All things involving man and time must come to an end. As great as David was, his kingdom ended and Solomon's reign began. In terms of greatness of any kingdom in Israel, none can compare to Solomon's reign. But it, too, came to an inglorious end. Solomon's sin of worship of other gods and building shrines to them taint his reign and prematurely ended the dynasty of David's lineage over all of Israel. If only Solomon had obeyed and followed the leading and command of the Lord!
After Solomon's death (which strangely, almost nothing said about in 1 Kings) the kingdom is divided into Israel and Judah with Jeroboam ruling the northern kingdom of Israel and Rehoboam ruling the southern kingdom of Judah. The Lord offers, in His matchless grace, an opportunity to Jeroboam to establish a new dynasty in Israel if Jeroboam will only obey the Word of the Lord. But, spurning the grace of God, Jeroboam erects shrines and false gods and seals his and his descendant's fate. Rehoboam, one of Solomon's sons, is also very evil, continuing the sin of his father in erecting shrines and disobeying the Lord. Thus begins a long line of evil rulers that ultimately ruin the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and cause Israel to disperse among the heathen nations.
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