1The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to make Rehoboam king, appeal to him with Jeroboam at their head for redress of grievances. 6Rehoboam slighteth the good advice of his father's old counsellors, and consulteth with the young men, who advise to answer the people roughly. 12He followeth their indiscreet counsel. 16The ten tribes revolting kill Adoram, and make Rehoboam flee. 20Jeroboam is made king over Israel. 21Rehoboam raiseth an army to reduce the revolters, but is forbidden to proceed by the prophet Shemaiah. 25Jeroboam buildeth Shechem and Penuel. 26He setteth up the idolatrous worship of the golden calves in Beth-el and Dan.
1AND Rehoboam wenta to 1Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
a 2 Chron. 10:1.
1 The name of a city situated in Ephraim; of which see further, Gen. 12 on verse 6. In this city, as in the midst of the land, was the assembly held, wherein they were to treat of the installation of the new king, and of the affairs of the kingdom.
2And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, whob was yet in Egypt, heard of it, 2(for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam 3dwelt in Egypt;)
b 1 Kings 11:40.
2 See 1 Kings 11:40.
3 Namely, waiting for a suitable opportunity to obtain the kingdom, promised him of God by the prophet Ahijah, 1 Kings 11:31.
3That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
4Thyc father made our 4yoke 5grievous: now therefore 6make thou the grievous service of thy 7father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon 8us, lighter, and we will 9serve thee.
c 2 Chron. 10:4.
4 That is, the bondage and the burden of tribute, which Solomon had laid upon them. See 1 Kings 4:7; 5:13. Such is the word yoke used in the following; likewise Gen. 27:40; Lev. 26:13.
5 Although Solomon had charged the goods and estates of his subjects with taxes for maintaining of his state and court, 1 Kings 4:7, 22, yet they had no cause to complain as such, forasmuch as they had under his government, which lasted forty years, 2 Chron. 9:30, enjoyed, besides the true religion, great peace and outward prosperity, as appears 1 Kings 4:24, 25; 10:27.
6 Or, decrease the hard service of your father, etc.
7 That is, which your father has laid upon us. Also the burden of the king, Hos. 8:10, that is, which the king imposes or lays upon.
8 Hebr. gave upon us; also verse 9.
9 That is, be thy subjects, and accept of and acknowledge thee for our king, and obey thee. This is expressed in verse 7 to be thy servants.
5And 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 10old men, that 11stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
10 That is, with the counselors of the kingdom. See Gen. 50 on verse 7.
11 That is, who had served him with advice and counsel. Compare verse 8, and see Deut. 1 on verse 38; 1 Kings 1 on verse 2.
7And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a 12servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak 13good words to them, then they will be thy 14servants for ever.
12 That is, comply with their wishes, permit them that which they request thee with politeness. Compare herewith 2 Chron. 10:7.
13 That is, acceptable, friendly, comfortable words. See 1 Kings 1 on verse 42.
14 See on verse 4.
8But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the 15young men that were 16grown up with him, and 17which stood before him:
15 See on the Hebrew word, Gen. 44 on verse 20.
16 Or, nourished.
17 That is, who were in his service, as verse 6.
9And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
10And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, 18My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
18 Or, my least member, etc. A common proverb, whereby is intimated, that he would use more violence to oppress his people than his father had done.
11And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with 19scorpions.
19 That is, with scourges, which have sharp hooks on them, to prick, and to wound through, as the scorpions do. Others understand scourges made of eglantine or other thorns; whereunto bondage is compared, with which the king is counseled to threaten his people.
12¶So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
13And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook 20the old men's counsel that they gave him;
20 See verse 7.
14And spake to them after the 21counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
21 See verses 10, 11.
15Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the 22cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spaked23by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
22 Or, going about, turning around; likewise cause. The meaning here is: that this act, passage, or dealing, whereby the state and condition of the land thus changed and turned about, happened according to the discretion of God’s Providence, in order that He would execute His judgment which He had threatened to Solomon for his backsliding, yet so as that God in no wise contracted any pollution from men’s sinful acts. Compare verse 24. Likewise Gen. 45:5, 7, 8; 50:20; Exod. 9:16; 2 Sam. 12:12; 2 Chron. 25:20.
d 1 Kings 11:11, 31.
23 Hebr. by the hand. See Lev. 8 on verse 36.
16¶So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, 24Whate portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: 25to your tents, O Israel: 26now see to thine own house, 27David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
24 Compare 2 Sam. 20:1. The meaning is: that they would have nothing to do with the kingdom of David, because, according to their opinion, they expected no benefit by it. They speak by way of question to deny it the stronger. See Gen. 18 on verse 17.
e 2 Sam. 20:1.
25 That is, let every man return to his own home, and to those that are his.
26 That is, let him take care of himself, and not for us, but let us alone.
27 They mean the posterity of David, and those who were attached to him, but called him out of scorn and disdain, the son of Jesse.
17But as for 28the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
28 Understand by these the tribe of Simeon, who were in part intermixed with the tribe of Judah, the Levites, and a part of the tribe of Benjamin, which were situated north-ward by the tribe of Judah. See 1 Kings 11 on verse 32 and compare below, verse 23.
