Rehoboam was a king of ancient Israel, known for being the son of King Solomon and the grandson of King David. He ruled after the death of Solomon around 931 BCE. His reign is often marked by the division of the united kingdom into two separate kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Rehoboam's leadership style and decisions, particularly his refusal to lighten the heavy tax burden imposed by his father, led to widespread discontent. This dissatisfaction ultimately resulted in ten northern tribes breaking away to form the kingdom of Israel, leaving Rehoboam to rule only over Judah.