Previously on the chosen people.

Solomon left a gleaming empire behind, but for all its glamour, it teetered on the brink of chaos and war.

The children of Israel were crushed under the weight of taxes and conscripted labor.

As a result, they had little faith left in their rulers.

Your Majesty, we have come before you not as rebels, but as your loyal subjects.

We have built your father's cities, harvested his fields, paid his tribute.

But his yoke was heavy upon us.

You don't truly think that people would turn against the House of David, do you?

My great-grandfather united us, and my grandfather made us all rich.

The people won't forget that.

What portion do we have in David?

We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse?

Israel, return to your tents.

The sons of David can look after their own house.

We were slaves once, Rehoboam.

Never again.

There was stillness for another fraught heartbeat.

And then, chaos. The northerners at the far end of the

hall exploded with fury and sprang forward past the tribal leaders and toward the royal family

and advisers, but they were swiftly driven back by Riaboem's guard. Reh Boeum stumbled, but was shoved toward the chariot.

The kingdom his father built was tearing itself apart.

Or rather, it was being torn from him.

...