Israel and Judah

In 928 B.C., Rehoboam refused
to end taxes and forced labor in
the northern part of the
kingdom of Israel. As a result, the
northern tribes rebelled and caused
Israel to split into two parts: a northern kingdom called Israel and a southern kingdom called Judah.

Judah
Small but strong
Kings came from one family, the House of David
Stable government

Israel
Built holy place in Samaria
Higher population than Judah
Faced hard lives
Fought over who would lead
Poor
Turned away from God


In 722 B.C., Assyria conquered the weak and disorganized kingdom of Israel
Sargon II boasted about his capture of the capital, Samaria
Assyrians’ two step plan
1. Forced conquered people to leave their land
2. Brought Assyrians into the land

Most of the Israelites had to leave the land but the few that were allowed to stay mixed with the Assyrians
The new population became to be known as Samaritans
The Israelites forced from Canaan were known as “the ten lost tribes of Israel”
The Assyrians planned to conquer Judah

In 701 B.C., Hezekiah, the king of Judah, protected Jerusalem from the Assyrian invasion
The Assyrians had them completely surrounded.
Judah was able to outlast the attackers because Hezekiah built a tunnel to supply water from a spring