I was struck in my scripture reading the last few days how Israel, God's chosen people, began to divide into factions. Instead of fighting their external enemies in unity, the Israelites were fighting among themselves! It began with Saul, God's chosen (first) king of Israel, and David with his devout followers. This conflict came about because Saul was no longer devoted to God and became jealous of David's military success, even though David was fighting on his behalf! Because Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin and David from the tribe of Judah, the conflict took on a tribal dividing line:
Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months. (2 Samuels 2:8-11)
Eventually when David became king, he (and later his son Solomon) would re-unite all 12 tribes into a very strong and united kingdom. However, when King Solomon became unfaithful God punished him by dividing up Israel into southern (the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to King David and Solomon) and northern (AKA Ephraim - the other ten tribes who split off to join Jeroboam) kingdoms. For the sake of David, this happened after Solomon's death:
The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” (1 King 11:9-13)
So to answer the question: "Why was Israel divided into the Southern Kingdom and Northern Kingdom?". I have found this resource helpful:
From the divine viewpoint, the division was a judgment on not keeping God’s commands, specifically the commands prohibiting idolatry. From a human viewpoint, the division was the result of tribal discord and political unrest. The principle is that sin brings division. The good news is that God, in His mercy, has promised a reuniting of the northern and southern kingdoms. “He will raise a banner for the nations / and gather the exiles of Israel; / he will assemble the scattered people of Judah / from the four quarters of the earth. / Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish, / and Judah’s enemies will be destroyed; / Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, / nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim” (Isaiah 11:12-13). When the Prince of Peace—Jesus Christ—reigns in His millennial kingdom, all hostility, jealousy, and conflict among the tribes will be put to rest.
This is not unlike the questions: "Why are there so many denominations?" or "Why are there divisions in the church?". I can appreciate the diversity of the different denominations and doctrinal foundations of our belief. I do acknowledge that sin often plays a role in many of these divisions. My take home application is that I should always be faithful to God and serve Him only. No matter how good my current church is, it can be turned into some form of idol worship. Praise God for His promise to bring all believers together through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
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