V.1-3 Solomon’s son Rehoboam immediately runs into trouble. Jeroboam, a rebel, who has been hiding in Egypt, now returns and succeeds in dividing the kingdom. But God was allowing this, and had warned of this in 1 Kings 11:29-34.
V.4 Jeroboam and all the people ask Solomon’s son to make things easier for them.
V.5-15 Rehoboam first asks the advice of old men; then the young men. Notice verse 15, the latter are listened to.
V.16-19 So the nation of Israel is divided. Ten tribes follow Jeroboam. Two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, follow Rehoboam. The former was to be called the kingdom of Israel, the latter called the kingdom of Judah. God dislikes division. And if you will remember to watch for it, those future kings who wanted to obey the Lord, always thought of Israel as all united. The believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are all seen by God as one body. Acts 26:77Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. (Acts 26:7) shows that Paul had this thought even though they had been divided for about 600 years.
V.19 But here the division began. Only 2 tribes, Judah and Benjamin, remained to worship God at His Center, Jerusalem. Now, since 1947, these 2 tribes are back in their land, but in unbelief.