Israel Divided

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: What God has given you? Did he tell you to build those asheripoles? How about the altar to Milcombe. Have you heard their screams? Solomon? 00:00:16 Speaker 3: What screams? 00:00:17 Speaker 2: The screams of the children they sacrifice on those altars? You allowed them to build children, Solomon, my king. 00:00:28 Speaker 4: The northern tribes grow restless. Jerreboam, who has successfully evaded our assassins, is now reported to be in exile in Egypt, but his name is everywhere. They are rallying around him. 00:00:42 Speaker 1: To the right of the temple mount in the distance, he could see firelight. Another festival to Molik was being held. Solomon could hear the drums, the women, and the crying of infants drunken rituals idol worship child's sacrifice. 00:01:02 Speaker 5: Because you have done this, because you have turned your heart from me, because you have chased after the gods of your wives, and because you have not kept my covenant and my statutes as your father David did, I will tear the kingdom from your hands and give it to your servant. Now, your enemy, Jeribohem. 00:01:29 Speaker 2: What have I done? 00:01:36 Speaker 6: Salmon built the kingdom with wisdom? His son? He tried to hold it together with fear cello, my friends, from here in the holy land of Israel, i'm l extein with international fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. What does it take to hold a kingdom together? Is it might wisdom, lineage, or is it something less glamorous like trust. In today's episode, drawn from First Kings, Chapter twelve, we step into a moment of unrest. King Solomon the Builder, the dreamer, the man of a thousand Proverbs, is gone, and what remains is his house, a divided house, splintering beneath the weight of ambition and memory. Rehobam, his son has inherited the throne, but not the love of the people. And from the north a new voice rises, one who speaks not of lineage, but of burdens, one who carries not gold but grievance. This is not an easy story, but it's a story of decisions, that echo of power that is tested, of a legacy that is unraveling. This Bible story will ask hard questions about leadership, about loyalty, about what it means to rule and be ruled. 00:02:58 Speaker 1: King Solomon the Wise went the way of all men, whether they be kings or servants, tyrants or priests, the fate of all remains the same. Solomon left a gleaming empire behind, but for all its glamour, it teetered on the brink of chaos and war. The children of Israel were crushed under the weight of taxes and conscripted labor. As a result, they had little faith left in their rulers. They had given their gold and their sons to build the wealthy king's magnificent city, and now they wondered if it had all been for nothing. Unlike his father, Solomon left no grand deathbed speeches, no impassioned final blessings. He died as the pagan kings did, surrounded by his wealth, his concubines, his courtiers, and his progenies, squabbling over their place in the power vacuum he left behind. His burial procession was as glamorous as his reign, But even then the cries of mourners and sounding of the dirge were swallowed by the relentless clang of chisels and hammers. Israel was still building. Only one woman stood apart from the clamor Abishag, the sugar Nite, His first. 00:04:24 Speaker 5: And only love. 00:04:26 Speaker 1: She greeved not only for the man he was, but for the man he could have been. His gift had become his pride. His wisdom had made him blind, his hunger for more had led him down a path of destruction. Solomon's son, Rhea Boham inherited the kingdom, the wealth, the throne, but not the wisdom. When the time for a coronation came, it was decided that it would take place in Shechem, in the North, not Jerusalem. Shechem was a city steeped in Israel's history. It was the site of Abraham's first altar, the resting place of Joseph, and the valley where the nation once reaffirmed its covenant with Yahweh, a symbolic location and a strategic one because this was ephraim might Land, the heart of Israel's territories, and it was here that the North would make its demands, and because the South was clinging to its remaining sovereignty over the kingdom made up of twelve tribes, the decision was made for them to leave the grandeur and safety of the capital and venture north. But as Rio Boham and his entourage set out, Jeroboam returned from Egyptian exile, the prodigal son of Ephraim, champion of the northern tribes, had arrived to stake his claim. He stood before Rio Boham and all the tribal leaders of Israel, pleading the case of the North. 