King Solomon did amazing things. He built a big house for himself and a great house for God—the temple! But in doing so, he sometimes treated his builders harshly and collected too much tax from the people. After Solomon died, his young son Rehoboam became king. Like Solomon, Rehoboam faced a test of wisdom. People said to him, “Your father was harsh. He taxed us a lot, made us do hard labor, and treated us almost like slaves. If you will be nicer, we will serve you faithfully.” “Hmm,” Rehoboam thought. He thought and thought and thought. He asked for three days to think about their request. What a wise move! We shouldn’t rush to make big decisions. He asked the old wise men of his kingdom what they thought. Smart move! We should ask our parents and teachers what they think. These old wise men told the young king to listen to his people: “Serve your people and they will serve you; speak good words to them and they will listen to what you ask them to do” (see 1 Kings 12:7). Rehoboam didn’t like what he heard. So he asked his young friends for their advice. They told him, “Don’t listen to those old men. You’re in charge! Show the people that you are stronger and meaner and greater than Solomon. Say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s fat thighs’” (see 12:10). But this was not how God wanted his kings to treat the people (see Deut. 17:14–20). Quite the opposite. Nonetheless, Rehoboam liked his young friends’ answer even though it wasn’t the wise answer.

On the third day, when the people returned for an answer, Rehoboam told them, “My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions” (1 Kings 12:14). Ouch! The people did not like that answer, and they stirred up trouble. None of this took God by surprise. In fact, Jeroboam, a rival king, had been told this would happen through the prophet Ahijah. Ahijah showed Jeroboam how the kingdom would crack by tearing his new robe into twelve pieces. Then God said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces. This symbolizes what I’m about to do—tear the kingdom from the hand of Rehoboam and give you ten of the tribes to rule. I am doing this because they have worshiped false gods and not walked in my ways” (see 1 Kings 11:30–35). So God’s people were split in two. Ten tribes rebelled against Rehoboam and followed Jeroboam instead. He ended up being even worse than Rehoboam. He made not just one but two golden calves! The ten tribes that followed Jeroboam were called Israel, and the two tribes that followed Rehoboam were called Judah.