After King Solomon’s death (930 BC), his great empire was divided into a northern part, Israel, the kingdom consisting of ten tribes, and a southern part, Judah, the kingdom consisting of two tribes. Jeroboam, who had rebelled against Solomon, became the first king of the northern kingdom. Rehoboam, son of Solomon, became the first king of the southern kingdom. The first capital of the northern kingdom was the city of Tirzah (later Samaria became the capital). Jeroboam arranged a new temple and priestly service, imitating that of Jerusalem—but God has warned him about this through a prophet, see 1 Kings 14:10–11: Therefore behold, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free in Israel, and will burn up the house of Jeroboam, as a man burns up dung until it is all gone. Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat, for the Lord has spoken it.
While previously one people of God, north and south now become rivals. As if they are enemies, they go after each other. This prolonged struggle is wasted energy (see also 1 Kings 15:32).
27 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.