Rehoboam (1 Kings 11:43–12:5; 1 Kings 12:6–11; 1 Kings 12:12–15; 1 Kings 12:16–20; 1 Kings 12:21–24; 1 Kings 14:21–26; 1 Kings 14:27–31; 1 Kings 15:6; 1 Chronicles 3:10; 2 Chronicles 10:1–19; 2 Chronicles 11:1–23; 2 Chronicles 12:1–16; 2 Chronicles 13:7; Matthew 1:7)

Son of Solomon, king of Judah

The son who reigned in Solomon's stead, who forsook the counsel of the old men and answered Israel roughly at Shechem, so that ten tribes rebelled and made Jeroboam king, leaving him Judah; Chronicles adds that he forsook the law of the LORD, was humbled when Shishak came up against Jerusalem, and did evil because he set not his heart to seek the LORD.

When Solomon slept with his fathers, “Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead” (1 Kings 11:43). He went to Shechem, “for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king” (1 Kings 12:1). Jeroboam the son of Nebat and the assembly of Israel asked him to make the yoke of his father lighter. He took counsel with the old men who had stood before Solomon, and with the young men who had grown up with him: “But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him” (1 Kings 12:8). He answered the people roughly, Israel went to their tents, and “there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only” (1 Kings 12:20). Both Kings and Chronicles tell this; the text says the turn of events “was a thing brought about of Jehovah” (1 Kings 12:15).

Kings and Chronicles then tell the rest of his reign each in its own way. Both record that when he assembled Judah and Benjamin to fight Israel, the word of the LORD came through Shemaiah the man of God and they returned home (1 Kings 12:21-24; 2 Chronicles 11:1-4). Chronicles alone tells of his fortified cities, his wives and sons, and that “when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Jehovah, and all Israel with him” (2 Chronicles 12:1). Kings says that “Judah did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah” (1 Kings 14:22) and built high places, pillars and Asherim (1 Kings 14:22-23). Both books say that in his fifth year Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures and the shields of gold (1 Kings 14:25-26; 2 Chronicles 12:9).

Chronicles alone adds Shemaiah's word to the king and the princes and that “the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves” (2 Chronicles 12:6). Both books say he made shields of brass in their stead, that there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually, and that he slept with his fathers and Abijam (Kings) or Abijah (Chronicles) his son reigned in his stead (1 Kings 14:27-31; 2 Chronicles 12:10-16). Chronicles ends its verdict: “And he did that which was evil, because he set not his heart to seek Jehovah” (2 Chronicles 12:14). Later his son Abijah, speaking to Israel, recalled the worthless men who “strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted, and could not withstand them” (2 Chronicles 13:7). The New Testament names him in the genealogy: “and Solomon begat Rehoboam; and Rehoboam begat Abijah” (Matthew 1:7).

Strengths

• Dealt wisely
• Humbled himself

Weaknesses

• Forsook the counsel of the old men
• Answered the people roughly
• Forsook the law of the LORD
• Set not his heart to seek the LORD

Themes

• Counsel taken and forsaken
• A divided kingdom
• The heavy yoke
• Forsaking the law
• Humbling
• Kings and Chronicles

Reigns at Shechem; Israel asks for a lighter yoke (1 Kings 11:43–12:5; 2 Chronicles 9:31–10:5)

Solomon dies and Rehoboam reigns; at Shechem, where all Israel have come to make him king, Jeroboam and the assembly ask him to lighten the heavy yoke, and he asks for three days.

Takes counsel with the old men and the young men (1 Kings 12:6–11; 2 Chronicles 10:6–11)

He asks the old men who had stood before Solomon, forsakes their counsel, and takes counsel with the young men who had grown up with him.

Takes counsel with the old men and the young men

“And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?” (1 Kings 12:6). Kings gives their reply: “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” (1 Kings 12:7). Chronicles gives it as “If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever” (2 Chronicles 10:7).

“But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men that were grown up with him, that stood before him” (1 Kings 12:8). The young men said that he should tell the people, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions” (1 Kings 12:10-11). The text does not say why he turned from the old men.

Answers the people roughly (1 Kings 12:12–15; 2 Chronicles 10:12–15)

On the third day, as the king had bidden, Jeroboam and all the people come again, and he answers them roughly in the words of the young men.

Answers the people roughly

“So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the third day. And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and spake to them after 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” (1 Kings 12:12-14).

“So the king hearkened not unto the people; for it was a thing brought about of Jehovah, that he might establish his word, which Jehovah spake by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat” (1 Kings 12:15). Chronicles words it: “for it was brought about of God, that Jehovah might establish his word” (2 Chronicles 10:15).

Ten tribes rebel; Rehoboam flees to Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:16–20; 2 Chronicles 10:16–19)

Israel answers that it has no portion in David and departs to its tents; Rehoboam sends the overseer of taskwork, who is stoned, and he flees to Jerusalem while Israel makes Jeroboam king and only Judah follows the house of David.

