Comments on 1 Kings 12 With the death of Solomon and the prior prediction of the division of the kingdom in 1 Kings 11:12, we see Israel divided into the Northern Ten under Jeroboam and the Southern Two under Rehoboam. Another thing we see is the end of the prophet-king. With Saul, David, and Solomon, the Lord spoke directly to the king and worked with them one on one extensively. However, from Rehoboam and Jeroboam on through the rest of Israel and Judah's history the Lord stops direct dealing with the kings. They have been cut off. Here, the word of the Lord goes through Shemaiah to Rehoboam, indicating his lack of spirituality. The prophet-king is the ideal we later see presented in the Prophets. They hold up David as a type of the prophet-king and predict another David will resturn to sit on his ancestor's throne. v1-15 When Rehoboam takes over as king of all Twelve tribes (v. 1), the people summon Jeroboam back from Egypt and apparently have him act as something of a representative (v. 2). Jeroboam and some of the people assemble before Rehoboam (v. 3) and complain of the burden they were forced to suffer under Solomon, ostensibly while the Temple was being constructed. They then request that Rehoboam lift the burden and make it easier on the people (v. 4). Rehoboam doesn't know what to say so he sends the people away telling them to return in three days (v. 5). Rehoboam consults with the counselors his father Solomon used, and they advise him to lift the burden on the people, and they will then be faithful to him forever (v. 6-7). But, Rehoboam rejects their counsel and consults with his friends instead (v. 8). His friends tell him to threaten the people with even greater burdens (v. 10) and even heavier oppression if they do not obey (v. 11). On the third day the people return (v. 12) and Rehoboam ignores the counsel of the elders (v. 13) and delivers the message his friends gave him (v. 14). This being the case, Rehoboam is setting the stage for the fulfilment of the previous prediction (v. 15, cp. 11:12) v8 Why does Rehoboam listen to these younger men, his peers? These are nobility like him, who have grew in privilege as he did. They are used to living easy at another's expense. v10 "my little [finger] shall be thicker than my father's loins" The "finger" is an insertion in the English not present in the Hebrew (Hebrew: qoten). The "loins" (Hebrew: mothen) would be better translated "waist" or "hips". And the KJV "shall be" should be rendered "is". What he is saying is "My thinnest part is thicker than my father's thickest part", or in other words "I am a heavier burden for you to carry than my father was". v16-20 When the people hear what Rehoboam says they are disgusted and secede from his rule, saying Israel no longer has any part with the house of David (v. 16). Only the tribe of Judah living in the cities remain faithful to Rehoboam (v. 17). When Rehoboam sends the leader over forced labor to them, ostensibly to get them to fall into line, they stone him to death. Rehoboam realizes the rebellion is complete so he flees to Jerusalem (v. 18). Israel's rebellion persists (v. 19) and when it becomes generally known that Jeroboam is back from exile they have him as king (v. 20). v17 Why would only Judah, in the cities, remain faithful to Rehoboam? These are probably the people who benefitted most from Solomon's construction and merchandising (10:27-29), so they want to see more of the same. These are the upper and middle-class business people, unlike the common Israelites. v21-24 Rehoboam is angry about the rebellion so he summons Judah and Benjamin and gathers a force of 180,000 warriors to go and attack Israel and restore the kingdom to him (v. 21). But the Lord reveals to a prophet (v. 22) that they are not to go up and fight against their brothers in Israel, and they listen to the prophet (v. 24) v23 "Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah", note the Lord has titled him as "king of Judah" and not "king of Israel". Thus, the Lord is emphasizing the prediction of 11:12-13 has been fulfilled and they will be fighting against Him if they try to go up against Israel. They obviously understand the implicit warning as they stop their plans of attack. v25-33 Jeroboam starts up a new religion as a means of divorcing his people from those at Jerusalem. He doesn't want them going down to Jerusalem to worship at the feasts because then they might become persuaded to follow Rehoboam again. So, this is a case of politically motivated religion. But, Jeroboam doesn't just try to divorce Israel from worshiping among Judah by setting up some new location for worship. No, he fabricates some new idolatrous, probably derived from local Canaanite traditions, religion and supplants the feasts at Jerusalem with new and different ones. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.