Rehoboam vs Setnakhte

At Shechem, Rehoboam rejected the elders' advice to reduce taxes and instead threatened to increase them, saying 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.' This caused the ten northern tribes to rebel and form the Kingdom of Israel.

Rehoboam fortified numerous cities in Judah, including Bethlehem, Hebron, and Lachish, to defend against the northern kingdom. He also strengthened the army and stored weapons, preparing for the ongoing conflict with Jeroboam.

Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt invaded Judah in the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign. He captured Jerusalem and plundered the Temple and the royal palace, taking the gold shields Solomon had made. This weakened Judah's economy and prestige.

Setnakhte seized power after the chaotic end of Dynasty XIX, likely through military force. He established himself as the first pharaoh of the 20th Dynasty. His reign brought stability after the civil wars and usurpations that had plagued Egypt under Twosret and Siptah.

Setnakhte undertook efforts to restore central authority and repair damage from the preceding period. He ordered the restoration of temples and the reassertion of royal control over the priesthood. His reign was short but provided a foundation for his son Ramesses III.

Setnakhte appropriated the tomb of Twosret (KV14) in the Valley of the Kings for his own burial. He enlarged and redecorated it, erasing her name and replacing it with his own. This act symbolized the rejection of the previous dynasty and the consolidation of his rule.