Session 4 1 Kings 12:6-19
1 KINGS 12:6-19
MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 133:1
Most of us have received advice we wish we had heeded. It may have come from a parent, teacher, or experi-enced mentor. We may not have understood their reasoning when we first received the advice, but over time we have come to see the wisdom in what was suggested. Had we known then what we know now, we may very well have listened. Rehoboam made a significant decision based on some advice that appealed to his ego, and it cost him.
(In PSG, p. 37)
Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, traveled to Shechem so all Israel could make him king (1 Kings 12:1). Jeroboam, who earlier had fled from King Solomon (11:40), led the delegation that spoke to Rehoboam (12:2-3). The del-egation asked Rehoboam to lighten the load Solomon had placed on them, and Rehoboam told them to return in three days for his answer (12:4-5).
The king consulted with his elders, who advised him to grant the people’s request (12:6-7). However, the king’s younger leaders encouraged him to tell the people he would increase their burden (12:9-11). The king followed the counsel of his younger leaders and spoke harshly to the people (12:12-15). In response, the people rebelled against him and chose to form their own nation (12:16-20). Shemaiah, a man of God, urged Rehoboam not to try to stop this division since God was behind it (12:21-24).
Meanwhile, Jeroboam, the kingdom of Israel’s new king, acted to strengthen the division between the northern and southern kingdoms (12:25-33). He built two golden calves, placed one in Dan and one in Bethel, and urged the people to worship there instead of at Jerusalem. He also allowed non-Levites to serve as priests and changed the date of one of Israel’s fall feasts, so it did not coincide with Judah’s.
A man of God came to Bethel and pronounced judgment against King Jeroboam (13:1-10). An old prophet living in Bethel then invited the man of God to a meal, but the man of God declined because the Lord had told him not to (13:11-17). Nevertheless, the old prophet deceitfully persuaded the man of God to come, and this act of disobedience resulted in the man of God’s death by a lion (13:18-24). When the old prophet heard the news, he lamented greatly, and asked his sons to bury him with the man of God when he died (13:26-32).
Meanwhile, Jeroboam persisted in doing evil (13:33-34), ignoring the counsel of Ahijah the prophet (11:29-39). When Jeroboam’s son Abijah became sick, the king sent his wife to inquire of Ahijah about their son’s welfare. Ahijah told her the child would die (14:1-12). Furthermore, Ahijah said Jeroboam’s house would come to an end (14:14-16). The child died as Ahijah said (14:17-18). When Jeroboam died, his son Nadab became king (14:20).
Rehoboam reigned in Judah but also did evil in God’s sight (14:21-24). In response, the Lord sent Shishak, king of Egypt, as an instrument of judgment against Judah (14:25-28; 2 Chron. 12:1-5). When Rehoboam died, his son Abijam became king (1 Kings 14:31).
EXPLORE THE TEXT
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon when he was alive, asking, “How do you advise me to respond to this people?” 7 They replied, “Today if you will be a servant to this people and serve them, and if you respond to them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”
Rehoboam met the people at Shechem, where they encouraged him to lighten the load they had borne under Solomon (12:4). The king needed to decide how to proceed as he began his reign.
First, King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon. The term elders probably designates many of the officials mentioned in 1 Kings 4:2-19. This group included priests, palace officials, military leaders, and administrative officials. Solomon’s reign had featured much economic prosperity for the nation, so these elders represented a vast amount of successful experience. Rehoboam asked this group, How do you advise me to respond to this people?
The elders suggested the attitude Rehoboam should adopt as he ruled Israel: Today if you will be a servant to this people and serve them. . .. The words servant and serve come from the same Hebrew root; the noun describes someone who submits his will to serving another. The elders encouraged Rehoboam to display servant leadership and serve the people he governed. His subjects would perceive his desire to do this if he would respond to them by speaking kind words to them. If Rehoboam could acknowledge the people’s burden and lighten their load, the elders assured him they will be your servants forever.
Two centuries after Rehoboam, the prophet Isaiah contrasted the attitudes of two officials in King Hezekiah’s court. Shebna used his power for his own gain (Isa. 22:15-19), but Eliakim was God’s servant and a father to the people (Isa. 22:20-21). Leaders should not seek personal gain from their positions but rather seek to use their position of influence to serve people and glorify God. Jesus encouraged His followers to practice servant leadership, just as He did by dying on the cross (Mark 10:42-45).
Wise leaders know how to seek counsel before making important decisions. We make better decisions when we learn from the experience of others. Having experience does not mean a person knows everything, but experience often is the best teacher.
(In PSG, p. 40)
8 But he rejected the advice of the elders who had advised him and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and attended him. 9 He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to this people who said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” 10 The young men who had grown up with him told him, “This is what you should say to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you, make it lighter on us!’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11 Although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.’”
