UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

SCHOOL OF FOUNDATION STUDIES

FACULTY OF ART

SEMINAR PAPER PRESENTATION IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MARKS,
DIPLOMA DEGREE

COURSE: Christian Religious Studies (001)

TOPIC: NEGRITUDE NOVELS
By
GROUP A

S/N Names :
1. OKOROAFOR MUNACHISOAGA LYDIA
2. OLOWE SAMUEL
3. ADAEGO WILLIAM LILY
4. IYIOLA FALADE
5. ZAINAB

TO:
PROFESSOR FEMI. ABIOLA.
 INTRODUCTION
The Divided Kingdoms era in ancient Israel, spanning roughly from 931 BCE to 586 BCE, marks
a pivotal and tumultuous period in biblical history. This epoch unfolds after the death of King
Solomon, whose reign brought the zenith of Israel's power and prosperity. However, his passing
triggers a schism that reverberates across the region, dividing the united monarchy into the
Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

This division stems from a confluence of factors, including political disputes, economic
disparities, and religious discord. Solomon's heavy taxation and forced labor for grand
construction projects foster resentment among the northern tribes, eventually leading to the
rebellion under Jeroboam. As a result, Jeroboam becomes the inaugural king of the Northern
Kingdom, comprising ten tribes, with its capital initially at Shechem and later moved to Samaria.

In the Southern Kingdom, Rehoboam, Solomon's son, assumes the throne, governing the tribes
of Judah and Benjamin. Jerusalem remains the seat of power and the spiritual center with the
Temple housing the Ark of the Covenant.

The political landscape of the divided kingdoms is marked by shifting alliances, internal strife,
and external threats. Both entities experience periods of relative stability and chaos, with
various dynasties ascending to power in the north and the Davidic lineage maintaining a
continuous rule in the south.

Religiously, the Northern Kingdom faces a departure from the established worship of Yahweh.
Jeroboam institutes idolatrous practices, erecting golden calves as alternative centers of
worship, leading his people away from the Jerusalem-based Temple cult. In contrast, the
Southern Kingdom generally adheres to the Yahwistic traditions, though not without occasional
deviations.

The divided kingdoms face external pressures from powerful neighboring empires. The
Assyrians pose a significant threat, culminating in the fall of the Northern Kingdom in 722 BCE.
The ten northern tribes experience mass deportations and assimilation into Assyrian culture,
contributing to the concept of the "Lost Tribes of Israel."

The Southern Kingdom endures a longer existence but eventually succumbs to the Babylonians
in 586 BCE. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple marks a profound turning point,
leading to the Babylonian exile and the displacement of the Judeans.

Despite the political and religious complexities, the divided kingdoms era contributes
significantly to biblical literature. The Books of Kings and Chronicles offer detailed accounts of
the monarchies, while the prophetic writings provide moral and theological reflections on the
covenant between God and His chosen people. The subsequent period of exile sets the stage
for the eventual return and the rebuilding of the Temple, shaping the trajectory of Jewish history
and spirituality.
 COMPARISON BETWEEN THE REIGN OF KING DAVID AND KING SOLOMON
1. Military Focus:
- King David: Known for his military prowess, David spent a significant portion of his reign
engaged in military campaigns to secure and expand the territory of Israel. He defeated
enemies like the Philistines and established Jerusalem as the capital.
- King Solomon: In contrast, Solomon's reign was marked by relative peace. He inherited a
stable kingdom from David and focused more on building alliances through marriage and trade,
diverting attention from extensive military activities.

2. Building Projects:
- King David: While David desired to build the Temple, it was his son Solomon who actually
undertook the construction. David, however, concentrated on consolidating power and building
his palace.
- King Solomon: Renowned for his grand building projects, Solomon constructed the First
Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of centralized worship for the Israelites. Additionally, he built
impressive structures like the palace known as the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

3. Foreign Relations:
- King David: David's reign was characterized by a series of wars and conflicts with
neighboring nations, expanding Israel's borders through military conquests.
- King Solomon: Solomon, on the other hand, pursued diplomatic relations and alliances. He
formed strategic marriages with foreign princesses, like Pharaoh's daughter, to establish
peaceful ties and promote trade.

4. Administrative Structure:
- King David: The administrative system during David's rule was less centralized, with tribal
leaders and military commanders holding significant influence.
- King Solomon: Solomon implemented a more organized and centralized administrative
structure. He divided the kingdom into districts, each governed by appointed officials,
streamlining governance.

