Bible Commentaries

II. FROM THE REIGN OF SOLOMON THROUGH THE CAPTIVITY TO CYRUS' DECREE (2 Chronicles 10-36)

I. REHOBOAM (922-915 B.C.);

ISRAEL DEMANDS AN EASEMENT OF EXCESSIVE TAXES

"And Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon), that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. And they went and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter, and we will serve thee. And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed."

REHOBOAM SEEKS ADVICE OF TWO GROUPS - THE OLD COUNSELORS; AND HIS OWN CONTEMPORARIES

"And king Rehoboam took counsel from the old men, that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye to me to return answer to this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men that had grown up with him, and stood before him. And what counsel give ye, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that thy father did put upon us lighter? And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say unto the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thou shalt say unto them, My little finger is thicker than my father's loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

"The young men that had grown up with him" (2 Chronicles 10:8). This whole chapter is virtually identical with 1 Kings 12:1-20; and in both accounts, mention is made of Rehoboam's associates, referring to them in these words. This is the only hint in the Bible that Solomon had any other sons besides Rehoboam. Evidently these were other children brought up in Solomon's godless harem.

REHOBOAM FOLLOWS THE ADVICE OF HIS HAREM ASSOCIATES

"So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the third day. And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, and spake to them after the counsel 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. So the king hearkened not unto the people; but it was brought about of God, that Jehovah might establish his word, which he spake by Abijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat."

"My father chastised you with whips" (2 Chronicles 10:14). This is a somewhat sour note in that sweet symphony of The Glory of Solomon. Furthermore, right here is the contradiction of the opinions of many that Solomon did not enslave any Israelites, but only the foreigners. If Solomon had been whipping only the descendants of the Canaanites, there is hardly any possibility that Jeroboam and the other Israelites would have been at all concerned about it.

(See my commentary on 1Kings (pp. 151-158) for further comment on the events of this chapter.)

NORTHERN ISRAEL REBELS AGAINST REHOBOAM

"And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So all Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to task-work; and the children of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day."

"Hadoram ... over the men subject to task-work" (2 Chronicles 10:18). This is merely the Chronicler's polite word for, "Hadoram ... the slave-driver," the most hated man in Solomon's kingdom, the same as Adoram in the First Kings narrative. Rehoboam could not possibly have made a more serious mistake than asking Hadoram to accompany him in his negotiations with Israel. Not only did they stone Hadoram, but they would also have stoned Rehoboam if he had not escaped. Thus Rehoboam lost the greater part of his kingdom by one idiotic acceptance of the foolish advice of his harem-born associates.