The Kingdom of Israel Split ( 2 Chronicles 11: 1 - 4)

After Rehoboam (Solomon's successor & son) returned to Jerusalem, he decided to attack Israel and regain control of the whole country. So he called together one hundred eighty thousand soldiers of Judah and Benjamin. Meanwhile, the LORD had told Shemiah the prophet to tell Rehoboam and everyone from Judah and Benjamin, "The LORD warns you not to go to war against the people from the northern tribes - they are your relatives. God home! The LORD is the one who made these things happen." Rehoboam and his army obeyed the LORD's message and did not attack Jeroboam (King of Israel) and his troops. It was because Solomon divided his heart against the LORD by taking on excessive numbers of wives and making sacrifices to other gods that God took the ten tribes to the north away from Judah and their king Rehoboam. God did not take them in the life of Solomon for his servant David's sake and he left behind Judah and Benjamin so that David's throne would have a descendant of David sitting there. God stops Rehoboam from recourse against the brethren because it was a divine punishment from God against Solomon. The kingdoms of Israel and Judah will not be together under one king again until the True King who is Jesus Christ makes his second return to rule over his people. Daily Prayer: Lord, divine punishment is a hard thing to endure. I know that the Christian is not punished because they are covered by the blood of Christ, but the Lord does discipline all who call themselves a Child of God which is the sign of your love for your own. In Jesus name and for his sake I pray Amen.