1 Kings 12:7

_AND KING REHOBOAM CONSULTED WITH THE OLD MEN, THAT STOOD BEFORE SOLOMON HIS FATHER WHILE HE YET LIVED, AND SAID, HOW DO YE ADVISE THAT I MAY ANSWER THIS PEOPLE?_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

1-15 The tribes complained not to Rehoboam of his father's idolatry, and revolt from God. That which was the greatest grievance, was none to them; so careless were they in matters of religion, if they might live at case, and pay no taxes. Factious spirits will never want something to complain of. And when we see the Scripture account of Solomon's reign; the peace, wealth, and prosperity Israel then enjoyed; we cannot doubt but that their charges were false, or far beyond the truth. Rehoboam answered the people according to the counsel of the young men. Never was man more blinded by pride, and desire of arbitrary power, than which nothing is more fatal. God's counsels were hereby fulfilled. He left Rehoboam to his own folly, and hid from his eyes the things which belonged to his peace, that the kingdom might be rent from him. God serves his own wise and righteous purposes by the impruden...

Verse 1 Kings 12:7. _IF THOU WILT BE A SERVANT UNTO THIS PEOPLE_] This is a constitutional idea of a king: he is the _servant_, but not the _slave_ of his people; every regal act of a just king is an act of _service_ to the state. The king is not only the _fountain of law_ and _justice_; but as he has the appointment of all _officers_ and _judges,_ consequently he is the _executor of the laws_; and all justice is administered in his name. Properly speaking, a good and constitutional king is the servant of his people; and in being such he is their father and their king. _THEY WILL BE THY SERVANTS FOR EVER._] The way to insure the obedience of the people is to hold the reins of empire with a steady and impartial hand; let the people see that the king _lives_ _for them_, and not for _himself_; and they will

The advice was not that the king should permanently resign the office of ruler, but that he should “for once” be ruled by his people....

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

AND THEY SPAKE UNTO HIM, SAYING,.... They gave their advice as follows: IF THOU WILT BE SERVANT UNTO THIS PEOPLE THIS DAY, AND WILT SERVE THEM; condescend to them, behave in an humble manner towards them, for this day however, and gratify and oblige them; though indeed a king is but a servant to his people, and his administration of government a doing service to them; hence Antigonus f, a king, mild, humble, and gentle, perceiving his son to behave in a fierce and violent manner towards his subjects, said to him, my son, dost thou not know that our glorious kingdom is a servitude? AND ANSWER THEM, AND SPEAK GOOD WORDS UNTO THEM; give them a soft answer, and speak kindly and gently to them, and make them fair promises, and give them reason to expect that their requests will be granted: THEN THEY WILL BE THY SERVANTS FOR EVER; such conduct would so win upon them, and make such an impres...

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...

FOR EVER. Hebrew all the days: i.e. always....

_If thou wilt be a servant unto this people_this _day_ Here the words of 2 Chron. are -If thou be kind to this people and please them." What was meant was that for the time the king should give way and obey the popular voice. This short service would win for him their constant allegiance. The LXX. does not represent -and answer them" in this verse....