The words, he rejected the advice of the elders who had advised him, may suggest Rehoboam was merely hoping the elders would go along with the strategy he already had planned. The word translated rejected also can mean “forsook” or “abandoned.” Rehoboam appears not to have given much consideration to the counsel of experienced officials who had served his father Solomon for many years.
The king then consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and attended him. These young men represented Rehoboam’s new team of advisers; they had much less experience leading a nation and did not have the experience the elders did.
The king asked his younger leaders, What message do you advise that we send back to this people? All Rehoboam’s leaders, young and old, had heard the people’s concerns. Again, he reiterated the people’s statement: Lighten the yoke your father put on us. The economic growth Solomon’s reign featured had come with a price. Solomon’s many building projects, including the temple and his palace, had put a strain on the people, many of whom comprised part of Solomon’s work force (1 Kings 5:13-14). A large administration meant each district needed to provide more during the one month per year that district was responsible for (1 Kings 4:7). Rehoboam’s elders had witnessed this phenomenon; perhaps they also had seen the strain it caused on the general population’s spirit.
The young men who had grown up with him replied with words the king seemed to want to hear. The words translated had grown up with him also could be translated “had become great with him” and suggest they now carried power and authority but had little experience using it. They had little sympathy for the people’s plea your father made our yoke heavy, but you, make it lighter on us!
Rehoboam’s younger leaders suggested he tell the people my little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! King David’s reign featured great military expansion, and when Solomon received the kingdom, he had secure borders and controlled the major trade routes in that region. Consequently, Solomon was able to economically exploit David’s military accomplishments. Rehoboam’s statement would send a message to the people that he already considered himself greater than his father.
This passage does not teach that younger or less experienced people never have good counsel to offer. When Timothy served the church at Ephesus, he was a relatively young man. Paul told him he should live in such a way that no one would look down on his youth (1 Tim. 4:12). Paul recognized Timothy had much to offer the church. God can use leaders with servant attitudes regardless of their age or experience.
Interpreters generally point out the apparently self-serving attitudes the young men expressed. They were happy to serve with Rehoboam but planned to use their new positions for their own gain and did not understand what the people truly needed.
Verse 11 continues the words the young men suggested Rehoboam share with the people: although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. The king’s initial statement (v. 10) had already suggested he considered himself greater than his father, and greater aspirations meant more expectations on the king’s subjects. If Israel was going to be all Rehoboam wanted the nation to be, everyone would need to work harder.
The young leaders further suggested Rehoboam tell the people, my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips. The term translated barbed whips denotes a whip with barbed hooks or spikes on its ends. The harsh words the young men suggested ran the risk of evoking bitter memories not only of Solomon’s day but also of earlier times. When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, their taskmasters often afflicted them cruelly (Ex. 1:11,13-14). Pharaoh, king of Egypt, perceived the people did not have enough to do and added to their burden by making them gather straw to use in making their own bricks (Ex. 5:6-9).
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had ordered: “Return to me on the third day.” 13 Then the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice the elders had given him 14 and spoke to them according to the young men’s advice: “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.” 15 The king did not listen to the people, because this turn of events came from the LORD to carry out his word, which the LORD had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day. The text here and in verse 3 suggests Jerobo-am served as the people’s primary spokesman. Perhaps the people came expectantly since Rehoboam had taken time to consider their request. If so, they soon discovered they were wrong.
Contrary to what the people may have expected, the king answered the people harshly. Again, the text stresses that Rehoboam ignored the advice the elders had given him. Those who had served Solomon for as many as forty years knew the situation the country faced, and they knew Rehoboam needed to lighten the people’s load. However, the king had rejected the wisdom that came from their years of experience.
Leaders should listen to the people they lead. Good leaders know how to listen, and they know how to listen to the right people.
As Rehoboam addressed the people, he spoke to them according to the young men’s advice. Here and in verses 8 and 10, the word translated young men also could be translated “children.” The word denotes the contrast in age and experience with that of the elders. Again, wisdom can come from youth or age, as can folly; leaders must discern who their most reliable leaders are.
Rehoboam told the people, my father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. The people would not have appreciated those words! Further, he told them, my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.
Those present that day saw that the king desired to exalt himself at their expense, and perhaps they perceived similar motives in the young men who stood by him when he uttered his reply. The king’s harsh approach was about to cost him dearly.