18Then king Rehoboam sent 29Adoram,f who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam 30made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
29 This man is he, who (according to the opinion of some) is also called Adoniram, 1 Kings 4:6; 5:14, of whom it is said there, that he was over the king’s tribute, as is also affirmed here of this man; which office made them, who executed the same, to be odious and hateful unto the people; so that it was imprudent to send such an one to pacify the Israelites.
f 1 Kings 4:6; 5:14.
30 Namely, making haste to escape the danger.
19Sog Israel 31rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
g 2 Kings 17:21.
31 Other, So the Israelites were rebellious, or disloyal against the house of David. Such is the original word used in the same case 2 Kings 1:1; 3:7; 8:22.
20And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the 32congregation, and made him king over all Israel: 33there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of 34Judah only.
32 Namely, which the chief men of the tribes of Israel had commanded to consult what they were to do in this division of the tribes and opportunity of their land. Compare the annotation on verse 1.
33 Hebr. no man was after the house of David.
34 See on verse 17.
21¶Andh when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the 35tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, 36which were warriors, to fight against the 37house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to 38Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
h 2 Chron. 11:1.
35 That is, a part of the same tribe, for Bethel and other cities were with Jeroboam.
36 Hebr. doing war, that is, capable to be used in war, or well-practiced in warlike affairs, or skilful in waging war, able and experienced soldiers. So 2 Chron. 11:1; 26:13.
37 That is, the ten tribes, which were parted from Rehoboam, and the house of Judah, verse 16; 2 Chron. 10:16.
38 That is, to himself. See 1 Kings 2 on verse 19.
22Buti the word of God came unto 39Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
i 2 Chron. 11:2.
39 See of this prophet also, 2 Chron. 12:5, 15. He is to be distinguished from two false prophets of this name: the one was the son of Delaiah, Neh. 6:10, the other was surnamed the Nehelamite, Jer. 29:31.
23Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the 40people, saying,
40 Namely, of Israel, who were in Judah and Benjamin, 2 Chron. 11:3.
24Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for 41this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
41 See on verse 15.
25¶Then Jeroboam built 42Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built 43Penuel.j
42 That is, he strengthened and fenced it. See of this city on verse 1.
43 A city situated beyond Jordan in the tribe of Gad. See Gen. 32:30.
j Gen. 32:30.
26And Jeroboam 44said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
44 That is, thought, perceived, imagined, judged: also Psalm 14:1; 36:1. To say in his heart is also to purpose and to conclude something within himself, Psalm 74:8.
27If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
28Whereupon the king took counsel, and madek two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is 45too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: beholdl46thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
k 2 Kings 17:16.
45 That is, it will be too troublesome and too costly for you. Other, Let it suffice you that hitherto ye have gone up to Jerusalem, to bring your offerings thither. Henceforward it is no more needful, seeing you have such an opportunity for it in your own land. Compare this phrase with Num. 16:2, 3.
l Exod. 32:8.
46 He knew well enough that these golden calves were no gods, and that the Israelites would so perceive of them, but he wanted that they would honor and serve the true God by these images, contrary to the express command of God, Exod. 20:4, 5; Deut. 4:14, 15, 16, 17, etc. See the similar offence, Exod. 32:4.
29And he set the one in 47Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.
47 That is, the uttermost borders of his kingdom of both; for, Bethel was situated in the south-border and Dan in the north-border.
30And this thing 48became a sin: for the people went to worship 49before the one, even unto Dan.
48 Namely, of idolatry which is called by way of eminence sin, because it is directly opposite to the Majesty of God. Hence it is often said of Jeroboam, that he made Israel to sin, 1 Kings 16:19, etc. See also 2 Kings 21 on verse 16.
49 Namely, to worship it and to offer sacrifice unto it. And it seems from this that the one calf was first set up at Dan, and the other afterward at Bethel; as it appears by the following 32nd verse.
31And he made an 50house of high places, andm made priests of the 51lowest of the people, which were not of the 52sons of Levi.
50 That is, a temple on an elevated place; where altars were erected to commit idolatry on them.
m Num. 3:10; 1 Kings 13:33; 2 Kings 17:32; 2 Chron. 11:15.
51 Hebr. of the ends or uttermost parts of the people, that is, of the most wicked and contemptible sort of the people, and not of the worthiest and ablest. Or understand it of both sorts of people, both high and low. Compare this phrase with Gen. 47:2 and see the annotation thereon.
52 Out of whom, namely out of the family of Aaron, the priests according to God’s institution were to be chosen.
32And Jeroboam ordained 53a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he 54offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made.
53 Namely, a feast of tabernacles, to imitate that which was so called in Judah. Yet he ordained this feast in the eighth month; that is, in October; whereas the feast of tabernacles was according to God’s appointment to be kept in the seventh month, Lev. 23:34, that is, in September, as it was then kept in Judah.
54 Namely, he himself offered, compare 1 Kings 13:1, 4, which was unlawful for him to do, seeing this office was enjoined by God to the priests only, Exod. 30:7, etc.; 2 Chron. 26:18.
33So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised 55of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he 56offered upon the altar, and 57burnt incense.
55 That is, according to his own discretion, taking upon him the authority to institute such worship as it pleased himself, against the express command of the Lord, Num. 15:39.
56 Namely, Jeroboam. Compare the first verse of the following chapter. Other, and went up to that altar, to burn incense.
57 That is, that which he offered was incense; or, he offered and burnt incense together.