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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Southern Kingdom

The Southern Kingdom, also known as the Southern Tribes of Judah, was one of two nations that resulted when Israel split due to the unwise leadership of King Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 10). The other nation was the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Like the Northern Kingdom, the Southern Kingdom, was later conquered and deported. They, however, eventually returned, as covered in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zechariah.

It was through the Southern Kingdom (Judah) that the royal line of King David was perpetuated.

Key verse about Southern Kingdom: “And because he had no son, Jehoram [his younger brother] became king [of Israel, the northern kingdom] in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah [the southern kingdom] (2 Kings 1:17, AMP).

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

Categories
Bible Terms

Bible Term: Northern Kingdom

The Northern Kingdom, also known as the Northern Tribes or the Ten Tribes of Israel, were one of two nations that resulted when Israel was split due to the unwise leadership of King Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 10). The other nation was Judah (the Southern Kingdom).

The Northern Kingdom would eventually be conquered by the nation of Assyria, which deported the Israelites, forcibly dispersing them to many different areas.

There is no biblical mention of these people ever returning in any significant numbers, and as a result they are therefore sometimes called the Lost Tribes of Israel.

Key verse about Northern Kingdom: I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah (Jeremiah 1:15, NIV)

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

Categories
Bible Terms

Bible Term: Kingdom of God

The phrase “the Kingdom of God” is synonymous with “the Kingdom of Heaven.” Some writers in the Bible simply prefer one over the other; it is not meant to designate two different concepts.

These two phrases could perhaps be best understood by considering that Jesus desires to bring heaven’s rule to earth. Under his rule, there are benefits and responsibilities to his subjects, the church.

Jesus explains about the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven through parables:

Key verse about Kingdom of God: After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God, Luke 8:1, NIV).

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.