Who was Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, i thought King Saul Was?

Question

Rehoboam was what caused the separation of the 12 tribes right? after that? the 10 tribes created their own goverment meaning all 10 of them were allies? and what was "the kingdom" pertained to?

Answer 1

Saul was the first king of Israel - as a united kingdom of 12 tribes. After Saul came David, then David's son Solomon. When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam took over. Jeroboam was leader of the Israelite army at that time. A few months later, Jeroboam and his followers rebelled against Rehoboam. The kingdom of Israel was split, with 10 tribes following Jeroboam (keeping the name the Kingdom of Israel), and the remaining two tribes following Rehoboam (Taking the name Kingdom of Judah).

The Kingdom of Judah consisted of the tribe of Judah and one other tribe. The identity of that tribe is in doubt. Some say it is the tribe of Benjamin, based on an earlier rebellion in which all men and boys of the tribe of Benjamin were killed. After that rebellion, members of the tribe of Judah voluntarily became "Benjamites" so the name of Benjamin would not die out from the nation of Israel.

Others say the other tribe that made up the kingdom of Judah is the tribe of Simeon - because their lands were entirely engulfed/surrounded by the tribe of Judah.

Anyway - the larger faction which became the kingdom of Israel was composed of the remaining 10 tribes, and followed after Jeroboam.  That is why Jeroboam is sometimes listed as the first king, instead of Saul.

Answer 2

Saul was the first king of Israel. However,  when Rehoboam became king, Israel became split into 2 kingdoms: Israel and Judah. Reheboam remained king of Judah, while Jereboam became the first king of the new Israel.

The Kingdom of Israel consisted of:

Reuben

Simeon

Levi

Issacar

Zebulun

Dan

Gad

Asher

Naphtali

Manasseh and Ephraim

The Kingdom of Judah Consisted of:

Judah

Benjamin

Answer 3

There were 2 Israels.

United Israel - all 12 tribes - was ruled first by King Saul, then by David, and then by Solomon.  After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam took the throne, but he was ousted in a coup and Jereboam replaced him as king.  Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem, and two of the 12 tribes remained loyal to him, thus forming the southern Kingdom of Judah (in contrast to the northern Kingdom of Israel, consisting of 10 of the 12 tribes and ruled by Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Kingdom).