The  unhappy  events  which  transpired  on  the  accession
of  Eehoboam  to  the  throne  of  Solomon  completely  put  an
end  to  that  state  of  peace  and  prosperity  which  the  king-
dom had  enjoyed  during  the  greater  part  of  the  two  pre-
ceding reigns.  The  secession  of  the  ten  tribes  from  their
allegiance  to  the  family  of  David,  and  their  formation  into
a  separate  and  independent  kingdom  under  Jeroboam,  led
to  national  antipathies,  and  to  frequent  and  bloody  wars
between  the  two  great  divisions  thus  formed  of  the  once
united  race  of  Israel.  The  weakening  influence  of  mutual
contention  exposed  them  to  the  successful  assaults  of  the
powerful  and  warlike  nations  in  their  vicinity.  Under
these  the  kingdom  of  the  ten  tribes  was  the  first  to  fall.
After  a  fierce  and  protracted  struggle  with  the  Assyrians,


254  THIRD  AGE  OF  MESSIANIC  PROPHECY.