The king did not listen to the people to lighten their load; rather, he chose to listen to his young men rather than to the more experienced elders. However, beyond this, this turn of events came from the LORD to carry out his word. These words do not suggest the Lord made Rehoboam speak harshly to the people. First Kings 11 describes how the LORD had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat (1 Kings 11:29-39). In that prophetic word, Ahijah told Jeroboam God had chosen Jeroboam to rule Israel after God tore much of the kingdom away from Solomon’s son. The Lord also promised to make Jeroboam’s reign a great one and promised him a lasting dynasty like He promised the house of David if Jeroboam would remain faithful to God (1 Kings 11:38). The Lord had seen Solomon’s spiritual compromise (1 Kings 11:1-13) and knew disaster awaited Israel.
Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king (1 Kings 14:21); he had seen the luxury that characterized his father’s reign and was determined to make his own life even better than his father’s had been. Thus, the Lord worked through Rehoboam’s arrogance and selfishness to fulfill the word He had spoken through Ahijah.
Arrogant counsel usually leads to self-serving decisions. The young men who advised Rehoboam were self-serving, as was the king’s reply to the people. Again, leaders need to have their people’s interests at heart. The apostle Paul said servant attitudes should even extend to our personal relationships. Each of us should live humbly and place others’ interests ahead of our own (Phil. 2:3-4). Decisions that come from humility and concern for others better advance God’s purpose.
16 When all Israel saw that the king had not listened to them, the people answered him: What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Israel, return to your tents; David, now look after your own house! So Israel went to their tents, 17 but Rehoboam reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam managed to get into the chariot and flee to Jerusalem. 19 Israel is still in rebellion against the house of David today.
When all Israel saw that the king had not listened to them, they responded, what portion do we have in David? The question was rhetorical, implying they had no portion or place in the house of David any longer. Then they stated their opinion straightforwardly: we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. The words portion and inheritance imply having a real place in the Israelite community, and the people no longer felt they did.
The people’s words, coupled with their declaration Israel, return to your tents, echoed the words of Sheba, a man who had attempted rebellion during David’s reign (2 Sam. 20:1). At that time, discontentment had arisen when many of the tribes felt Judah received preferential treatment because it was David’s tribe (2 Sam. 19:41-43). After forty more years under Solomon, perhaps Rehoboam’s harsh words provided the tipping point for anti-Judah sentiment. The people cried out, David, now look after your own house! The accompanying comment, so Israel went to their tents, does not mean all the people still lived in tents but implies they went home to look after their own interests and welfare—to form their own nation. They were done with David’s house.
Rehoboam reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. God earlier had said He would give Solomon’s son one tribe to rule for David’s sake (1 Kings 11:13,36). Thus, God had fulfilled His word, although later, the tribe of Benjamin also joined Judah for a time (1 Kings 12:21). Nonetheless, Rehoboam’s territory was much smaller than what his father and grandfather had ruled.
King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of forced labor, to the northern tribes. Adoram had served Solomon (1 Kings 4:6, “Adoniram”), and perhaps Rehoboam thought sending one of his father’s officials would help ease the tension with the northern tribes. However, the people remembered the days when Adoram was in charge of faced labor, and many of them had served four months per year to accomplish Solomon’s building projects (1 Kings 5:13-14). They wanted no more of this, and they saw in Adoram’s coming more of the same, so all Israel stoned him to death. Their angry reaction reiterated they wanted no part in the house of David any longer.
King Rehoboam managed to get into the chariot and flee to Jerusalem. Jerusalem lay approximately thirty miles south of Shechem; both Shechem and Jerusalem lay along the major north-south highway that extended farther south beyond Jerusalem to Hebron. Further, Shechem was approximately on the border of the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh, so Rehoboam needed to flee through Ephraim and Benjamin before he arrived safely in Jerusalem and Judah—his own territory. The king likely feared for his life as he fled.
The writer of Kings stated the sad conclusion: Israel is still in rebellion against the house of David today. The kingdom that witnessed unity under Saul, David, and Solomon now experienced division under Rehoboam. From 930 BC onward, the two kingdoms would exist as separate nations—the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Ultimately, Israel fell to Assyria in 722/721 BC, and Judah fell to Babylon in 586 BC. Sadly, Jeroboam, the Northern Kingdom’s first king, did not follow the Lord. Rather, he led the people astray spiritually and did all he could to ensure Israel and Judah remained distinct nations (1 Kings 12:26-33).
Self-serving decisions can cause painful divisions. The challenge for believers today is to examine their motives in decisions they make. Failure to listen to wise counsel often contributes to conflict and even division.
(In PSG, p. 44)
The Christian and Social Order
In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice. (See Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:43-48.)
Notice repeated words or phrases in a Bible passage.
In 1 Kings 12:6-19, we find several phrases repeated. Review the passage and identify the different phrases you find that are repeated. What is the significance of each repeated phrase? How do the repeated phrases relate to each other? How do the repeated phrases stress the magnitude of the advice given and decision made?