18-00
The Divided Kingdom
This title can also be translated as: “About what happened when the Israelites divided against each other” or “What happened when the Israelites divided against each other?”
Divided Kingdom
This refer to when the twelve tribes of Israel divided into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah after the death of Solomon.
18-01
King David ruled for 40 years
This is background information about what happened while David was king, before he died and his son Solomon became king after him. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
Then he died
This begins the transition from David’s reign as king to Solomon’s reign. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])
so he made Solomon the wisest man in the world
The connecting word so connects the reason (God was pleased with Solomon asking him to make him wise), and the result (God made him the wisest man in the world). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
18-02
was present in the Temple
This could mean was present in the Temple in a special way. Even though God was also present everywhere else at the same time, he made himself especially available to the people at the Temple.
with his people
This could be translated as: “in the midst of his people” or “among his people.”
18-03
But Solomon loved women from other countries
The connecting word But contrasts Solomon building the Temple, God’s dwelling place, with Solomon loving women from other religions. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
1,000
This could also be written in words: “one thousand.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-numbers/01.md]])
brought their gods with them
They brought their idols and their methods of worshiping idols with them to Israel.
When Solomon was old
The connecting word When introduces a background clause that indicates Solomon became old at the beginning of the time when he worshiped foreign gods. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-background/01.md]])
18-04
because of this
The connecting words because of this connect the reason (Solomon worshiped other gods), with the result (God was angry with him and said he would divide the kingdom). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
18-05
After Solomon died
The connecting word After introduces a sequential clause that indicates Solomon died and then Rehoboam became king. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])
to accept him as their king
This could mean tell him that they were glad he was king and that they would do what he said.
their king
This refers to a social relationship. Their king is the man who rules the country where they live. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-possession/01.md]])
18-06
But Rehoboam answered them in a very foolish way
The connecting word But contrasts the people’s request for a wise and gracious response with Rehoboam’s unwise and harsh response. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
answered them in a very foolish way
Rehoboam’s answer was harsh, and caused the people to turn against him.
He said, “You say that my father, Solomon, made you work hard. But I will make you work harder than he did, and I will make you suffer worse than he did.”
This is direct quotation. It can also be stated as an indirect quotation: “He told them that his father Solomon made them work hard, but that he would make them work harder than his father did, and would make them suffer worse than he did.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])
you
Here you is plural, referring not just to the people present, but all the people in the nation. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-you/01.md]])
18-07
tribes
The descendants of each of Jacob’s 12 sons had become a tribe or very large family group in the nation of Israel. Everyone in Israel belonged to one of the 12 tribes.
rebelled against him
This could mean refused to follow Rehoboam as their king. It might help to start this sentence with So or Because of that or Because of what Rehoboam said.
remained with him
This could mean stayed loyal to him or continued to support him as king.
the kingdom of Judah
This is not possession, but it gives the name of the kingdom. It could be translated as: “the Judah kingdom.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-possession/01.md]])
18-08
the kingdom of Israel
This is not possession, but it gives the name of the kingdom. It could be translated as: “the Israel kingdom.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-possession/01.md]])
18-09
caused the people to sin
This could be translated as: “led the people to sin” or “motivated the people to sin.” Rehoboam led the people into sin by making idols for them to worship.
18-10
Judah and Israel
The people of Judah and Israel were all descendants of Jacob and part of God’s people. Even so, they disobeyed God and fought and killed each other.
18-12
When they did this
The connecting word When introduces a background clause which indicates that at the same time the people of the kingdom of Israel started worshiping idols, they also started sleeping with prostitutes and sacrificing children to idols. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-background/01.md]])
18-13
ruled justly
This means they ruled according to God’s laws. This can be translated as: “when they ruled, they did what was right.”
But most of Judah’s kings were evil
The connecting word But contrasts the few godly kings with the most kings of Judah who were evil. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
A Bible story from
These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.