Why did Israel split into two kingdoms?

Answer 1

The respected Israeli archaeologist, Israel Finkelstein, says that there never was a United Monarchy of Israel. The two kingdoms were always separate, with their own separate cultures and dialects of the Hebrew language.

Answer 2

Rehoboam's father, King Solomon, had levied relatively heavy taxes, which had been used for such large-scale endeavors as building the First Temple. After Solomon's death, the people approached his son Rehav'am (Rehoboam) and asked that he lower the taxes. He ignored the counsel of his elder advisers and refused the people's request. This led the Ten Tribes to turn away from him (1 Kings ch.12).The background reason was because King Solomon had been less than perfectly righteous. This led God to punish him by diminishing his dynasty in the lifetime of his son (Rehoboam). 1 Kings ch.11.

A deeper reason is that God wanted the more righteous people of Judah to be influenced by the Ten Tribes as little as possible.

See also: Solomon's errors

Until recently, no evidence outside The Bible attested to King David's existence. Many critics questioned his existence. In 1993, an archaeologist named Dr. Avraham Biran and his team, digging at Tell Dan, discovered a black basalt stele, containing Aramaic inscriptions. Two of the lines included the phrases "The King of Israel" and "House of David." This discovery has forced critics to reconsider their view of the historicity of the united Davidic kingdom. In 1994 more pieces were found, with inscriptions referring to Jehoram, the son of Ahab, ruler over Israel, and Ahaziah, who was "The ruler over the House of David." Dr. Hershel Shanks of the Biblical Archaeological Review states, "The stele brings to life the biblical text in a dramatic way."

See also:

Archaeology

Debunking the Bible-critics

Answer 3

According to the Book of Kings, the United Monarchy of Israel split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the much smaller kingdom of Judah approximately 920 BCE, during the reign of Rehoboam, because he insisted on continuing the unwise policies of his father, Solomon.

However, the respected Israeli archaeologist, Israel Finkelstein, says that there never was a United Monarchy of Israel. The two kingdoms were always separate, with their own separate cultures and dialects of the Hebrew language. The story of a United Kingdom under David and Solomon was created later, after the destruction of Israel, and contributed much to national pride among the people of Judah. It was also used to justify the hoped for 'recovery' of the lost territory of Israel.