Ngesikhathi uSolomoni alotjha uJehova, bekunokuthula kwa-Israyeli. Kodwana uSolomoni watjhada abafazi abanengi abavela kezinye iinarha, begodu abafazabo bebalotjha iinthombe. Kancanikancani, uSolomoni naye watjhuguluka, bewathoma nokulotjha iinthombe. Kwamkwatisa khulu uJehova lokho. Wathi kuSolomoni: ‘U-Israyeli uzokususwa emndeninakho begodu uzokuhlukaniswa ube kabili. Ingcenye ekulu izakuba ngeyeenceku zakho, kuthi umndenakho usale ngengcenyana encani.’

UJehova wenza isiqunto sakhe sakhanya nangenye indlela. Enye yeenceku zakaSolomoni, uJerobhowamu, beyizikhambela ngendlela lokha nayizakuhlangana nomphorofidi u-Arhiya. U-Arhiya warathula iphuraphurakhe yaba ziintokana ezili-12 wathi kuJerobhowamu: ‘UJehova uzowususa umbuso wakwa-Israyeli esandleni somndeni kaSolomoni begodu uzowuhlukanisa kabili. Thatha iintokana ezilitjhumi ngombana uzokuba yikosi phezu kweenkoro izilitjhumi.’ Ikosi uSolomoni yezwa ngalokho, kusukela lapho yafuna ukubulala uJerobhowamu! Ngalokho uJerobhowamu wabalekela eGibhide. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi uSolomoni wahlongakala, indodanakhe, uRerhobhowamu, yathoma ukubusa. UJerobhowamu wabona ukuthi sekuphephile bona angabuyela kwa-Israyeli.

 Abadala bakwa-Israyeli bathi kuRerhobhowamu: ‘Nange ungabaphatha kuhle abantwaba, bazokuthembeka kuwe.’ Kodwana abangani bakaRerhobowamu abancani bathi: ‘Kufuze ubakhahlumeze abantwaba! Ubenze basebenze budisi ukudlula lokhu!’ URerhobhowamu walalela iseluleko sabangani bakhe. Wabakhahlumeza vele, ngalokho abantu khenge bathembeke, bahlubuka. Benza uJerobhowamu waba yikosi yeenkoro ezilitjhumi, ezagcina sezaziwa ngokuthi mbuso waka-Israyeli. Ezinye iinkoro ezimbili zaziwa ngokuthi mbuso wamaJuda, begodu zahlala zingaphasi kwakaRerhobhowamu. Iinkoro ezi-12 zakwa-Israyeli besele zihlukanisiwe nje.

UJerobhowamu bekangafuni ukuthi abantu bakhe bakhambe bayokulotjha eJerusalema, njengombana iJerusalema le beyisembusweni kaRerhobhowamu. Uyazi ukuthi kubayini enza njalo? UJerobhowamu bekasaba ukuthi abantu bakhe bebazomjikela basekele uRerhobhowamu. Ngikho enza amakonyana amabili wegolide, wathi ebantwini: ‘IJerusalema likude. Ningalotjha khona la.’ Abantu bathoma ukulotjha amakonyana lawo bakhohlwa ngoJehova godu.