דברי הימים ב, פרק י״א, פסוק י״ג

The division of the kingdom created a deep religious crisis for the spiritual leaders living among the northern tribes. Following this political split, the priests and Levites residing in the territory of the Kingdom of Israel were forced to abandon their hometowns. Jeroboam, the king of the north, actively disrupted the proper worship of God. He built alternative shrines and appointed his own priests to serve at them [מלבי״ם].

Unwilling to compromise their devotion, the legitimate priests and Levites made a unified decision to relocate. They left their inherited lands from every corner of the northern kingdom, traveling together toward the south [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Upon arriving, they presented themselves before Rehoboam, the king of Judah, taking a firm stand by his side [רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Their goal was to settle permanently in the land of Judah, choosing to live under a government where they could maintain their sacred way of life [מצודת דוד].