1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
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;)
3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
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.
5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
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?
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.
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:
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?
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.
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 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.
13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;
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.
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.
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.
17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
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.
19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
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.
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.
22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
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,
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.
25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
Chapter 12 of the book of 1 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible continues the narrative of the reign of King Solomon's son, Rehoboam, over the united kingdom of Israel. This chapter focuses on the division of the kingdom into two separate nations, Israel and Judah, after a series of events that reveal the arrogance and poor leadership skills of Rehoboam. The main themes of this chapter include the consequences of pride and the importance of wise counsel in leadership. Through the actions of Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the reader is reminded of the importance of humility and seeking guidance from God in all decision-making. This chapter serves as a cautionary tale for leaders and individuals alike, emphasizing the need for humility and wisdom in all aspects of life.
The chapter begins with the people of Israel approaching Rehoboam to request a lighter burden of labor and taxes than what was imposed by his father, Solomon. The people specifically mention that if Rehoboam agrees to their request, they will serve him and be loyal to him. Rehoboam, who had just inherited the throne and was still young and inexperienced, seeks advice from two groups of people - his father's elders and his own peers. The elders counsel him to listen to the people and be a servant leader, while his peers advise him to assert his authority and make the people work even harder.
Rehoboam, ignoring the wisdom of the elders, chooses to follow the counsel of his peers and responds harshly to the people, declaring that he will make their burden even heavier. This decision leads to the division of the kingdom, with the ten northern tribes of Israel rebelling against Rehoboam and choosing Jeroboam as their king. Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remain loyal to Rehoboam, forming the southern kingdom of Judah.
This division of the kingdom was a direct consequence of Rehoboam's pride and lack of wise counsel. Instead of listening to the people and seeking guidance from God, he chose to follow his own desires and the advice of his peers. This event serves as a reminder to leaders and individuals that pride and arrogance can lead to disastrous consequences.
After the division of the kingdom, Jeroboam becomes the king of Israel and immediately begins to fear that the people will return to the southern kingdom of Judah to worship at the temple in Jerusalem. To prevent this, he sets up golden calves in Bethel and Dan and declares them to be the gods of Israel. He also appoints priests who are not from the tribe of Levi, contrary to God's law, and institutes a new festival on the 15th day of the eighth month, rather than the 7th month as prescribed by God.
Jeroboam's actions not only go against God's commandments but also serve to divide the people further. By creating new gods and rituals, he leads the people away from the true worship of God and encourages idolatry. This further highlights the importance of seeking guidance from God and following His commandments, rather than following one's own desires.
Within this chapter, there is also a prophecy given by the prophet Ahijah to Jeroboam. God promises Jeroboam that if he follows His commandments and walks in His ways, He will establish him as a king over Israel and bless him and his descendants. However, if Jeroboam turns away from God and follows other gods, He will uproot him and his descendants from the land and bring disaster upon them.
This prophecy serves as a warning to Jeroboam and the people of Israel to remain faithful to God and His commandments. It also emphasizes the importance of obedience and the consequences of turning away from God. This prophecy is a reminder that God is the ultimate authority and His ways are higher than our own.
The division of the kingdom of Israel into two separate nations, Israel and Judah, has significant historical and theological implications. This division marks the beginning of a tumultuous period in Israel's history, with both kingdoms facing numerous challenges and eventually falling into captivity to foreign empires. It also serves as a reminder of the consequences of pride and poor leadership, as seen in the actions of Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
The theological implications of this division are also significant. The northern kingdom of Israel, with its idolatry and rejection of God's commandments, serves as a warning to the people of Judah and the readers of the Bible to remain faithful to God and His ways. It also foreshadows the eventual destruction of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians and the exile of the people of Judah to Babylon. This division also sets the stage for the coming of the Messiah, as the southern kingdom of Judah is where the line of David continues and where Jesus, the ultimate King, is born.
Chapter 12 of 1 Kings serves as a cautionary tale for leaders and individuals, emphasizing the importance of humility, wise counsel, and obedience to God. Through the actions of Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the reader is reminded of the consequences of pride and the dangers of turning away from God's commandments. This chapter also highlights the sovereignty of God and His ultimate authority over all human rulers and decisions.
The division of the kingdom serves as a reminder that God is in control and that disobedience and idolatry will lead to destruction. It also foreshadows the coming of the Messiah and the ultimate restoration of God's people through Jesus Christ. This chapter serves as a timeless reminder to seek wisdom and guidance from God in all decisions and to remain faithful to His commandments, for He is the only true and just King.
Chapter 12 of 1 Kings is a significant chapter in the biblical narrative, marking the division of the kingdom of Israel and highlighting the consequences of pride and disobedience. Through the actions of Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the reader is reminded of the importance of humility, wise counsel, and obedience to God. This chapter serves as a warning to leaders and individuals to seek guidance from God and to remain faithful to His commandments, for He is the ultimate authority and the only true and just King.
Share this page