Changes for Israel

Do Now Turn to page 220 of your textbook and let’s read about Rehoboam. What do you predict will happen next?

Characters Needed Solomon Rehoboam Ahijah Sargon II Hezekiah

Israel and Judah A. Northern Israelites were unhappy with Solomon’s rule 1. They felt he had given special treatment to his own tribe (Judah) 2. They also wondered why members of Judah did not have to pay high taxes or work on building projects

Solomon Solomon accomplished much, but the people faced high taxes and heavy labor. Northern Israelites felt that he favored his own tribe.

Israel and Judah B. Solomon dies, Rehoboam becomes King 1. Northern Israelite tribes wanted him to end taxes and forced labor a. Rehoboam declines request and promises harsher treatment

Rehoboam Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, promised harsher treatment

Israel and Judah C. Split of the Kingdom 1. Northern tribes rebel, form their own kingdom in 928 B.C. a. Kept the name of Israel, with the capital of Samaria

Israel and Judah 2. Only the Southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to Rehoboam a. Their kingdom was known as Judah, with the capital of Jerusalem

Israel and Judah

D. For 200 years, the two kingdoms remained politically divided, sometimes fighting each other

Israel and Judah 1. They did, however, remain united by the same religious beliefs a. Jerusalem and the Temple remained holy places in Judah b. Israel built its own holy places in Samaria

Hills of Samaria

Israel and Judah

E. Kingdoms Differed 1. Judah was small, but strong a. Kings came from only one family, the House of David b. Judah’s government was stable

Israel and Judah 2. Israel was bigger and had more people than Judah, but also more problems a. Ten tribes often fought for power b. Israelites were often poor c. Some Israelites began to turn away from God

Israel Falls to the Assyrians 1. Prophets warn Israel a. They worried people were not following the word of God, and warned the people b. They reminded the people of Israel that God rewarded good behavior and would punish those who behaved poorly c. The prophet Ahijah warned… “The Lord… will uproot Israel from this good land that He gave to their fathers, and will scatter them…”

Ahijah

Israel Falls to the Assyrians 2. Assyrian Empire Grows a. Fierce warriors from northern Mesopotamia who expanded their empire by conquering other peoples b. In 722 BC, Assyria conquered the weak and disorganized kingdom of Israel

Assyrian Invasion

Israel Falls to the Assyrians c. The Assyrian king, Sargon II, boasted about his capture of Israel’s capital Samaria. He claimed, “I led away 27,290 of its inhabitants as captives…I have rebuilt the city better than it had been before and settled it with people which I brought from the lands of my conquests.”

Sargon II

Israel Falls to the Assyrians 3. Assyrian Plan for Controlling Territories a. They forced many of the conquered Israelites to leave their land (especially leaders and wealthy) b. Large numbers of Assyrians settled in Israel, mixing with remaining Israelites i. People became known as Samaritans

Israel Falls to the Assyrians c. Assyrian invasion meant the end of Jewish people in Israel d. Israelites were forced from Canaan: known as the “ten lost tribes of Israel” 4. Assyrians Prepared to Conquer Judah

Judah Remains Independent A. People of Judah fought back against the Assyrians B. 701 B.C., King Hezekiah protected Jerusalem from an Assyrian invasion

Judah Remains Independent 1. Assyrian army completely surrounded the walled city a. People could not leave without being captured or killed b. They had no resources or a way to get any

Judah Remains Independent 2. Hezekiah ordered a tunnel built so that water from a nearby spring could flow into Jerusalem a. With a water supply, the people of Judah outlasted their attackers C. Judah remained independent for almost 100 years after the Assyrian Attack

Hezekiah King of Judah when the Assyrians invade

Hezekiah’s Tunnel Allowed water to get into the city; they were able to outlast the Assyrians

Wrap Up Summarize the story of what you have learned. Who took over after Solomon? Why did the people rebel? Israel split into what 2 parts? What were the features of each place? What happened to Israel? What happened to Judah?