Rehoboam

Rehoboam was Solomon's son, born to Naamah the Ammonitess. When Solomon died, the nation gathered at Shechem to make Rehoboam king. Led by Jeroboam, the people requested relief from Solomon's heavy taxation and forced labor: "Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father... lighter."

Rehoboam asked for three days to consider. The elders who had served Solomon advised leniency: "If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day... they will be thy servants for ever." But Rehoboam rejected their counsel and consulted his young friends, who advised harsh treatment.

After three days, Rehoboam answered the people arrogantly: "My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." The northern tribes immediately revolted, and when Rehoboam sent his taskmaster to collect taxes, they stoned him to death.

The kingdom split permanently. Rehoboam ruled only Judah and Benjamin, with about 180,000 warriors, but God forbade him to attack Israel. During his reign, Judah fell into idolatry. In his fifth year, Pharaoh Shishak invaded, plundering the temple and palace of treasures Solomon had accumulated. Rehoboam died after seventeen years, and the divided kingdom never reunited.