Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary
1 Kings 12:7
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.
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.
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...
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'...
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 hist...
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 an...
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 res...
_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....
THE REVOLT OF THE TEN TRIBES. REHOBOAM AND JEROBOAM The revolt of the Ten Tribes against the rule of Rehoboam had its origin partly in the discontent which the burdens laid on the people by Solomon ha...
IF THOU WILT BE A SERVANT] i.e. by making timely concessions to his people....
GOD’S LESSONS FROM HISTORY 1 KINGS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 12 THE *KINGDOM DIVIDES V1 Rehoboam went to Shechem. All the *Israelites had gone there to make him king. V2 Jeroboam the son of Nebat w...
IF THOU WILT BE A SERVANT. — Both the policies suggested show how corrupt and cynical the government of Israel had become. For the advice of the old counsellors has no largeness of policy or depth of...
_וַ_†_יְדַבְּרוּ֙_† אֵלָ֜יו לֵ אמֹ֗ר אִם ־הַ֠...
THE DISRUPTION 1 Kings 12:6 "It was of the Lord." It is no small proof of the insight and courageous faithfulness of the historian that he accepts without question the verdict of ancient prophecy tha...
BREAKING THREE COMMANDMENTS 1 Kings 21:1; 1 Kings 1:1; 1 Kings 2:1; 1 Kings 3:1;...
THE WISE KING'S FOOLISH SON 1 Kings 11:41; 1 Kings 12:1 Solomon's reign had been splendid but very oppressive, and it was reasonable to ask for some relief. The people felt that the accession of the...
In this and the four following Chapter s we have the central section of this Book recording the tragedy of the break-up of the nation and the degradation of the people. It covers a period of about six...
And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a (b) servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever....
They said. Hebrew, "he said." The transcribers, probably not understanding what they wrote, frequently make singular for plural verbs. So ver. 21, "They came," instead of he came. Some manuscripts and...
(5) And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. (6) And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he ye...
Solomon was now at the height of his glory, a vivid type of a greater than Solomon. And it is only when we see that he really does thus prefigure the Lord Jesus as King that we can understand the impo...
THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 11 AND 12. Till now we have had the beautiful picture of God's blessing resting upon the son of David, whose only desire it had been to possess wisdom from Go...
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...
And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. Ver....
_Consulted with the old men that stood before his father_ Solomon, in his best days, though so wise, yet would not depend solely on his own wisdom, but had other wise men about him, with whom he advis...
1 The Israelites assembled at Shechem to crowne Rehoboam, by Ieroboam make a suite of relaxation vnto him. 6 Rehoboam refusing the olde mens counsell, by the aduice of young men, answereth them rough...
Rehoboam's Foolish Answer...
And they spake unto him, saying, giving to the king the advice based upon sound experience, IF THOU WILT BE A SERVANT UNTO THIS PEOPLE THIS DAY, for this one day only, AND WILT SERVE THEM, yielding to...
THE TEN TRIBES REBEL (vs.1-24) Rehoboam went to Shechem for his inauguration as king of Israel (v.1). Jereboam, in Egypt, received word quickly of Solomon's death, and his friends in Israel sent to...
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 the...
IF THOU WILT BE A SERVANT UNTO THIS PEOPLE THIS DAY, by complying with their desires, and condescending to them for a season, till the troubled humours be quieted, and the opportunity they now have, a...
1 Kings 12:7 spoke H1696 (H8762) saying H559 (H8800) servant H5650 people H5971 today H3117 serve H5647 ...
THE KINGDOM IN CRISIS AND THE COLLAPSE OF AN EMPIRE (1 KINGS 12:1 TO 1 KINGS 14:31). The death of Solomon, as always with the death of a king who had ruled powerfully for a long time and had been some...
REHOBOAM'S ARROGANCE ALIENATES ISRAEL (1 KINGS 12:1). The elders of Israel came together with a view to anointing Rehoboam as king on condition that he would guarantee them a somewhat easier lifestyle...
CONTENTS: Accession and folly of Rehoboam. Kingdom divided. CHARACTERS: God, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Adoram, Shemiah. CONCLUSION: Taking the counsel of unspiritual men always spells blunder and a rough...
1 Kings 12:1. _Shechem._ This city was famed for mischief. Here Dinah was ruined, and the men slaughtered. Here Joseph was sold, and now the ten tribes revolted. 1 Kings 12:4. _Thy father made our yok...
_If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day _. .. _ then they will be thy servants for ever._ A ROYAL SERVANT These words are of deep-reaching import, and contain a principle of universal ap...
_When Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt heard of it _. .. _ they sent and called him._ THE KINGDOM DIVIDED 1. This chapter reveals one of the turning-points in Israel’s history, for it is...
1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 12:1 The Kingdom Is Divided. Two kingdoms emerge. Judah is made up of two tribes (Judah and Benjamin) in the south and is ruled by Rehoboam. Israel is made up of the ten northe...
THE DISRUPTION OF THE KINGDOM CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.— 1 Kings 12:1. REHOBOAM WENT TO SHECHEM—Instead of remaining in _Jerusalem_, whither Israel should have come to him, as they did to David...
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...
Now Rehoboam came to Shechem: and all Israel gathered to Shechem (1 Kings 12:1) Which is just about the center of the land, just about the heart of the country. And they gathered to make him king. An...
1 Kings 12:13; 2 Chronicles 10:6; 2 Chronicles 10:7; 2 Samuel 15:3;...
This day — By complying with their desires, and condescending to them for a season, till thou art better established in thy throne. They use this expression, fore — seeing that some would dissuade him...