5. Wealth and Prosperity:

- King David: While David's reign laid the groundwork for prosperity, he faced internal
conflicts and challenges, leaving the accumulation of wealth more to Solomon.
- King Solomon: Solomon's era is often associated with unprecedented wealth and prosperity.
Trade flourished, and the kingdom became a center for commerce, bringing immense riches.

6. Cultural Achievements:
- King David: David's contributions are more focused on establishing Jerusalem as a cultural
and religious center, with the Ark of the Covenant brought to the city.
- King Solomon: Solomon's reign saw the flourishing of arts and sciences. His wisdom,
exemplified in famous anecdotes like the judgment of the two women claiming to be a child's
mother, became legendary.
7. Territorial Expansion:
- King David: David significantly expanded the territorial boundaries of Israel, including the
conquest of Jerusalem, which he made the capital.
- King Solomon: While Solomon maintained the existing territory, he did not engage in
extensive military campaigns for expansion, choosing diplomatic means to strengthen the
kingdom.

8. Relations with God:

- King David: David is often depicted as a man after God's own heart, known for his deep and
emotional connection with God, as seen in the Psalms.
- King Solomon: Solomon, while initially favored by God and blessed with wisdom, later
turned away due to his many foreign marriages and idolatrous tendencies.

9. Construction of the Temple:

- King David: David desired to build the Temple but was prohibited by God due to his role as
a man of war. He prepared the materials and made arrangements for the construction.
- King Solomon: Solomon fulfilled David's dream by overseeing the construction of the
Temple, a monumental achievement in biblical history.

10. Legacy:
- King David: Remembered as the shepherd-king, a warrior, and the one who established
Jerusalem as the political and spiritual capital.
- King Solomon: Revered for his wisdom, wealth, and the construction of the Temple,
Solomon's legacy is often associated with the pinnacle of Israel's glory. However, his later years
and the consequences of his actions also play a role in his historical portrayal.
 UNWISE DECISION OF KING REHOBOAM
Rehoboam takes over as the ruler of isreal after the death of Solomon. The people urged him to
relieve them of the heavy taxation placed on them by Solomon as seen in 1 Kings 12:4,(your
father made your yoke heavy. Now therefore, lighten the hard service of your father and his
heavy yoke upon us and we will serve you), he ask for then come back after 3 days for his
decision. Conflicted he goes to seek counsel from the elders who then advised him to listen to
the plight of the people. He disregards this as he later goes to his mates to seek counsel, they
advise him to do the opposite of the Elder’s counsel. He obeys them and speaks to the people
harshly, refuting their request. Grieved by his response they revolt and this causes the division
of the kingdom. Jeroboam now rules over 10 tribes(Rueben, Dan, Simeon, Naphtali, Manesseh,
Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulum and Ephraim) while rehoboam rules over Judah and Benjamin
along with some members of Levi. This decision not only led to the division of the kingdom but
the turning away of the hearts of the 10 tribes from God as Jeroboam made golden calves to
prevent the people from worshiping in Jerusalem which might eventually lead them to return to
Rehoboam.
King Rehoboam's unwise decisions after succeeding his father, King Solomon, are vividly
depicted in the Bible, specifically in 1 Kings 12:1-19 and 2 Chronicles 10:1-19. In these
passages, Rehoboam faces a delicate situation as he ascends to the throne.

1. **Rejection of Wise Counsel:**

Rehoboam begins by rejecting the counsel of the elders who had served his father, opting
instead for the advice of his contemporaries. In 1 Kings 12:6-8, the elders recommend a more
lenient approach to taxation, but Rehoboam dismisses their wisdom.

2. **Arrogant Response to the People's Request:**

When the people, burdened by the heavy taxes imposed during Solomon's reign, request
relief, Rehoboam responds with arrogance. In 1 Kings 12:9-11, he declares, "My father
disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions," indicating a harsher rule.

3. **Failure to Understand the People's Plight:**

Rehoboam's lack of empathy and understanding of the people's struggles becomes evident.
Instead of recognizing their grievances, he exacerbates tensions by refusing to lighten their
load.

4. **Igniting Rebellion:**
The people, displeased with Rehoboam's response, rebel against his rule. The tribes of Israel,
excluding Judah and Benjamin, reject Rehoboam's authority, leading to the division of the
kingdom.

5. **Loss of Northern Tribes:**

In 1 Kings 12:16, it is stated, "Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the
people answered the king, saying: 'What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in
the son of Jesse.'" This marks the beginning of the establishment of the Northern Kingdom, led
by Jeroboam.
6. **Fulfillment of Prophecy:**
Rehoboam's unwise decisions fulfill the prophecy given to Solomon by Ahijah the prophet (1
Kings 11:29-39). God had forewarned that the kingdom would be divided due to Solomon's
idolatry, and Rehoboam's actions contribute to this fulfillment.

