CHAPTER TEN THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM 1 Kings 12:1-33 The signs of disintegration in the empire during Solomon's last days have been noted by the historian. Still the events recorded in Chapter s 12 and 13 are somewhat shocking and certainly sad. In these Chapter s the historian speaks of (1) t... [ Continue Reading ]
I. THE GREAT SCHISM 12:1-24 The gripping narrative of Rehoboam's folly unfolds in the first twenty-four verses of chapter 12. For study purposes this narrative may be divided into five units: (1) the request of Israel (1 Kings 12:1-5); (2) the recommendation of the counselors (1 Kings 12:6-11); (3)... [ Continue Reading ]
B. THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COUNSELORS 12:6-11 TRANSLATION (6) And King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had stood before Solomon his father when he was alive, saying, How do you counsel me to respond to this people? (7) And they spoke unto him, saying, If you will be a servant to this people to... [ Continue Reading ]
B. THE REPLY OF REHOBOAM 12:12-13 TRANSLATION (12) Then Jeroboam and all the people came unto Rehoboam on the third day as the king had spoken, saying, Return unto me on the third day. (13) And the king answered the people harshly, for he had abandoned the counsel which had been proposed by the el... [ Continue Reading ]
C. THE REBELLION OF ISRAEL 12:16-20 TRANSLATION (16) When all of Israel saw that the king did not hearken unto them, the people responded to the king, saying, What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse! To your tents, O Israel! Now look after your own house, David... [ Continue Reading ]
D. THE RESPONSE OF REHOBOAM 12:21-24 TRANSLATION (21) Now Rehoboam came to Jerusalem and assembled the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight with the house of Israel, to cause the kingdom to return to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE GREAT APOSTASY 12:25-33 TRANSLATION (25) And Jeroboam built Shechem in Mt. Ephraim, and dwelt in it. And he went out from there and built Penuel. (26) And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. (27) If this people go up to make sacrifices in the house... [ Continue Reading ]