After the death of King Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel went through a series of events that led to its division and eventual downfall. Here are the key events:
1. Division of the Kingdom: Following Solomon's death in 931 BCE, his son Rehoboam became the king of the United Kingdom of Israel. However, due to harsh taxation policies and oppressive rulership, ten northern tribes rebelled under the leadership of Jeroboam and formed the independent Northern Kingdom of Israel, with its capital at Samaria. Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to Rehoboam, forming the Southern Kingdom of Judah, with its capital at Jerusalem.
2. Political Struggles: Both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms faced internal power struggles and instability. Kings rose and fell, often through violent means, resulting in a lack of stability and weakened leadership.
3. Assyrian Conquest of Israel: In 722 BCE, the Assyrian Empire under King Shalmaneser V conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, after years of warfare and multiple sieges. The Israelites were captured, deported, and scattered throughout the Assyrian Empire, effectively ending the existence of the Northern Kingdom.
4. Kingdom of Judah Survives: Despite the fall of the Northern Kingdom, the Southern Kingdom of Judah continued to exist for several more centuries. However, it faced constant threats from various regional powers, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians.
5. Babylonian Exile: In 586 BCE, the Babylonian Empire under King Nebuchadnezzar II conquered the Kingdom of Judah and destroyed Jerusalem, including the Great Temple built by Solomon. The majority of the population was deported to Babylon in what is known as the Babylonian Exile.
6. Persian Conquest and Return: In 539 BCE, the Persian Empire under King Cyrus the Great conquered the Babylonians and allowed the exiled Jews to return to their homeland. They were permitted to rebuild their temple and reestablish their religious practices in Judah.
Overall, the Kingdom of Israel, once a united and powerful entity, was eventually divided, conquered, and scattered due to internal conflicts, external invasions, and the consequences of imperial expansion in the ancient Near East.
What happened to the kingdom of Israel after Solomon died
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