00:06:05 Speaker 3: Your majesty, we have come before you, not as rebels, but as your loyal subjects. We have built your father cities, harvested as fields, paid his tribute, but as yoke was heavy upon us. 00:06:16 Speaker 1: Ria Boham shifted on his makeshift throne in the cramped toll. He stood, flanked by his advisers that his right was Beniah. The other standing nearby was a Donnium, the stern and sour overseer of conscripted labor. Beside them stood his mother, Neaemah, now reigning as Gabeira queen mother, and his favorite wife Macha, whispering in his ear, maneuvering him to suit her own ambitions. Their son and heir, Abi Jam sat close by his scheming mother's design. And then, of course, there were Rear Boham's spoiled young companions, arrogant and titled men who grew up with him in the palace, ready to blindly lead him astray. Jeroboam, despite having been exiled in Egypt these past few years, could see their pretentious royal pride laid before him. Plainly, it was important that Jeroboam lived out to being the man of the people. He did not have high hopes for the outcome of this gathering, but he was certain of one thing. It would seal both his fate and Ria Boam's forever, and all of Israel would bear witness. 00:07:36 Speaker 3: And so I come to you, your majesty, and I ask that you lighten the burden your father placed on us. Do this, and we will serve you as our king. 00:07:46 Speaker 1: There was a long pause. Rio Boham leaned back, eyes flicking to his council. He was painfully unaware of how important this request was. Markha narrowed her eyes and sh shook her head, almost imperceptibly at her husband's questioning look. Their son Abijam, loudly scoffed at Jeroboam's request. Their reactions solified Ria Boham's answer. 00:08:14 Speaker 3: You ask me to weaken my father's rule. We ask for justice and the rights to return to our homes. 00:08:23 Speaker 1: Murmurs from the crowd stirred at that Ria Boam hesitated, unsure of what to do. His wife leaned over and whispered in his ear, three days. 00:08:36 Speaker 2: Keep them waiting, make them beg for your favor. 00:08:41 Speaker 1: Rio Boam nodded and stood. 00:08:44 Speaker 7: Leave me return in three days, and you'll have my answer. 00:08:50 Speaker 1: Grumbles of frustration rippled through the hall, but the northern leaders bowed stiffly and withdrew. Jeroboam's smile curled. Ria Boam's obvious indecision would only solidify Jeroboam's claim to the throne. The kingdom was slipping through his fingers, and he didn't even know it. Jeroboam turned, following his fellow tribesmen out of the hall. In three days, Israel would not decide its future. Its future had already been decided. Ria Boham's fingers anxiously tapped the table in front of him as his advisers laid out their cases before him again. They were divided into two camps, the elders who served Solomon and the younger nobles who grew up alongside Ria Boam. Beniah, the old general, pleaded the case of the elders. 00:09:50 Speaker 4: Your majesty, if today you serve the people, they will serve you forever. But if you speak harshly, they will turn against you. 00:10:01 Speaker 1: Ria Boham's son Abijam scoffed and interjected on behalf of the younger group. 00:10:08 Speaker 8: You don't truly think that people would turn against the House of David, do you. My great grandfather united us and my grandfather made us all rich. That people won't forget that. 00:10:20 Speaker 1: The old general winced at the young prince's wilful arrogance, but kept trying for reason anyway, Yes. 00:10:28 Speaker 4: Prince Abajan, I'm sure the people remember their heritage, but people also tend to bow to what is right in front of them under duress. King Solomon's rule was great but costly. My King, Ria Boham, if I may, I think you should heed your father's elders and hear our council. Perhaps your greatness will be found in wisdom as well, not oppression. 00:10:56 Speaker 1: Ria Boham's mother, Naamarh rose to her son's defense and snapped at Beniah from across the table from her seat at her son's right hand. 00:11:05 Speaker 9: My son has already found his greatness, Benanayah. I prayed to the God of my people that Reheboam would be king after his father and twice as powerful with the kingdom he inherited and Milcom has delivered. I don't understand why these northerners haven't just ground Rehebboam and made it official by now we marched all the way up here. Why the delay? 