====== Two Kingdoms ======

  * [[Rehoboam]] - king of united Israel, then king of Judah
  * [[Jeroboam]] - first king of the split kingdom of Israel
  * [[Ahijah]] - prophesies to Rehoboam that the kingdom will be split
  * [[Kings of Israel]]
  * [[Kings of Judah]]

The [[kingdom of Israel]] was split into two kingdoms under the reign of king [[Rehoboam]], who was the son of [[Solomon]].  The story can be found in [[1 Kings 12]].

[[Jeroboam]] became the first king of the [[kingdom of Israel]].

==== Prophecy of Ahijah ====

The prophet Ahijah meets [[Jeroboam]] directly and prophesies that the kingdom will be split.  [[Solomon]] is still king at this time, and his son [[Rehoboam]] is the heir prince.

The entire prophesy is in 1 Kings 11:31-39.

The kingdom is taken "out of the hand of Solomon" (1 Kings 11:31) and ten tribes will be given to [[Jeroboam]], while Solomon (in this case, his son, Rehoboam) will rule over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (1 Kings 11:32).  Solomon will continue to reign over united Israel for the rest of his days (1 Kings 11:34).

The reasons for the split:

  * The Israelites had been worshipping:
    * [[Ashtoreth]], goddess of the [[Sidon|Zidonians]]
    * [[Chemosh]], the god of the [[Moabites]]
    * [[Milcom]], the god of the [[Ammonites]]
  * They have not walked in his way
  * Did not do that which was right in the Lord's eyes
  * did not keep the statues and judgements (1 Kings 11:33)

Ahijah also prophecies that if Jeroboam serves God, that he will have a "sure house" (1 Kings 11:38).

When Solomon hears of this prophecy, he wants Jeroboam slain, so the future king flees to Egypt until Solomon dies (1 Kings 11:40).

Later on, Ahijah curses Jeroboam for turning to idol worship, and causing the inhabitants to do so as well (see [[Jeroboam]] for more details, or 1 Kings 14:7-16 for the full prophecy).