A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

JEROBOAM AND REHOBOAM:
The Division of the Kingdom
(1 Kings 12:1-15:8; 2 Chronicles 10:1-13:22)
Too often it is at a man’s strongest point that he falls the farthest and suffers the greatest
consequences. Certainly that was true in the life of Solomon. His wisdom established the
kingdom and resulted in his great power and international reputation. But the folly of his later
years gave birth to the seeds of dissension in the kingdom which resulted in civil strife and
brought an end to the unity of the kingdom. Ironically, one of Solomon’s enemies was raised up
to be king over the rebel tribes of the north. They had rejected the leadership of Solomon’s son,
Rehoboam.
Jeroboam was an industrious young man who quickly earned a reputation for himself
during the reign of Solomon. Recognizing the positive character evident in Jeroboam and his
leadership potential, Solomon placed him in authority over two of the twelve tribes, Ephraim and
Manasseh. It was while Jeroboam was serving his king faithfully in that capacity that he had an
unusual meeting with the Prophet Ahijah. The prophet had a message from God for him.
Jeroboam was wearing a new garment when Ahijah found him alone in a field. The
prophet took the robe off Jeroboam and tore it into twelve pieces. Then he asked Jeroboam to
take ten of the pieces of the robe. In doing so, the prophet explained how God would divide the
kingdom in the next generation and give ten tribes to him. When Solomon later learned of this
meeting, Jeroboam became a wanted man. To escape the wrath of his king, Jeroboam escaped to
Egypt and remained there for the remainder of Solomon’s reign.
THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM
(1 Kings 12:1-24; 2 Chron. 10:1-11:4)
After the death of Solomon, the heir apparent to the kingdom was his son Rehoboam.
This son of Solomon would sit on the throne of his father for eighteen years. Shechem was the
city selected for the great coronation of the new king. All Israel gathered in anticipation. With
the change in leadership, many of the people hoped for some changes in the civil policies under
which they were governed. Solomon had amassed great wealth and had enjoyed a luxurious
lifestyle during his reign, and much of that was at the expense of the people. Many hoped his son
Rehoboam might be persuaded to cut the costs of governing the nation and, in that way, reduce
the burden of taxation.
As the time to crown the new king approached, Israel sought for a spokesman who would
plead their case before the new king. Jeroboam was the one who seemed like the logical choice.
He had been an honored official in the government of Solomon at one time and understood how
things worked in the royal court. Jeroboam was persuaded to leave his self-imposed exile in
Egypt to be the spokesman for Israel at the coronation of the new king.
A meeting between the soon-to-be-crowned king and representatives of Israel, including
Jeroboam, was arranged; a proposal from the people to the king was made. If the new king
Rehoboam would reduce the burden of taxation, the people would be his willing servants. It was
unusual that the people of a nation should attempt democratic reforms by making such proposals
to a king, and Rehoboam was careful not to make a hasty decision. The people had been taxed
for forty years under the reign of his father, and he knew three more days of the same would not