*1 Kings 12:1-24
After King Solomon’s death, the tribes of Israel revolt against Rehoboam, his son, demanding lighter taxes but are refused, leading to the kingdom’s division.
- Rehoboam’s Accession to the Throne:
- Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, succeeds him as king of Israel.
- He goes to Shechem, where the leaders of Israel gather to crown him as king.
- The People’s Request for Relief:
- Jeroboam, a former official of Solomon, returns from Egypt and leads the assembly to seek leniency from Rehoboam.
- The people request relief from the heavy labor and taxation imposed during Solomon’s reign.
- Consulting with Elders and Peers:
- Rehoboam consults with the elders who had served his father Solomon for advice on how to respond to the people’s request.
- The elders advise him to heed the people’s plea and serve them, earning their loyalty.
- Rehoboam’s Rejection of Counsel:
- Rehoboam rejects the counsel of the elders and instead seeks advice from his peers, who grew up with him.
- The young advisors urge him to assert his authority and impose even harsher burdens on the people.
- Rehoboam’s Response:
- Rehoboam follows the counsel of his peers and delivers a stern message to the people, promising to increase their burdens rather than lessen them.
- Rebellion and Division:
- The people, angered by Rehoboam’s response, rebel against him and refuse to acknowledge his authority.
- They proclaim Jeroboam as their king, leading to the division of the kingdom.
- Fulfillment of Prophecy:
- This division fulfills the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, foretelling that he would become king over ten of the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Rehoboam’s Failed Attempt to Reunify:
- Rehoboam attempts to reunify the kingdom through military force but is prevented by the prophet Shemaiah, who conveys God’s instruction not to go to war against his fellow Israelites.
- Conclusion:
- The passage concludes with the establishment of two distinct kingdoms: the northern kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam and the southern kingdom of Judah under Rehoboam, setting the stage for centuries of rivalry and conflict between the two kingdoms.
In 1 Kings 12:1-24, Rehoboam ignores wise advice and listens to those who tell him what he wants to hear, leading to division in the kingdom. This reminds us to be careful about whose advice we follow. Wise counsel often comes from those with experience and a heart for what is right, not just from people who agree with us. When making decisions, we should seek wisdom, listen with humility, and consider how our choices affect others. Acting with kindness and understanding can help prevent unnecessary conflict in our own lives.
1 Kings 12:1-24 (WEB)
12:1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt; 3 and they sent and called him), Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 “Your father made our yoke difficult. Now therefore make the hard service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.”5 He said to them, “Depart for three days, then come back to me.”So the people departed.6 King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, “What counsel do you give me to answer these people?”7 They replied, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them, and answer them with good words, then they will be your servants forever.”8 But he abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 9 He said to them, “What counsel do you give, that we may answer these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter’?”10 The young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Tell these people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter to us’—tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 Now my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’ ”12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king asked, saying, “Come to me again the third day.” 13 The king answered the people roughly, and abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, 14 and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”15 So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about from the LORD, that he might establish his word, which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What portion have we in David? We don’t have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David.” So Israel departed to their tents.17 But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam hurried to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel rebelled against David’s house to this day.20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed David’s house, except for the tribe of Judah only.21 When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, 24 ‘The LORD says, “You shall not go up or fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is from me.” ’ ” So they listened to the LORD’s word, and returned and went their way, according to the LORD’s word.