<P> David is succeeded by his son Solomon (Hebrew: שְׁלֹמֹה ‬, "peace"), who obtains the throne in a somewhat disreputable manner from rival claimant Adonijah, his elder brother . The reign of Solomon (c. 961 to 922 BCE) proves to be a period of unprecedented peace, prosperity, and cultural development . Solomon embarks on an aggressive campaign of public building, erecting the First Temple in Jerusalem with assistance from the King of Tyre, with whom he has maintained the strong alliance forged by his father . Like the palace of David, Solomon's temple is designed and built with the assistance of Tyrian architects, master craftsmen, skilled labourers, money, jewels, cedar, and other goods obtained in exchange for land ceded to Tyre . </P> <P> Solomon goes on to rebuild numerous major cities, including Megiddo, Hazor, and Gezer . Some scholars have attributed aspects of archaeological remains excavated from this sites, including six - chambered gates and ashlar palaces, to this building programme . However, excavation teams at Meggido later established that these structures are from different time periods . Yigael Yadin subsequently concluded that the stables once believed to have served Solomon's vast vast collection of horses were actually built by King Ahab in the 9th century BCE . </P> <P> Following Solomon's death in c. 926 BCE, tensions between the northern part of Israel containing the ten northern tribes, and the southern section dominated by Jerusalem and the southern tribes reached boiling point . When Solomon's successor Rehoboam dealt tactlessly with economic complaints of the northern tribes, in about 930 BCE (there are differences of opinion as to the actual year) the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah split into two kingdoms: the northern Kingdom of Israel, which included the cities of Shechem and Samaria, and the southern Kingdom of Judah, which contained Jerusalem; with most of the non-Israelite provinces achieving independence . </P> <P> The Kingdom of Israel (or Northern Kingdom, or Samaria) existed as an independent state until 722 BCE when it was conquered by the Assyrian Empire, while the Kingdom of Judah (or Southern Kingdom) existed as an independent state until 586 BCE when it was conquered by the Neo-Babylonian Empire . </P>

What caused the split between israel and judah