A Kingdom Divided: Rehoboam’s Unwise Choice (1 Kings 12:1-24)
After King Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became the new king of Israel. This was a time of change and uncertainty. The people wanted to know what kind of king Rehoboam would be. Would he be kind and understanding, or would he rule with a heavy hand like his father had in his later years?
What happened next changed the nation of Israel forever.
A Request from the People
Rehoboam went to a city called Shechem to be officially made king. While he was there, the people came to him with a request. They said, “Your father made life hard for us. If you will be kinder and lighten our load, we will gladly serve you.”
It was a reasonable request. The people weren’t asking to be free of rules—they just wanted fair treatment.
Two Different Sets of Advice
Rehoboam wasn’t sure how to respond, so he asked for advice.
First, he spoke to the older men who had served as advisors to his father. They told him, “If you are kind to the people and listen to them, they will always be loyal to you.”
Then he asked the younger men he had grown up with. They gave very different advice. “Don’t show weakness,” they said. “Tell the people you’ll be even tougher than your father.”
Sadly, Rehoboam listened to the younger group.
A Harsh Answer That Caused Division
Rehoboam went back to the people and gave them a very harsh answer. He said, “My father made your load heavy, and I will make it even heavier.”
This angered the people. Most of the tribes of Israel rejected Rehoboam as king. They chose a different leader named Jeroboam to rule over them instead.
Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin stayed loyal to Rehoboam. The rest became a separate kingdom called Israel, while Rehoboam ruled over what became known as Judah.
A Plan to Fight—and a Message from God
Rehoboam didn’t take this split lightly. He planned to fight the other tribes and force them back under his rule. He gathered a large army and prepared for battle.
But God had other plans.
He sent a prophet named Shemaiah to deliver a message: “Don’t fight your fellow Israelites. This division is part of My plan.” To his credit, Rehoboam listened and called off the attack.
What Can We Learn from This?
This story is a powerful lesson about leadership and listening.
Rehoboam had a chance to bring peace and unity, but he let pride and poor advice guide him. Instead of showing kindness, he chose to be harsh—and it caused the kingdom to break apart.
Sometimes, the way we respond to others can either build peace or create division. Listening with humility, considering wise counsel, and choosing kindness over pride can go a long way—not just for leaders, but for all of us.
Reflection:
When people come to you with honest concerns, do you listen carefully—or respond harshly? Wisdom often starts with a soft heart and open ears.
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.