And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. Ver. 1. _And Rehoboam went to Shechem._] It was an oversight in Solomon, that he had not before his death made his son king - as David had done him, for preventing of troubles; as also in Rehoboam, that he being the... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard [of it], (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) Ver. 2. _For he was fled,_] viz., For safeguard of his life, as man is ζωον φιλοζωον, a life loving creature. See on 1 Kings 11... [ Continue Reading ]
That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, Ver. 3. _That they sent and called him._] This was the act of the multitude, that shallow brained, but great and many headed beast. Jeroboam they picked as one that had been a prime... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 4. _Thy father made our yoke grievous._] We are sensible how our necks were pinched and galled by means of thy father's works... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Depart yet [for] three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. Ver. 5. _Depart yet for three days._] This was foolishly done, saith Pellican and Martyr, to give them three days' respite; because in this time they might consult about a defection, whatsoever answe... [ Continue Reading ]
_And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?_ Ver. 6. _And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men._] This was right; for "with the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days is under... [ Continue Reading ]
And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. Ver. 7. _If thou wilt be a servant to this people this day._] Lenity and moderation in a prince is very... [ Continue Reading ]
But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, [and] which stood before him: Ver. 8. _But he forsook the counsel of the old men._] With whom he consulted only for fashion's sake - as Xerxes did when he went against... [ Continue Reading ]
_And 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?_ Ver. 9. _Make the yoke._] He mentioneth not the people's promise - "and we will serve thee" 1Ki 12:4 - as not serving to his purpose.... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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, My little [finger] shall be thicker than my father's loins. V... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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 scorpions. Ver. 11. _I will chastise you with scorpions_] _a_ That is, With briers and thorns; as Gideon taught the men of Penuel: or, With tortur... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 12. _Come to me again the third day._] See 1 Kings 12:5 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; Ver. 13. _And the king answered the people roughly._] But to his great loss; for he lost those ten tribes with a churlish breath, whom he would, and might not, recover with blood: being so much more wilf... [ Continue Reading ]
And spake to them after the counsel 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. Ver. 14. _And spake to them after the counsel of the young men._] This was egregious folly. G... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Ver. 15. _For the cause._] Heb., Circuit or turning about; for here was a "wheel within a wheel," as Ezek... [ Continue Reading ]
So 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: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. Ver. 16. _The people... [ Continue Reading ]
_But [as for] the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them._ Ver. 17. _But as for the children of Israel._] Not the men of Judah only, but the Simeonites that were mingled among them, the Benjamites that were joined unto them, the Levites and other _convenae... [ Continue Reading ]
Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who [was] over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. Ver. 18. _Sent Adoram, who was over the tribute._] But the sight of such an officer, he might well... [ Continue Reading ]
So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. Ver. 19. _So Israel rebelled._] Rebellion it was in them, and no better: though nothing was therein done, but by the determinate counsel of God, and as he had foretold. _ Against the house of David._] Ill accidents ever attend such princ... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. Ver. 20. _And made him king._] See Hosea 8:4. _See Trapp on... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. Ver. 21. _To fight against th... [ Continue Reading ]
But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Ver. 22. _But the word of God came._] God is said to have come to Balaam, to Laban, and to other profane wretches; but his "word" came only to "his holy prophets, which have been since the world began.... [ Continue Reading ]
Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, Ver. 23. _Speak unto Rehoboam._] Spare not to speak unto him, and lay my charge upon him to desist and disband his forces.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD. Ver. 24. _They hearkened therefore.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. Ver. 25. _Then Jeroboam built Shechem._] Shechem had been ruined and sowed with salt, Jdg 9:45 it had been rebuilt, 1Ki 12:1 but now made a royal city, as being _in meditullio regni,_ in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:_ Ver. 26. _And Jeroboam said in his heart._] His kingdom was not without cares, his throne without thorns: for help in which case, he consulteth with carnal reason, and thereby "consulteth shame and ruin to his hou... [ Continue Reading ]
If 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. Ver. 27. _If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt._ Ver. 28. _Whereupon the king took counsel,_] viz., Of his politicians, who are none of the b... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan._ Ver. 29. _And he set the one in Bethel._] At both ends of the land.... [ Continue Reading ]
And this thing became a sin: for the people went [to worship] before the one, [even] unto Dan. Ver. 30. _For the people went to worship._] At both places. Jeroboam's calves were no sooner up, than Israel is down on their knees. It is no marvel, saith one, if his subjects are brutish who hath made a... [ Continue Reading ]
And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. Ver. 31. _And he made a house._] A mock temple, a pantheon, a place to hold his mawmets and monuments of idolatry. _ And made priests, &c._] Leaden priests are well fitted to gold... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that [is] in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. V... [ Continue Reading ]
_So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, [even] in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense._ Ver. 33. _So he offered upon the altar._]... [ Continue Reading ]