(a) After the death of Solomon, Rehoboam went to Schechem for his coronation. At this time, Northern Israel was under the leadership of Jeroboam who came and said to Rehoboam, "your father made our yoke heavy. Therefore, lighten the hard service of your father and we will serve you". Rehoboam requested that they should give him three days and come back thereafter. Rehoboam took counsel with his father's advisers who told him to hearken to the people's request, but he did not take to the advice of the elders. Rather he listened to the advice of his age mates who advised him to even increase the burden of the people. Jeroboam and all the people of Israel came to Rehoboam on the third day and the king spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men. Israel then reacted, "What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse, to your tents 0 Israel." Israel then departed to their tents and Rehoboam reigned over Judah.

(b) Solomon's unwise policies which led to the division of the kingdom were:
(1) Solomon's imposition of heavy tax
(2) Solomon's introduction of hard labour
(3) Solomon's marriage to foreign women and their gods.