King Rehoboam (Judah)

Rehoboam’s harsh response to the people’s request for lighter burdens caused the split of the kingdom, with the ten northern tribes breaking away under Jeroboam I. The prophet Shemaiah instructed him not to wage war to reunite the kingdom, and he obeyed. However, Judah soon fell into idolatry and moral decline, leading to an invasion by Egypt under Shishak, who plundered Jerusalem and the Temple. Rehoboam’s reign marks the transition from unity to division, and his failure set the tone for future instability.