Final answer:
Judah sought guidance from the Lord as part of a religious reform initiated by prophets. The reform aimed to avoid the fate of Israel, which had split from Judah following Solomon's heavy taxation. The historical context includes the biblical accounts of Judges, the kingdom of Israel, and the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews.
Step-by-step explanation:
Judah gathered themselves together to ask guidance from the Lord. This action can be seen as a part of the religious reforms in Judah, instigated by prophets who interpreted the destruction of Israel as a punishment for forsaking the covenant with Yahweh. After the death of Solomon, resentment against his taxation led to a split of the united monarchy into two kingdoms: Israel in the north, and Judah in the south. While the northern kingdom was richer and more cosmopolitan, the southern kingdom of Judah was poorer, smaller, and more conservative. It was in Judah that the Prophetic Movement came into being, emphasizing monotheism and the exclusive worship of Yahweh.
The biblical book of Judges and other texts illustrates the struggles and societal structures of the time, highlighting events such as the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews and the rise of Judaism after the Judeans returned to Jerusalem. The imperative to worship only Yahweh, live a moral life, and follow the laws of Moses became central to Jewish identity.