In summary, Rehoboam's refusal to heed wise counsel, his arrogant response to the people,
and his failure to understand their plight result in the division of the kingdom, marking a pivotal
moment in Israel's history.

THE PROPHECY OF PROPGET AHIJAH

THE PROPHECY OF AHIJAH

From the early years after the settlement of Israel in Canaan, there had been jealousy between
the two most powerful tribes, Ephraim and Judah. Solomon’s son Rehoboam was the rightful
successor to the throne, but northern Israel did not support him.

“Apart from the fact that the tribes had no right to choose at their pleasure a different king from
the one who was the lawful heir to the throne of David, the very circumstance that the tribes who
were discontented with Solomon’s government did not come to Jerusalem to do homage to
Rehoboam, but chose Sichem [Shechem] as the place of meeting, and had also sent for
Jeroboam out of Egypt, showed clearly enough that it was their intention to sever themselves
from the royal house of David. …

“Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had come thither to make him king. ‘All Israel,’
according to what follows [ 1 Kings 12:20–21], was the ten tribes beside Judah and Benjamin.
The right of making king the prince whom God has chosen, i.e. of anointing him and doing
homage to him … , was an old traditional right in Israel, and the tribes had exercised it not only
in the case of Saul and David [ 1 Samuel 11:15; 2 Samuel 2:4; 5:3], but in that of Solomon also [
1 Chronicles 29:22]. The ten tribes of Israel made use of this right on Rehoboam’s ascent of the
throne; but instead of coming to Jerusalem, the residence of the king and capital of the
kingdom, as they ought to have done, and doing homage there to the legitimate successor of
Solomon, they had gone to Sichem, the present Nabulus [ Genesis 12:6; 33:18], the place
where the ancient national gatherings were held in the tribe of Ephraim [ Joshua 24:1]. … On
the choice of Sichem as the place for doing homage Kimchi has quite correctly observed, that
‘they sought an opportunity for transferring the government to Jeroboam, and therefore were
unwilling to come to Jerusalem, but came to Sichem, which belonged to Ephraim, whilst
Jeroboam was an Ephraimite.’ If there could be any further doubt on the matter, it would be
removed by the fact that they had sent for Jeroboam the son of Nebat to come from Egypt,
whither he had fled from Solomon [ 1 Kings 11:40], and attend this meeting, and that Jeroboam
took the lead in the meeting, and no doubt suggested to those assembled the demand which
they should lay before Rehoboam.”
This national meeting in which Rehoboam sought a vote of confidence was an important event.
Life in Israel was never to be the same thereafter.

Jeroboam was the son of Nebat (1 Kings 12:15), an Ephraimite. He was one of Solomon’s
twelve superintendents and had jurisdiction over all the taxes and labors exacted from the
house of Joseph ( 1 Kings 11:28). The prophet Ahijah had prophesied that Jeroboam would
someday take over much of the Israelite nation. To illustrate his prophecy, Ahijah tore a cloak in
twelve pieces, gave ten to Jeroboam, and said: “Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord,
the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten
tribes to thee: (but he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s
sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)” (1 Kings 11:31–32.) Thus, he
prophetically outlined events which would soon transpire.

REGIN AND ACTIVITIES OF KING REHOBOAM AND KING JEHOBOAM

King Rehoboam was the son of King Solomon and the grandson of King David. He ruled the
Kingdom of Judah around 931–913 BCE. After Solomon's death, the northern tribes of Israel
requested a reduction in the heavy labor and taxes imposed during Solomon's reign.
Rehoboam's harsh response led to the division of the kingdom.

Approximately around 931 BCE, Rehoboam's reign began. However, his rule over the united
kingdom was short-lived. The division occurred around 922 BCE, with Jeroboam becoming king
of the northern kingdom of Israel, comprising ten tribes, while Rehoboam retained rule over the
southern kingdom of Judah, consisting of Judah and Benjamin.

Rehoboam's reign over Judah lasted about 17 years, until around 913 BCE. The division of the
kingdom marked a significant turning point in the history of Israel, leading to separate destinies
for the northern and southern kingdoms.
Rehoboam's reign over Judah and Benjamin was marked by efforts to strengthen the
kingdom. He fortified cities and implemented some reforms. However, his rule faced challenges,
and there were conflicts with the northern kingdom of Israel.

