The People's Request
Study note
Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king. Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had fled to Egypt during Solomon's reign, returned to lead the people's request. They asked Rehoboam to lighten the heavy burden of taxes and forced labor that Solomon had placed on them. Rehoboam asked for three days to think about it.
1 Rehoboam traveled to Shechem because all the people of Israel had gathered there to crown him as their new king. And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.
2 Jeroboam son of Nebat was still living in Egypt, where he had run away from King Solomon. When he heard the news, he came back from Egypt. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
3 The people sent for Jeroboam. Then he and all the Israelites went to Rehoboam and told him, And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,
4 "Your father made us work too hard and pay too many taxes. If you make things easier for us, we will gladly serve you." Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
5 Rehoboam told them, "Give me three days to think about it, then come back." So the people went away. And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.
Bad Advice from Young Friends
Study note
Rehoboam first asked the older advisors who had served his father. They told him to be kind to the people and they would serve him forever. But Rehoboam rejected their advice. Instead, he asked the young men who had grown up with him. They told him to be even harsher than Solomon, saying, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. My father whipped you, but I will use scorpions.' This arrogant advice would tear the nation apart.
6 King Rehoboam talked to the older advisors who had served his father Solomon while he was alive. He asked them, "What should I say to these people?" 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?
7 They answered, "If you treat these people with kindness and say good things to them, they will be loyal to you for the rest of your life." And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.
8 But Rehoboam turned away from what the older men told him. Instead, he went to the young men who had grown up with him and now worked for him. But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.
9 He asked them, "What do you think I should say? These people want me to lighten the heavy load my father put on them." And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
10 The young men who grew up with him said, "Tell those people this: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's whole body!'" And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
11 "Say to them, 'My father gave you a heavy load, but I will pile on even more. My father beat you with whips, but I will use whips with sharp metal tips!'" For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
Israel Rejects Rehoboam
Study note
When Rehoboam gave the people his harsh answer, they rebelled. The ten northern tribes declared they had nothing to do with the house of David. When Rehoboam sent his tax collector Hadoram to the northern tribes, they stoned him to death. Rehoboam had to flee quickly to Jerusalem in his chariot. The text notes that this happened because God was fulfilling the prophecy he had made through Ahijah to Jeroboam. From this point on, only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained under the house of David.
12 On the third day, Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam, just as the king had asked them to. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.
13 The king gave them a harsh answer. He ignored what the older advisors had suggested. And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
14 He repeated what the young men told him to say: "My father gave you a heavy load, but I will pile on even more. My father beat you with whips, but I will use whips with sharp metal tips!" And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
15 The king would not listen to what the people wanted. God was behind this turn of events so that he could keep the promise he had made to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh. So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16 When all the Israelites realized the king would not listen, they shouted back, "We want nothing to do with David's family! Let's all go home, Israel! David's family can rule over themselves!" So all the Israelites left and went home. And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.
17 But Rehoboam still ruled over the people of Israel who lived in the towns of Judah. But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18 King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of the work crews, to talk to the people. But they threw stones at Hadoram and killed him. King Rehoboam quickly jumped into his chariot and raced back to Jerusalem. Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19 From that day on, the people of Israel have refused to follow the family of David. And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.