2 Chronicles 10:7

_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 FOR EVER._ If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them. In the Book of Kings, the words are. "If thou wilt be a servant unto this people, and will serve them." The meaning in both is the same-namely, If thou wilt make some reasonable concessions, redress their grievances, and restore their abridged liberties, thou wilt secure their strong and lasting attachment to thy person and government....

The narrative of Kings (marginal reference) is repeated with only slight verbal differences....

EXPOSITION This chapter begins the fourth and last great division of the work once called in its unity, "The Chronicles." This fourth and last division, therefore, will see us to the end of our 2 Chronicles 36:1; where we find, by an historical anticipation of above fifty years, the memorable proclamation of Cyrus, which authorized the return of the captive Jews, and sanctioned the rebuilding of the temple. This stretch of history, divided in our Authorized Version into twenty-seven chapters, covers, therefore, a period of about four hundred and fifty years; it ignores almost totally the career of Israel, and, in clearest accord with its post-captive and prophetic objects, abides uninterruptedly by that of the sacred dynasty of Judah. The kings are in number twenty, beginning with Rehoboam, ending with Zedekiah, of whom, however, the last four can be credited with

1 Kings 12:7....

II. THE REBELLION OF THE TEN TRIBES CHAPTER 10 _ 1. Rehoboam made king (2 Chronicles 10:1)_ 2. Jeroboam's return from Egypt and his request (2 Chronicles 10:2) 3. Rehoboam's answer (2 Chronicles 10:6) 4. The revolt and Rehoboam's flight (2 Chronicles 10:16) What followed Solomon's fall when he turned away from the Lord, who so graciously had appeared unto him twice, is unrecorded in the Chronicles. 1 Kings 11:9 contains these events. Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, h

PART IV (2 Chronicles 10-36). THE HISTORY OF JUDAH FROM REHOBOAM TO THE EDICT OF CYRUS. 2 Chronicles 10:1. Rehoboam is Rejected by the Israelites (see notes on 1 Kings 12:1). The variations between the two records are unimportant....

_if thou be kind to this people, and please them_ The Chronicler has softened the forcible words of the parallel passage (1 Kings 12:7), "If thou wilt be a _servant_unto this people this day, and wilt _serve_them." The words which were too blunt for Rehoboam were also too blunt for the Chronicler....

_ALL ISRAEL INTREAT REBOBOAM TO LIGHTEN THE YOKE LAID UPON THEM BY SOLOMON. REHOBOAM, DESPISING THE COURT OF THE OLD MEN, FOLLOWS THAT OF THE YOUNG ONES. TEN TRIBES SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM HIM._ _Before Christ 975._ REFLECTIONS.—1st, After what has been said on this chapter in 1 Kings 12 we have only to add, (1.) That men are readier to complain of the least expence which the wants of government call for, than to acknowledge how much indebted they are for the mercies and protection that they enjoy. (2.) Young heads are too hot to be wise counsellors. (3.) A soft answer disarms those whom opposition makes only more furious. 2nd, The ill effects of Rehoboam's severity appear in the revolt of the ten tribes. They who drive too furiously overturn themselves. He rejected good advice, and deserved to be given up to his folly. God's counsel thus was fulfilled, though

II. THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM (2 Chronicles 10:1 to 2 Chronicles 36:21) 1. JEROBOAM'S REVOLUTION (Chapter 10) TEXT 2 Chronicles 10:1. And Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. 2. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon), that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. 3. And they sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spake to Rehoboam, saying, 4. Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. 5. A

REIGN OF REHOBOAM This chapter is a repetition of 1 Kings 12:1 with slight differences....