00:11:30 Speaker 4: Pardon any offense, Gebira, but I just wanted to ensure there is a peaceful transfer of power for your son. 00:11:37 Speaker 1: Naomar waved off the general dismissively and leaned in toward her son. 00:11:43 Speaker 9: You are not just your father's son, Rehebboem, you are my son. I prayed to Milkom that you would rule, and he has answered. Do not insult the gods by squandering what they have given. 00:11:58 Speaker 1: From Ria Boham's other side, Macha entered the fray with her signature flattery that had earned her the spot of favored wife and future queen mother. 00:12:11 Speaker 2: My husband has the wisdom of his father, and he has the power bestowed upon him by Ashira, the god of my people, my love, who has been loyal to you, the people or the one sitting at this table. Your father built this kingdom. We stand on his foundation. What good is love from men who forget their place? King Rihoboam will do what he thinks is right, and we will all support him without question. 00:12:46 Speaker 1: Marka punctuated her final words with a threatening stare in Benia's direction. Her carefully crafted security rode on her ability to keep everyone obeying her husband's words. Marker had worked to secure her position as the favored wife of Ria Boham and her son as the heir. She was not about to upset it now. Ria Boham frowned but did not answer. He turned to the younger nobles he grew up with, with his son abi Jam leading the charge of their shared opinion. 00:13:22 Speaker 8: Father, you're not truly considering bending lilies, oh. 00:13:27 Speaker 1: The younger nobles laughed. Ria Boham's pride stung, but he looked between the two groups of advisers, his supportive mother and wife in between. They only wanted to see him in power. They didn't care how he did it. 00:13:45 Speaker 8: Grandfather ruled with iron, and you would rule straw. 00:13:51 Speaker 1: Laughter irrupted for the young nobles, again, landing harshly on Ria Boham's ears. He forced a smirk to mirror his son, but something twisted in his gut. His fingers tightened around the edge of the table, his father's legacy, his burden pressed heavily on his shoulders. 00:14:12 Speaker 8: Tell them your little fingers thicker than your father's waist. Tell them, my father scourged you with whips, but I'll scorge you with scorpions. Show them your power. If you show them anything less, they won't fear you. 00:14:26 Speaker 1: Rio Beauam nodded with a gleam in his eye at his son's words. Tempted, but he was determined to consider all his options like father would have done. 00:14:38 Speaker 7: Leave me. 00:14:39 Speaker 1: The advisers rose, bowed and departed the room. The older ones seemed eager to excuse themselves, while the younger seemed to put out that they didn't receive affirmation right away for their extreme stance. His mother swept from the room with an encouraging squeeze on his arm, while his wife lingered with a questioning look in her eye. 00:15:04 Speaker 7: You can go, my love. This is a decision I must make alone, as you say, my love. 00:15:12 Speaker 1: When he was alone in the dusty hall, Ria Bonone sighed, running his hands over his round face. He had long relied on his father's guidance, his feigned wisdom, but now that it was all on him, he hesitated. This decision would define his reign. 00:15:33 Speaker 7: Should I be feared and powerful like my son and my friend's advice, carrying out my father's legacy. Should I give in to the people's demands and become beloved by them? Then would I be spitting in the face of what my father built? 00:15:53 Speaker 1: Ria Bone stood and paced around the ancient table in the dimly lit hall. Solomon had toiled give his son stability and prosperity, but the endeavors had also pulled him away. Ria Bouam knew he should be grateful for the easy, privileged life he had been afforded, but he often resented his father for the long hours devoted to building his empire and writing and debating with men with whom Ria Bouam had nothing in common. And so he had become his mother's creature, worshiping her gods, basking in the light of her praise and aspirations, and dreaming about the day that he would become the man in charge at last. 00:16:37 Speaker 7: What kind of king? Should I be? King of wisdom or a king of power? My father built this kingdom, but they resent him for it, and now they want me to be weaker than him. 00:16:53 Speaker 1: He stopped his pacing and gripped the edge of the table. He longed to build a legacy like his father, in spite of his father's. 00:17:02 Speaker 7: Perhaps no, I will not. I was born to rule. King is feared, not questioned. If my father was a king of wisdom, then I will be a king of power. 