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12 Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, is made king at Shechem. Jeroboam comes from Egypt and petitions Rehoboam to ease the heavy yoke of his father. Rehoboam’s elder servants urge a conciliatory approach, his younger servants an aggressive one. Israel splits from Judah, and makes Jeroboam king. Rehoboam’s revenue collector, Adoram, is stoned to death. Shemiah the prophet warns against a planned battle between Judah and David and the rest of Israel, and so the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel is formed. Shechem is the new capital of the northern kingdom. Jeroboam sets up golden calves for worship at Bethel and Dan. He also makes high places, and creates non-Levitic priests. 13 A nameless ‘man of God’ prophesies the destruction of the altar at Bethel by Josiah. As a sign that man of God’s words are true, the altar splits in two and spews ash. When Jeroboam stretches out his hand to say, ‘Arrest him!’ his hand withers. The man of God prays for Jeroboam, and his hand is restored. An inv