Who did the ten northern tribes choose as their king after seceding?
After the ten northern tribes seceded because Rehoboam refused to lower taxes, they chose Jeroboam as their king. He was not from the kingly or royal family line. Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, continued to reign in Jerusalem over Judah and Benjamin, while Jeroboam became king of the northern ten tribes.
Les explains that Solomon had taxed the people heavily, and the people told Rehoboam to back off so Israel would elevate him. Rehoboam refused and said he would tax them even more. Because Rehoboam would not lower the taxes and keep peace, the ten tribes of the north seceded. They said they would have their own king, and that king was Jeroboam, who was not even in the kingly or royal family line. Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, set up his throne in Jerusalem, where the temple was, over Judah and Benjamin, while Jeroboam became king of the northern ten tribes, normally called Israel or the northern kingdom.