Ten tribes rebel; Rehoboam flees to Jerusalem

“And 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” (1 Kings 12:16). “But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them” (1 Kings 12:17).

“Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to taskwork; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem” (1 Kings 12:18). Chronicles names the official Hadoram (2 Chronicles 10:18). “So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day” (1 Kings 12:19).

Israel “sent and called” (1 Kings 12:20) Jeroboam “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” (1 Kings 12:20).

Shemaiah stops the war (1 Kings 12:21–24; 2 Chronicles 11:1–4)

Rehoboam assembles Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, to fight Israel; the word of the LORD comes to Shemaiah, and they return home.

Shemaiah stops the war

“And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, that were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon” (1 Kings 12:21).

“But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is of me. So they hearkened unto the word of Jehovah, and returned and went their way, according to the word of Jehovah” (1 Kings 12:22-24). The text says that they hearkened and does not name Rehoboam in that line.

Fortifies Judah; his wives and sons (2 Chronicles 11:5–23)

Chronicles tells how he builds cities for defense in Judah, the priests and Levites resort to him, and for three years they walk in the way of David and Solomon; he loves Maacah above all his wives, makes Abijah chief, and deals wisely in dispersing his sons among the fortified cities.

Forsakes the law of the LORD (1 Kings 14:22–24; 2 Chronicles 12:1)

Kings says Judah does evil in the sight of the LORD, building high places, pillars and Asherim; Chronicles says that when his kingdom is established and he is strong, he forsakes the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

Shishak comes up against Jerusalem (1 Kings 14:25; 2 Chronicles 12:2–4)

In the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt comes up against Jerusalem; Chronicles says it was because they had trespassed against the LORD, and that he took the fortified cities of Judah.

Shemaiah's word; the king humbles himself (2 Chronicles 12:5–8; 2 Chronicles 12:12)

Chronicles tells how Shemaiah says the LORD has left them in the hand of Shishak; the princes and the king humble themselves, and the LORD says he will not destroy them.

Shemaiah's word; the king humbles himself

In 2 Chronicles, “Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, Ye have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak” (2 Chronicles 12:5).

“Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, Jehovah is righteous. And when Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves: I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak” (2 Chronicles 12:6-7). “Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries” (2 Chronicles 12:8).

Of the king himself the text says: “And when he humbled himself, the wrath of Jehovah turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether: and moreover in Judah there were good things found” (2 Chronicles 12:12).

Shields of brass for the shields of gold (1 Kings 14:26–28; 2 Chronicles 12:9–11)

Shishak takes away the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house and the shields of gold which Solomon had made; Rehoboam makes shields of brass in their stead, which the guard bear when the king goes into the house of the LORD.

His reign and death (1 Kings 14:21; 1 Kings 14:29–31; 2 Chronicles 12:13–16)

He reigns seventeen years in Jerusalem, there is war between him and Jeroboam continually, and he sleeps with his fathers and is buried in the city of David; Chronicles says he did evil because he set not his heart to seek the LORD.

Solomon (1 Kings 11:43; 1 Kings 12:6; 2 Chronicles 9:31)

His father, in whose stead he reigned; the old men whose counsel he forsook had stood before Solomon.

David (1 Kings 12:16; 1 Kings 12:19–20; 2 Chronicles 11:17)

Father of Solomon; Israel asked what portion it had in David and only Judah followed his house, where for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

Jeroboam the son of Nebat (1 Kings 12:2–4; 1 Kings 12:20; 1 Kings 14:30)

Called back from Egypt, he spoke for Israel at Shechem, was made king over Israel, and there was war between him and Rehoboam continually.

Abijah (2 Chronicles 11:20–22; 1 Kings 14:31; 2 Chronicles 12:16; 2 Chronicles 13:7)

His son by Maacah, appointed chief among his brethren; called Abijam in Kings and Abijah in Chronicles, he reigned in his stead.

Maacah (2 Chronicles 11:20–21)

The daughter of Absalom whom he loved above all his wives and his concubines.

Shemaiah (1 Kings 12:22–24; 2 Chronicles 12:5–7)

The man of God to whom the word of the LORD came to stop the war, and the prophet who told the king and princes they had forsaken the LORD.

The old men (1 Kings 12:6–8; 1 Kings 12:13)

They had stood before Solomon and counseled him to serve the people and speak good words; he forsook their counsel.

The young men (1 Kings 12:8–11; 1 Kings 12:14)

Grown up with him and standing before him, they gave the counsel of the heavier yoke, and he spoke after it.

Shishak (1 Kings 14:25–26; 2 Chronicles 12:2–4; 2 Chronicles 12:9)

King of Egypt, who came up against Jerusalem in Rehoboam's fifth year and took away the treasures and the shields of gold.

The LORD (1 Kings 12:15; 1 Kings 12:24; 2 Chronicles 12:5–7)

Brought about the turn of events at Shechem, forbade the war against Israel, and left Judah in the hand of Shishak until they humbled themselves.

Major sections

• 1 Kings 11:43–12:24
• 1 Kings 14:21–31
• 2 Chronicles 9:31–12:16

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