_A.M. 3029. B.C. 975._ Rehoboam succeeds to the throne, and Jeroboam returns out of Egypt, 1 Kings 12:1; 1 Kings 12:2. The people's petition to Rehoboam, and his answer, 1 Kings 12:3. Ten tribes revolt and make Jeroboam king, 1 Kings 12:16. God forbids Rehoboam to make war upon them, 1 Kings 12:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rehoboam went to Shechem_ With a view to be there declared Solomon's successor by the people, and made king. It does not appear that he called the people thither, but went thither because they had prevented him, and pitched upon that place rather than upon Jerusalem, because it was most convenient... [ Continue Reading ]
_They sent and called him_ When the people sent Jeroboam word of Solomon's death, they also sent a message to him to desire he would attend their general meeting at Shechem, and assist them to get their grievances redressed. For they judged that the presence and countenance of a man of such great in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy father made our yoke grievous_ By heavy taxes and impositions, not only for the temple and his magnificent buildings, but for the expenses of his numerous court, and of so many wives and concubines, and the maintenance of so many chariots and horses. Thus they began with a complaint against the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Consulted with the old men that stood before his father_ Solomon, in his best days, though so wise, yet would not depend solely on his own wisdom, but had other wise men about him, with whom he advised, as his counsellors in all matters of moment. _If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this da... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he forsook the counsel of the old men_ Judging it unworthy of his majesty and authority, and likely to encourage the people in their insolent demands; and, being proud and vain, he scorned to condescend to them and court them in this way, but would have obedience paid to him as to an absolute m... [ Continue Reading ]
_My little finger shall be thicker_, &c. Or, rather, _is thicker_, and therefore stronger, and more able to crush you, if you proceed in these mutinous demands, _than his loins_ In which is the principal seat of strength. My father was young and weak, and had many enemies, when he first took the kin... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king answered the people roughly_ He affected to be haughty and imperious, and fancied he could carry all before him with a high hand, and therefore would rather run the risk of losing them, than deny himself so far as to give them good words. Thus many ruin themselves by consulting their humou... [ Continue Reading ]
So _when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them,_ &c. Here we see the divine threatening to Solomon by Ahijah beginning to take effect, and the important event of rending the kingdom of the ten tribes from the house of David, foretold by that prophet, on the point of being fulfilled. T... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute_ To pursue the counsel which he had resolved upon, say some; to execute his office, and exact their tribute with rigour, and, if need were, with violence. But it is much more probable that he sent him to treat with them; which was a new piece of i... [ Continue Reading ]
_So Israel rebelled against the house of David_ And thereby fulfilled God's threatening denounced to Solomon. Nevertheless their conduct in this was sinful, as they did not revolt in compliance with God's counsel, but to gratify their own passions.... [ Continue Reading ]
_When all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come_ From Egypt; which was known to the great men, and to such as met at Shechem before, and was now spread over the country; _they sent_ To his tent, or habitation, to which he had retired from Shechem, as the others, who had met there had generally done. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_The word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God_ The prophet so called, partly to distinguish him from others of that name, (see Nehemiah 6:10; Jeremiah 29:31,) and partly to add more weight to his words. It appears this prophet was very well known in the reign of Rehoboam, whose annals he is suppo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jeroboam built Shechem_ He repaired, enlarged, and fortified it; for it had been ruined long since, Judges 9:45. He might choose it as a place both auspicious, because here the foundation of his monarchy was laid; and commodious, as being near the frontiers of his kingdom. _And built Penuel_ A plac... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jeroboam said in his heart_ Reasoned within himself. The sacred historian shows, by this phrase, the fountain of his error, that he did not consult God, who had given him the kingdom, as in all reason, and justice, and gratitude, he ought to have done; nor believed in and relied on God's promises,... [ Continue Reading ]
_If this people go up to do sacrifice at Jerusalem_, &c. All the people of Israel being bound, at the three great feasts, to go up to Jerusalem; and on other solemn occasions devout persons being used to go thither to offer gifts and sacrifices; he was afraid lest, if they should continue to go, the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king took counsel, and made two calves_ In imitation of Aaron's golden calf, and of the worship of the Egyptians, from whose country he had lately come. These calves were of the same matter with Aaron's, and made for the same reason: his because Moses, the minister of God and medium of divine c... [ Continue Reading ]
_He set the one in Beth-el_, &c. Which two places he chose for the people's convenience, _Beth-el_ being in the southern, and _Dan_ in the northern part of his kingdom. Add to this, that as Bethel was in every body's opinion a sacred place, having been consecrated by God's appearing there more than... [ Continue Reading ]
_This thing became a sin_ An occasion of great wickedness, not only of idolatry, which is called _sin_ by way of eminence; nor only of the worship of the calves, wherein they pretended to worship the true God; but also of the worship of Baal, and of the utter desertion of the true God, and of all so... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he made a house of high places_ That is, saith Abarbinel, he made a house or temple at Dan, wherein there was not one altar only, as there was at Jerusalem, but a great many altars or high places, probably complaining of it as an inconvenience, that in the temple at Jerusalem there was but one.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jeroboam ordained a feast on the eighth month_, &c. The feast of tabernacles; which by the law was to be celebrated on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. His chief intention in this change, no doubt, was to alienate the people from the rites observed at Jerusalem. “Some suppose, with Mr. Locke... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which he had devised of his own heart_ Out of his own will and pleasure, against the express ordinance of God. _And ordained a feast _ To be observed, it is likely, every year in Beth-el, as well as in Dan, as the feast of tabernacles was at Jerusalem, like which it also lasted many days. _And he o... [ Continue Reading ]