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Chapter 6
The Rending of the Kingdom
"SOLOMON slept with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father: and
Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead." 1 Kings 11:43.
Soon after his accession to the throne, Rehoboam went to Shechem, where he expected to
receive formal recognition from all the tribes. "To Shechem were all Israel come to
make him king." 2 Chronicles 10:1.
Among those present was Jeroboam the son of Nebat --the same Jeroboam who during Solomon's
reign had been known as "a mighty man of valor," and to whom the prophet Ahijah
the Shilonite had delivered the startling message, "Behold, I will rend the kingdom
out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee." I Kings 11:28, 31.
The Lord through His messenger had spoken plainly to Jeroboam regarding the necessity of
dividing the kingdom. This division must take place, He had declared, "because that
they have forsaken Me, and have worshiped
Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the
god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways, to do that which is right in
Mine eyes, and to keep My statutes and My judgments, as did David." Verse 33.
Jeroboam had been further instructed that the kingdom was not to be divided before the
close of Solomon's reign. "I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand,"
the Lord had declared; "but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David
My servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept My commandments and My statutes: but I
will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten
tribes." Verses 34, 35.
Although Solomon had longed to prepare the mind of Rehoboam, his chosen successor, to meet
with wisdom the crisis foretold by the prophet of God, he had never been able to exert a
strong molding influence for good over the mind of his son, whose early training had been
so grossly neglected. Rehoboam had received from his mother, an Ammonitess, the stamp of a
vacillating character. At times he endeavored to serve God and was granted a measure of
prosperity; but he was not steadfast, and at last he yielded to the influences for evil
that had surrounded him from infancy. In the mistakes of Rehoboam's life and in his final
apostasy is revealed the fearful result of Solomon's union with idolatrous women.
The tribes had long suffered grievous wrongs under the oppressive measures of their former
ruler. The extravagance of Solomon's reign during his apostasy had led him
to tax the people heavily and to require of them much menial service. Before going forward
with the coronation of a new ruler, the leading men from among the tribes determined to
ascertain whether or not it was the purpose of Solomon's son to lessen these burdens.
"So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying, 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."
Desirous of taking counsel with his advisers before outlining his policy, Rehoboam
answered, "Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.
"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? 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 forever." 2 Chronicles
10:3-7.
Dissatisfied, Rehoboam turned to the younger men with whom he had associated during his
youth and early manhood, and inquired of 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?" 1 Kings 12:9. The young men suggested that he deal sternly with the
subjects of his kingdom and make plain to them that from the very beginning he would brook
no interference with his personal wishes.
Flattered by the prospect of exercising supreme authority, Rehoboam determined to
disregard the counsel of the older
men of his realm, and to make the younger men his advisers. Thus it came to pass that on
the day appointed, when "Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam" for a
statement concerning the policy he intended to pursue, Rehoboam "answered the people
roughly, . . . saying, May 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." Verses
12-14.
Had Rehoboam and his inexperienced counselors understood the divine will concerning
Israel, they would have listened to the request of the people for decided reforms in the
administration of the government. But in the hour of opportunity that came to them during
the meeting in Shechem, they failed to reason from cause to effect, and thus forever
weakened their influence over a large number of the people. Their expressed determination
to perpetuate and add to the oppression introduced during Solomon's reign was in direct
conflict with God's plan for Israel, and gave the people ample occasion to doubt the
sincerity of their motives. In this unwise and unfeeling attempt to exercise power, the
king and his chosen counselors revealed the pride of position and authority.
The Lord did not allow Rehoboam to carry out the policy he had outlined. Among the tribes
were many thousands who had become thoroughly aroused over the oppressive measures of
Solomon's reign, and these now felt that they could not do otherwise than rebel against
the house of David. "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."
Verse 16.
The breach created by the rash speech of Rehoboam proved irreparable. Thenceforth the
twelve tribes of Israel were divided, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin composing the lower
or southern kingdom of Judah, under the rulership of Rehoboam; while the ten northern
tribes formed and maintained a separate government, known as the kingdom of Israel, with
Jeroboam as their ruler. Thus was fulfilled the prediction of the prophet concerning the
rending of the kingdom. "The cause was from the Lord." Verse 15.
When Rehoboam saw the ten tribes withdrawing their allegiance from him, he was aroused to
action. Through one of the influential men of his kingdom, "Adoram, who was over the
tribute," he made an effort to conciliate them. But the ambassador of peace received
treatment which bore witness to the feeling against Rehoboam. "All Israel stoned him
with stones, that he died." Startled by this evidence of the strength of revolt,
"King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem."
Verse 18.
At 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. 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 remnant of the people, saying, 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." Verses 21-24.
For three years Rehoboam tried to profit by his sad experience at the beginning of his
reign; and in this effort he was prospered. He "built cities for defense in
Judah," and "fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them,
and store of victual, and of oil and wine." He was careful to make these fortified
cities "exceeding strong." 2 Chronicles 11:5, 11, 12. But the secret of Judah's
prosperity during the first years of Rehoboam's reign lay not in these measures. It was
their recognition of God as the Supreme Ruler that placed the tribes of Judah and Benjamin
on vantage ground. To their number were added many God-fearing men from the northern
tribes. "Out of all the tribes of Israel," the record reads, "such as set
their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lord
God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son
of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and
Solomon." Verses 16, 17.
