refused to lighten the burden of taxation and labor on the people, Jeroboam led a revolt, resulting in the division of the kingdom.

Under Jeroboam’s rule, he established two golden calves as objects of worship in Bethel and Dan to prevent his people from going to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. This move was seen as a departure from the worship prescribed by God and led to idolatry in the northern kingdom.

Despite his initial rise to power, Jeroboam’s reign was marked by disobedience to God’s commands, which ultimately led to his downfall and the eventual destruction of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians.

In summary, Jeroboam was the first king of the divided kingdom of Israel, ruling over the northern kingdom after leading a rebellion against King Rehoboam.