Nation/Kingdom divided

Kingdom of Israel

Also known as: Northern Kingdom, Ephraim, Samaria

Founded: c. 930 BCE Dissolved: 722 BCE Homeland: Northern Canaan

The Northern Kingdom formed when ten tribes rejected Rehoboam’s harsh rule and made Jeroboam king. It was larger and more prosperous than Judah but faced constant religious struggles with Baal worship.

The kingdom fell to Assyria in 722 BCE, and its population was deported and scattered. These became the “Lost Tribes of Israel,” whose fate has been the subject of much speculation throughout history.

Historical Evidence

Historicity: well-documented

Sources

  • 1 Kings 12
  • 2 Kings 17