In continuing this course lay Rehoboam's opportunity to redeem in large measure the
mistakes of the past and to restore confidence in his ability to rule with discretion. But
the pen of inspiration has traced the sad record of Solomon's successor as one who failed
to exert a strong influence for loyalty to Jehovah. Naturally headstrong, confident,
self-willed, and inclined to idolatry, nevertheless, had he placed his trust wholly in
God, he would have developed strength of character, steadfast faith, and submission to the
divine requirements. But as time passed, the king put his trust in the power of position
and in the strongholds he had fortified. Little by little he gave way to inherited
weakness, until he threw his influence wholly on the side of idolatry. "It came to
pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook
the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him." 2 Chronicles 12:1.
How sad, how filled with significance, the words, "And all Israel with him"! The
people whom God had chosen to stand as a light to the surrounding nations were turning
from their Source of strength and seeking to become like the nations about them. As with
Solomon, so with Rehoboam--the influence of wrong example led many astray. And as with
them, so to a greater or less degree is it today with everyone who gives himself up to
work evil--the influence of wrongdoing is not confined to the doer. No man liveth unto
himself. None perish alone in their iniquity. Every life is a light that brightens and
cheers the pathway of others, or a dark and desolating influence that tends toward despair
and ruin. We lead others either upward to happiness and immortal life, or downward to
sorrow and eternal death. And if by our deeds we strengthen or force into activity the
evil powers of those around us, we share their sin.
God did not allow the apostasy of Judah's ruler to remain unpunished. "In the fifth
year of King Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had
transgressed against the Lord, with twelve hundred chariots, and three score thousand
horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt....And he
took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
"Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were
gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the Lord, Ye have forsaken
Me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak." Verses 2-5.
The people had not yet gone to such lengths in apostasy that they despised the judgments
of God. In the losses sustained by the invasion of Shishak, they recognized the hand of
God and for a time humbled themselves. "The Lord is righteous," they
acknowledged.
"And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to
Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore 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. Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know My
service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
"So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of
the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away
also the shields of gold which Solomon had made. Instead of which King Rehoboam made
shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the
entrance of the king's house.... And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned
from him, that He would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went
well." Verses 6-12.
But as the hand of affliction was removed, and the nation prospered once more, many forgot
their fears and turned again to idolatry. Among these was King Rehoboam himself. Though
humbled by the calamity that had befallen him, he failed to make this experience a decisive turning point in his life. Forgetting
the lesson that God had endeavored to teach him, he relapsed into the sins that had
brought judgments on the nation. After a few inglorious years, during which the king
"did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord," "Rehoboam
slept with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David: and Abijah his son reigned in
his stead." Verses 14, 16.
With the rending of the kingdom early in Rehoboam's reign the glory of Israel began to
depart, never again to be regained in its fullness. At times during the centuries that
followed, the throne of David was occupied by men of moral worth and far-seeing judgment,
and under the rulership of these sovereigns the blessings resting upon the men of Judah
were extended to the surrounding nations. At times the name of Jehovah was exalted above
every false god, and His law was held in reverence. From time to time mighty prophets
arose to strengthen the hands of the rulers and to encourage the people to continued
faithfulness. But the seeds of evil already springing up when Rehoboam ascended the throne
were never to be wholly uprooted; and at times the once-favored people of God were to fall
so low as to become a byword among the heathen.
Yet notwithstanding the perversity of those who leaned toward idolatrous practices, God in
mercy would do everything in His power to save the divided kingdom from utter ruin. And as
the years rolled on and His purpose concerning Israel seemed to be utterly thwarted by the
devices of men inspired by satanic agencies, He still manifested His
beneficent designs through the captivity and restoration of the chosen nation.
The rending of the kingdom was but the beginning of a wonderful history, wherein are
revealed the long-sufferance and tender mercy of God. From the crucible of affliction
through which they were to pass because of hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil,
those whom God was seeking to purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works, were finally to acknowledge:
"There is none like unto Thee, O Lord; Thou art great, and Thy name is great in
might. Who would not fear Thee, O King of nations? ... Among all the wise men of the
nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto Thee." "The Lord is
the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting King." Jeremiah 10:6, 7, 10.
And the worshipers of idols were at last to learn the lesson that false gods are powerless
to uplift and save. "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they
shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens." Verse 11. Only in
allegiance to the living God, the Creator of all and the Ruler over all, can man find rest
and peace.
With one accord the chastened and penitent of Israel and Judah were at last to renew their
covenant relationship with Jehovah of hosts, the God of their fathers; and of Him they
were to declare:
"He hath made the earth by His power,
He hath established the world by His wisdom,
And hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion.
"When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens.
And He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures.
"Every man is brutish in his knowledge:
Every founder is confounded by the graven image:
For his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
"They are vanity, and the work of errors:
In the time of their visitation they shall perish.
The portion of Jacob is not like them:
"For He is the former of all things;
And Israel is the rod of His inheritance:
The Lord of hosts is His name."
Verses 12-16.
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