12:1Rehoboam was made king at Shechem, about 35 miles north of Jerusalem. It would have been normal to anoint the new king in Jerusalem, the capital city, but Rehoboam saw trouble brewing with Jeroboam and went north to try to maintain good telations with the northern tribes. He probably chose Shechem because it was an ancient location for making covenants (Joshua 24:1). When the kingdom divided, Shechem became the capital of the northern kingdom for a short time (12:25).
Life Application Study Bible1 KingsChapter 12
1 Kings 12
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 534, 535, 536
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121 Kings 12
1. Revolt of the northern tribes
The Northern Tribes Revolt
1Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king. 2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he returned from Egypt,* for he had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. 3The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel went to speak with Rehoboam. 4“Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.” 5Rehoboam replied, “Give me three days to think this over. Then come back for my answer.” So the people went away. 6Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?” 7The older counselors replied, “If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.” 8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. 9“ What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?” 10The young men replied, 11This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! "' Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’” 12Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to hear Rehoboam’s decision, just as the king had ordered. 13But Rehoboam spoke harshly to the people, for he rejected the advice of the older counselors ‘and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people, “My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I'm going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!” 15So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of the LORD, for it fulfilled the LORD’s message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh. 16When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded,
“Down with the dynasty of David!We have no interest in the son of Jesse.Back to your homes, O Israel!Look out for your own house, O David!”So the people of Israel returned home.
17But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah. 18King Rehoboam sent Adoniram,* who was in charge of the labor force, to restore order, but the people of Israel stoned him to death. When this news reached King Rehoboam, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem. 19And to this day the northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David. 20When the people of Israel learned of Jeroboam’s return from Egypt, they called an assembly and made him king over all Israel. So only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the family of David.
Shemaiah’s Prophecy
2121When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 select troops—to fight against the men of Israel and to restore the Kingdom to himself. 22But God said to Shemaiah, the man of God, 23“Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the people of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24‘ This is what the LORD says: Do not fight against your relatives, the Israelites. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’” So they obeyed the message of the LORD and went home, as the LORD had commanded.
Jeroboam Makes Gold Calves
2525Jeroboam then built up the city of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and it became his capital. Later he went and built up the town of Peniel.* 26Jeroboam thought to himself, “Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of David. 2” When these people go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the LORD, they will again give their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and make him their king instead.” 28So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people,* “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!” 29He placed these calf idols in Bethel and in Dan—at either end of his kingdom. 2°But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there. 31
Textual footnotes
- Penuel, a variant spelling of Peniel.
- 12:2 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate (see also 2 Chr 10:2); Hebrew reads he lived in Egypt.
- 12:18 As in some Greek manuscripts and Syriac version (see also 4:6; 5:14); Hebrew reads Adoram.
- 12:25 Hebrew
- 12:32 This day of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late October or early
Life Application Notes 7 notes
12:6-14Rehoboam asked for advice, but he didn’t carefully evaluate what he was told. If he had, he would have realized that the advice offered by the elders was wiser than that of his peers. To evaluate advice, ask if it is realistic, workable, and consistent with biblical principles. Determine if the results of following the advice will be fair, make improvements, and give a positive solution or direction. Seek counsel from those who are more experienced and wiser. Advice is helpful only if it is consistent with God’s standards.
12:15-19Both Jeroboam and Rehoboam did what was good for themselves, not what was good for their people. Rehoboam was harsh and did not listen to the people's demands; Jeraboam established new places of worship to keep his people from traveling to Jerusalem, Rehoboam’s capital. Both actions backfired. Rehoboam's move divided the nation, and Jeroboam’s turned the people from God. Good leaders put the best interests of the “followers” above their own. Making decisions only for yourself will backfire and cause you to lose more than if you had kept the welfare of others in mind.
12:20This marks the beginning of the division of the kingdom that lasted for centuries. Ten of Israel's 12 tribes followed Jeroboam and called their new nation Israel (the northern kingdom). The other two tribes remained loyal to Rehoboam and called their Nation Judah (the southern kingdom). The kingdom did not split Overnight. It was already dividing as early as the days of the judges because Of tribal jeatousies, especially between Ephraim, the most Influential tribe of the north, and Judah, the chief tribe of the south.
12:28,29Calves were used as idols to symbolize fertility and strength. Pagan gods of the Canaanites were often depicted as standing on calves or bulls. Jeroboam shrewdly placed the gold calves in Bethel and Dan, strategic locations. Bethel was just 10 miles north of Jerusalem on the main road, enticing the citizens from the north to stop there instead of traveling the rest of the way to Jerusalem, Dan was the northernmost city in Israel, so people living in the north far from Jerusalem were attracted to its convenient location. As leader of the northern kingdom, Jeroboam wanted to establish his own worship centers; otherwise his people would make regular trips to Jerusalem, and his authority would be undermined. Soon this substitute religion had little in common with true faith in God.
12:30Jeroboam and his advisers did not learn from Israel's previous disaster with a gold calf (Exodus 32). Perhaps they were ignorant of Scripture, or maybe they knew about the event and decided to ignore it. Study the Bible to become aware of God’s acts in history, and then apply the important lessons to your life. If you learn from the past, you will not face disaster as a result of repeating others’ mistakes (Isaiah 42:23; 1 Corinthians 10:11).
12:32,33Early in Israel's history, the city of Bethel was a symbol of commitment to God because there Jacob had rededicated himself to God (Genesis 28:16-22). But Jeroboam turned the city into Israel's chief religious center, intending it to compete with Jerusalem. Bethel’s religion, however, centered on an idol, and this ted to Israel’s eventual downfall. Bethel developed a reputation as a wicked and idolatrous city. The prophets Hosea and Amos recognized the sins of Bethel and condemned the city for its godless ways (Hosea 4:15-17; 10:8; Amos 5:4-6).
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TRIBAL JEALOUSIES
Although the kingdom of Israel was “united” under David and Solomon, the tensions between north and south were never resolved. The jealousy and animosity behind this civil war didn’t begin with Rehoboam and Jeroboam but had its roots in the days of the judges, when the people were more interested in tribal loyalty than in national unity. Note how easily tension arose between Ephraim, the most prominent tribe in the north, and Judah, the prominent tribe of the south.
• Ephraim claimed the promises in Genesis 48:17-22 and 49:22-26 for its leadership role.
• Joshua, who conquered the Promised Land, was an Ephraimite (Numbers 13:8).
• Samuel, Israel’s greatest judge, was from Ephraim (1 Samuel 1:1 ff).
• Ephraim allied with Ishbosheth in revolt against David, who was from the tribe of Judah (2 Samuel 2:8-11).
• David, a shepherd from the tribe of Judah, became king over all Israel, including Ephraim, which no longer had a claim to leadership.
• Although David helped to smooth over the bad feelings, the heavy yoke under Solomon and Rehoboam led the northern tribes to the breaking point. Such tension developed because Ephraim was the key tribe in the north. They resented Judah’s role in leadership under David and resented that the nation's capital and center of worship were located in Jerusalem.
Before the days of Saul and David, the religious center of Israel was located, for the most part, in the territory of Ephraim. When Solomon built the Temple, Jerusalem became the religious center of Israel. This eventually brought tribal rivalries to the breaking point. (For more information on tribal jealousies and how they affected Israel, see Judges 12:1ff; 2 Samuel 2:4ff; 19:41-43.)