00:17:16 Speaker 3: If he built with. 00:17:17 Speaker 7: A hammer, then I will rule with an iron fist. This kingdom is mine mine, they will know it. 00:17:28 Speaker 1: On the third morning, the tribes of Israel once more gathered before Rio Boam, with Jeroboam at their helm. Jeroboam's calculating eyes took in everything. Rio Boham rose and puffed out his chest, ready to give his answer. Jeroboam fought the urge to roll his eyes at the display of self importance, but he knew the eyes of the North were upon him too. They would follow his reaction to Ria Boham's proclamation. 00:18:00 Speaker 7: You'll say my father was harsh. You mean now, my little finger is thicker than my father's waist. 00:18:10 Speaker 1: Outrage rippled through the crowd. Jeroboam expected this, but he was surprised that he was clenching his jaw and balling his fists. 00:18:19 Speaker 7: Nonetheless, my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions. 00:18:29 Speaker 1: There was a long, deadly silence. Jeroboam stared, stunned by the sheer ignorance before him. Scorpions. The word alone sent a shudder down his spine. He had seen the scorpions before in Egypt. They were more than whips. They were tools of torture and bloodshed. Long wooden handles, thick leather lashes, and shards of jagged metal woven in between watched men's backs split open like parchment, flesh curling away to expose raw muscle, sometimes even bone. And now Ria Boham had invoked that image. Here he threatened the very men whose backs had built Solomon's empire, the very men Ria Boham hoped to rule. 00:19:27 Speaker 7: Did I say something to amuse you? 00:19:31 Speaker 3: Oh, forgive me, it's just funny. I believe I heard something similar from Pharaoh in Egypt. 00:19:39 Speaker 7: What are you getting at? 00:19:42 Speaker 3: We were slaves once, babe, never again. 00:19:48 Speaker 1: The whole was tense. Every man at Jeroboam's back fixed Riar Boham and his ilk with lethal stairs. Then from the crowd of northerners, the words of an old battle cry rang out over the strained silence. 00:20:05 Speaker 7: What portion do we have in David? 00:20:08 Speaker 6: We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. 00:20:12 Speaker 7: Israel. Return to your tents. 00:20:16 Speaker 4: The sons of David can look after their own house. 00:20:20 Speaker 1: Jeroboam saw a glimmer of panic cross before Ria Boham's eyes. There was stillness for another fraught heartbeat, and then chaos. Jeroboam pealed back into the crowd that was handed a club. The northerns at the far end of the hall exploded with fury and sprang forward past the tribal leaders and toward the royal family and advisers, but they were swiftly driven back by Rio Boham's guard arms. Defend your cake. The old general then swiftly hauled Rio Bouham off the makeshift thrown and fled toward the back of the hall. The Royal woman hot on his heels. He and a few of the royal guards formed a protective wall around Rio Boham, Abijan and the women, with Beniah defending Rio Boham. A donium, the overseer of conscripted labor stepped up to aid the guards in holding the furious crowd back. To give the others a chance to escape. For a moment, it seemed like the mob would quiet, and then a stone flew turn, another and another. The crowds surged forward, their stones, finding their mark over and over on a domm's defenseless body. The overseer of forced labour stumbled to the ground, dead, blood pulling on the stone floor. Bania tightened his grip, yanking Rio Boam back. The chariots waited behind them. Behind it oh No Rio Boham stumbled, but was shoved toward the chariot. His mother was similarly thrust in after him. His wife and son were in a second chariot behind The din of the riot behind them was deafening shouts, screams, more sickening cracks of stone on flesh. The chariot jolted forward and rear. Boem gripped the side, panting. The wheels kicked up dust. The sound of hooves drowned out the chaos as they fled. He turned back