1The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to make Rehoboam king, sue to him with Jeroboam at their head for redress of grievances. 6Rehoboam slighteth the good advice of his father's old counsellers, and consulteth with the young men, who advise to answer the people roughly. 12He followeth their indiscreet counsel. 16The ten tribes revolting kill Hadoram, and make Rehoboam flee.
1ANDa1Rehoboam went to 2Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.
a 1 Kings 12:1, etc.
1 The more detailed exposition of this chapter is to be found 1 Kings 12 where this history is first described.
2 See Gen. 12 on verse 6.
2And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled 3from the presence of Solomon the king, heardbit, that Jeroboam 4returned out of Egypt.
3 For fear of Solomon, who sought to kill him, perhaps because he had heard of the prophecy of Ahijah, 1 Kings 11:40.
b 1 Kings 11:40.
4 Namely, not right away as soon as he had heard that Solomon had passed away, but when he was sent for by the Israelites. See 1 Kings 12:2, 3, and here the following verse.
3And they 5sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,
5 Namely, messengers.
4Thy father made our yoke 6grievous: now therefore 7ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
6 Understand this of the civil burdens; for, they had to bring in to king Solomon his support, who held a very costly court. See 1 Kings 4:7, etc. and especially verses 22 and 23.
7 Hebr. abate or lighten of thy father’s hard service and of his heavy yoke. Also verse 9. This may also be thus translated: diminish of the hard service of thy father; and so in the sequel.
5And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.
6¶And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?
7And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be 8kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants 9for ever.
8 Hebr. for good or to the good, that is, inclined to goodness, kindness and mercifulness. Compare Neh. 5:19; Psalm 86:17.
9 That is, as long as thou livest.
8But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with 10the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.
10 See of the Hebrew word Gen. 44 on verse 20. These young lords must have been reasonably advanced in years, seeing Rehoboam, with whom they were grown up, was 41 years old when he came to the crown, 1 Kings 14:21; 2 Chron. 12:13.
9And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
10And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, 11My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
11 See the exposition 1 Kings 12 on verse 10.
11For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: 12my father chastised you with whips, but I 13will chastise you with 14scorpions.
12 See 1 Kings 12 on verse 11.
13 These words are inserted, here and in verse 14, from 1 Kings 12:11, 14. See a further exposition of these words 1 Kings 12 on verse 11.
14 That is, with whips, which have sharp and crooked hooks, to tear and rent the flesh most cruelly, as the scorpions do give most deadly wounds with their crooked and sharp tails.
12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.
13And the king answered 15them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook 16the counsel of the old men,
15 Namely, the people, who were come with Jeroboam to the king, 1 Kings 12:13.
16 Namely, which they had given him; as is stated in 1 Kings 12:13, and see the counsel in verse 7.
14And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
15So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the 17cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, whichc he spake by the 18hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
17 The Hebrew word nesibbah, which we have here, is according to the opinion of some of the same signification with sibbah, which is used in 1 Kings 12:15; as they are both of one root. They both signify wheeling about, going about, turning about; likewise, cause. Understand then by this turning about the work that here came to pass, whereby the Israelites turned themselves about from the house of David; for as much as the cause of it was in God’s just judgment, punishing the sins of the people. See the exposition hereof further in 1 Kings 12 on verse 15.
c 1 Kings 11:31.
18 Or, by the ministry. Hebr. hand.
16¶And when 19all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people 20answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.
19 Do understand the tribe of Judah and the Israelites who resorted under it were excepted; of whom is spoken in the following verse.
20 The Hebrew word is likewise taken for answering without having the word dabar added to it, Job 13:22; 33:32, but it is found joined with it in 1 Kings 12:16.
17But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18Then king Rehoboam 21sent 22Hadoram that was over the 23tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
21 Namely, to appease the offended Israelites, and to return them to the obedience of the house of David.
22 Also called Adoram, 1 Kings 12:18; likewise (according to the opinion of some) Adoniram, 1 Kings 4:6.
23 Understand the personal tribute or tax; whereof see 1 Kings 5:13, 14.
19And Israel rebelled against the house of David 24unto this day.
24 That is, which revolt and treacherous misdemeanor continues still even unto this day, namely, when this was written.