1 Kings 12:22

_BUT THE WORD OF GOD CAME UNTO SHEMAIAH THE MAN OF GOD, SAYING,_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

16-24 The people speak unbecomingly of David. How soon are good men, and their good services to the public, forgotten ! These considerations should reconcile us to our losses and troubles, that God is the Author of them, and our brethren the instruments: let us not meditate revenge. Rehoboam and his people hearkened to the word of the Lord. When we know God's mind, we must submit, how much soever it crosses our own mind. If we secure the favour of God, not all the universe can hurt us....

Shemaiah was the chief prophet in Judah during the reign of Rehoboam, as Ahijah was in Israel. See the marginal references....

EXPOSITION THE REVOLT OF THE TEN TRIBES.—With the reign of Rehoboam, on which our historian now enters, we begin the second great period in the history of the Hebrew monarchy, so far as it is related in these Books of KINGS. The first, which comprises the Augustan age of Israel, the short-lived maturity of the race in the reign of Solomon, has extended over forty years, from B.C. 1015 to B.C. 975. The second, which is the period of the existence of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah side by side—that is to say, from the disruption to the carrying away of Israel into captivity—extends over two centuries and a half, viz; from B.C. 975 to B.C. 722, and is, with few exceptions, a period of steady and shameful decline. And in giving his account of the division of the kingdom, our historian, _more suo_, confines himself to the recital

BUT THE WORD OF GOD CAME UNTO SHEMAIAH THE MAN OF GOD,.... A prophet in those days, see 2 Chronicles 12:15 and the word that came to him, as in the Targum, is called the word of prophecy: SAYING; as follows....

III. THE DIVIDED KINGDOM 1. Rehoboam and the Revolt of the Ten Tribes CHAPTER 12 _ 1. The revolt of the northern tribes (1 Kings 12:1)_ 2. The threatening war averted (1 Kings 12:21) 3. Jeroboam's wicked schemes (1 Kings 12:25) Rehoboam (enlarger of the people) is the only son of Solomon mentioned in the Bible (1 Chronicles 3:10). Ecclesiastes 2:18; Ecclesiastes 4:13 seem to give a h

THE REVOLT OF THE NORTHERN TRIBES. It is doubtful whether this section is Judæ an or not. It bears some resemblance to 2 Samuel 9-20, and the parts of 1 K. which seem to be a continuation of that history. On the other hand it is not favourable to the house of David, The writer assumes, that Israel has a right to elect a king, and that Solomon could not, like David, have nominated his successor. This passage may be an extract from a northern source, perhaps the chronicles of the kings of Israel. Difficulty is occasioned by the LXX additions, and has to be discussed in connexion with 1 Kings 12, 14. Evidently Jeroboam's rebellion against Solomon was more serious than is implied in 11, and the prestige of his throne had suffered considerably. SHECHEM. At the end of Solomon's reign the prestige of the older scenes in Israel's history seems to have revived. Jerusalem is no longer the importa...

SHEMAIAH. Compare 2 Chronicles 11:2; 2 Chronicles 12:5. THE MAN OF GOD. prophet. See the first occurrence, Deuteronomy 33:1, and App-49....

_the word of God_ How Shemaiah and other prophets received their commission is not always explained. Sometimes it is said -the Lord sent" (cf. 2 Samuel 12:1; 2 Samuel 12:25). The prompting by a vision in sleep is most frequently recorded, and this we may assume in other cases to have been the way in which God's message came. _Shemaiah_ Beside the present notice of him, Shemaiah is also mentioned at the time when Shishak, king of Egypt, invaded Judæa and besieged Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 12:5; 2 Chronicles 12:7). He then was sent with a message of comfort to the princes of Judah. In...

SHEMAIAH THE MAN OF GOD— This prophet was very well known in the reign of Rehoboam. He is supposed to have written the annals of that prince; and of what authority he was in Judah we may gather from this passage, where he is said to have prevailed with the king and a hundred and fourscore thousand men, to lay down their arms and return home, merely by declaring that the division which had happened was by the order and appointment of God. Calmet. _Note;_ 1. They who know the great sin of rebellion, will suffer much, rather than rise to vindicate themselves, by so dangerous a measure. 2. When God's will contradicts our designs, we must patiently submit. 3. Love to our brethren should make us put up with many injuries, rather than seek a redress which may be ruinous to both. 4. If we fight against God, there can be no hope of success; it is wise therefore betimes to leave off meddling....