once when they crested a hill. To his horror, tongues of fire were licking the sides of the ancient Shechem hall. His people, his kingdom were reduced to a riot of fury and flame. He jerked forward, ignoring the tears of his mother beside him. 00:22:46 Speaker 7: It's just thatch. This is a setback. It can be re forged, reclaim I am still the king. 00:22:57 Speaker 1: The kingdom his father built was wearing itself a part, or rather, it was being torn from him. 00:23:10 Speaker 6: Do you know what the name Rehoboam means in Hebrew? It's rahav am, which it means he enlarges the people, or the people spread out. It's two words, rajave, which means to spread out, and m which means nation. Isn't that ironic because in our story today the people do spread out, but not in blessings. As we've studied God's word together, we found that the Bible often associates kingship with shepherding, not dominating, not taxing into the grave, but shepherding. The image goes all the way back to Moses, who herded sheep before he herded people, and David Solomon's father was a shepherd before. 00:23:50 Speaker 9: He became king. 00:23:51 Speaker 6: But Rahobolam, he doesn't walk in with a staff, he walks in with scorpions. Think about that image through the lens of a biblical Israelite people whose recent descendants had been slaves in Egypt. The scorpion is a reminder of Egypt of bondage. And here this descendant of David echoes the language of Pharaoh, and we see what happens when Israel's king forgets what it means to be the Chosen people. The Chosen people scatter, they run, they cry, tier tent so Israel and a holy place of covenant and calling, while it becomes a battlefield of betrayal, all because of Israel's king, And we're left wondering how should a king treat his subjects. We learn how a king should not act by Jovoam's example. Rajapoam actually began his reign correctly by consulting with his late father's advisers. He asked how to respond to the Chosen people's complain Do you remember that about the heavy taxation that King Solomon had placed on them? And the Bible actually tells us exactly how Solomon's advisers responded. They told King rahouvl quote, if today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants end quote. I think that's a beautiful passage and his beautiful advice for any leader right, telling them be a servant to the people, and then they will be loyal. The great Sagemimonodes, in his Laws of Kings, uses this exact Bible verse to give some very good advice. He taught a Hebrew king must be without personal pride, should not act towards Israel with undue haughtiness, and should be gracious and compassionate to small and great end quote. Rahovlan basically violated each of these points, didn't He He insulted the people, he bragged about himself, he rejected the wise advice given to him by his wise father's advisors, and then he turned to some young people he had grown up with we offered him bad advice. And this disastrous episode ended up being the prelude to a much larger disaster, the division of Israel and to two separate kingdoms, each of them hostile to the other. Well because of how the king of Israel treated God's chosen people. Today's Bible story was a tragedy of a king who confused fear for strength of a nation that asked for relief but instead was given the lash. We face this very same danger today in our homes, in our politics, even in our spiritual communities. The danger of thinking that to lead is to dominate, that to be right is to be harsh. Maybe you're a parent unsure of how to lead your children without becoming a tyrant. Maybe you're just tired of being told to carry more, to prove yourself more, to do more well. This Bible's story tells us there's another way, the way of the shepherd, the way of listen. Rajobo am have the chance to listen, and he refused. We don't have to make that very same mistake. We can pause, we can ask questions, we can listen for God's voice, and in doing so we won't lose power, We'll actually gain it. 00:27:18 Speaker 1: You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabager and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of the Chosen People with Yile Eckstein. Edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky, and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvado, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, Rabbi Edward Abramson, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.