On the death of Solomon, in 975 B. C., the temporal glory of the Hebrews
was eclipsed. Ten of the twelve tribes revolted against Solomon’s son
and successor, Rehoboam, and formed a separate kingdom of Israel, with
Samaria as capital; while the tribes of Judah and Benjamin made up the
kingdom of Judah, having Jerusalem for the chief city. The Syrian
possessions were lost; the Ammonites became independent; commerce
declined; idolatry crept in and grew; the prophets of God threatened and
warned in vain; gleams of success against neighboring nations were
mingled with defeat and disgrace suffered from the Edomites,
Philistines, and Syrians, until, in 740 B. C., Tiglath-pileser II., king
of Assyria, carried into captivity in Media the tribes east, and partly
west, of the Jordan.