2/ What were the 10 Commandments ?
3/ What were the 10 plagues of Egypt ?
4/ What was the first miracle by Jesus ?
5/ What was the name of the first king of Israel ?
6/ Which prophet annointed the first king of Israel ?
7/ Which army in the Bible was destroyed by a thunderstorm ?
8/ Why did the kingdom of Israel split into two separate countries ?
Here is the answer to Question 8
8/ Why did the kingdom of Israel split into two separate countries ?
Jeroboam and the people rebelled, with the ten northern tribes breaking away and forming a separate kingdom. The new breakaway kingdom continued to be called Kingdom of Israel, and was also known as Samaria, or Ephraim or the northern Kingdom. The realm Rehoboam was left with was called Kingdom of Judah.
The assembly for the coronation of Solomon's successor, Rehoboam, was called at Shechem, the one sacredly historic city within the territory of the Ten Tribes. Before the coronation took place the assembly requested certain reforms in the policy followed by Rehoboam's father, Solomon. The reforms requested would materially reduce the royal exchequer and hence its power to continue the magnificence of Solomon's court. The older men counseled Rehoboam at least to speak to the people in a civil manner (it is not clear whether they counseled him to accept the demands). However, the new king sought the advice from the people he had grown up with, who advised the king to show no weakness to the people, and to tax them even more, which Rehoboam did. He proclaimed to the people,
"Whereas my father laid upon you a heavy yoke, so shall I add tenfold thereto. Whereas my father chastised (tortured) you with whips, so shall I chastise you with scorpions. For my littlest finger is thicker than my father's loins; and your backs, which bent like reeds at my father's touch, shall break like straws at my own touch."
Reason for the Revolt
Reason for the Revolt of the 10 norther tribes was Rehoboam's promise of heavy taxes and the promise of harsh treatment in the future. The 10 tribes in the north had historically always worked together. The tribe of Judah in the south had historically been semi independent.
I Kings Chapter 12 verse 20