Rehoboam sought to consolidate his authority in Judah, focusing on military and administrative
measures. He fortified cities like Bethlehem and Hebron to secure the kingdom. Additionally, he
strengthened the defense infrastructure, anticipating potential threats.

Despite these efforts, his reign is not widely celebrated for significant achievements. The
division of the kingdom and ongoing tensions with the northern kingdom influenced the
dynamics of his rule. Rehoboam's legacy is often overshadowed by the events leading to the
split and the subsequent historical developments in both Judah and Israel.
King Jeroboam played a pivotal role in the history of the northern kingdom of Israel. After the
division of the united kingdom, he became the first king of the northern tribes around 922 BCE.

Jeroboam initially served as an official under King Solomon. However, discontent with
Solomon's policies, particularly heavy taxation and forced labor, led to Jeroboam's involvement
in a rebellion. When Solomon died, Jeroboam returned from Egypt, where he had sought refuge
during Solomon's reign.

The prophet Ahijah anointed Jeroboam as king over the ten northern tribes of Israel, predicting
that he would rule a significant portion of Israel. This event is recorded in the biblical narrative in
1 Kings 11-12.

Jeroboam's reign lasted for approximately 22 years, from around 922 to 901 BCE. During his
rule, he took measures to consolidate power and prevent the people from returning to the
southern kingdom of Judah for religious reasons. Unfortunately, his decisions, particularly the
establishment of alternative worship centers with golden calves in Dan and Bethel, led to
idolatry and incurred divine disapproval.

Ultimately, Jeroboam's reign is marked by a mix of political and religious challenges. While he
achieved stability in the northern kingdom for a time, his departure from the worship practices
prescribed by the religious laws had lasting negative consequences.
The biblical accounts provide information about the deaths of King Rehoboam and King
Jeroboam.

King Rehoboam of Judah died around 913 BCE after a 17-year reign. The exact cause of his
death is not explicitly stated in the biblical narrative.

King Jeroboam of Israel faced a more tragic fate. According to the biblical account in 1 Kings
14, Jeroboam's son became ill, and he sought advice from the prophet Ahijah regarding the
child's health. Ahijah prophesied that the child would die, and in addition, he foretold calamities
for Jeroboam's house due to the sins committed during his reign. Jeroboam's son indeed died,
and later in the narrative, it's mentioned that Jeroboam himself died around 901 BCE.

After Rehoboam's death, his son Abijah succeeded him as the king of Judah. In the case of
Jeroboam, his son Nadab succeeded him as the king of Israel. The succession in both
kingdoms continued with subsequent rulers, shaping the complex history of the divided Israelite
monarchy.
 CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF THE EXILE OF THE ISRAELITES
The exile of the Israelites, specifically referring to the Babylonian exile, had deep historical and
religious significance. The causes and effects of this event are complex:

**Causes:**

1. **Babylonian Conquest:** In 586 BCE, the Babylonians, under King Nebuchadnezzar II,
conquered the southern kingdom of Judah, including the capital city Jerusalem. This military
conquest was a primary cause of the exile.

2. **Deportation of Elite:** The Babylonians selectively deported the elite and skilled individuals
from Judah to Babylon. This was a common strategy to weaken the conquered nation by
removing its leadership and intellectual assets.

3. **Failure to Heed Prophetic Warnings:** Prophets like Jeremiah had warned the Israelites
about the consequences of their disobedience to God's commandments. The exile was seen as
a divine punishment for their idolatry, social injustice, and disobedience.

**Effects:**

1. **Destruction of the Temple:** The Babylonians destroyed Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem

during their conquest. This event had profound religious and cultural implications for the
Israelites.

2. **Cultural Disruption:** The exile disrupted the Israelites' way of life, as they were uprooted
from their homeland and forced to live in a foreign and unfamiliar environment.

3. **Formation of the Jewish Diaspora:** The exile marked the beginning of the Jewish
Diaspora, as many Israelites were scattered throughout the Babylonian Empire and later, after
the Persian conquest, into various regions.

4. **Redefined Identity:** In exile, the Israelites had to grapple with questions of identity and
faith. This period influenced the development of Judaism, as they sought to preserve their
religious practices and distinctiveness.

5. **Return and Rebuilding:** After the Babylonian Empire fell to the Persians, King Cyrus
allowed the Israelites to return to their homeland. This led to the rebuilding of the Second
Temple in Jerusalem, a significant event in Jewish history.

The Babylonian exile was a transformative period for the Israelites, shaping their religious,
cultural, and national identity in profound ways. The effects of this historical event reverberated
through subsequent centuries and continue to influence Jewish history and theology.