*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.
12:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
12:2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) 12:3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 12:4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
12:5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
12:6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? 12:7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
12:8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: 12:9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? 12:10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
12:11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
12:12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
12:13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; 12:14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
12:15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
12:16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
12:17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
12:18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
12:19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
12:20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
12:21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
12:22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 12:23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 12:24 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.