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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

1 Kings 12:4

Verse 1 Kings 12:4. The grievous service - and - heavy yoke] They seem here to complain of two things - excessively laborious service, and a heavy taxation. At first it is supposed Solomon employed no Israelite in drudgery: afterwards, when he forsook the God of compassion, he seems to have used them as slaves, and to have revived the Egyptian bondage.

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See also 1 Kings 12:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    The complaint was probably twofold. The Israelites no doubt complained in part of the heavy weight of taxation laid upon them for the maintenance of the monarch and his court 1 Kings 4:19. But their c...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. THE DIVIDED KINGDOM 1. Rehoboam and the Revolt of the Ten Tribes CHAPTER 12 _ 1. The revolt of the northern tribes (1 Kings 12:1)_ 2. The threatening war averted (1 Kings 12:21) 3. Jeroboam'...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE REVOLT OF THE NORTHERN TRIBES. It is doubtful whether this section is Judæ an or not. It bears some resemblance to 2 Samuel 9-20, and the parts of 1 K. which seem to be a continuation of that hist...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    MADE OUR YOKE GRIEVOUS. Made by Jeroboam himself owing to the opportunity afforded by Solomon's action (1 Kings 11:28)....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _make thou the grievous service … lighter_ Josephus says they naturally expected to gain their request, and especially as the king was a young man. The house of Joseph, i.e. the Ephraimites, are speci...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THY FATHER MADE OUR YOKE GRIEVOUS— What the particular grievances were which these people desire to have redressed, we may gather from chap. 1 Kings 4:7 namely, the tribute that Solomon exacted for hi...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    I. THE GREAT SCHISM 12:1-24 The gripping narrative of Rehoboam's folly unfolds in the first twenty-four verses of chapter 12. For study purposes this narrative may be divided into five units: (1) the...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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._ Now therefore make thou the...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE REVOLT OF THE TEN TRIBES. REHOBOAM AND JEROBOAM The revolt of the Ten Tribes against the rule of Rehoboam had its origin partly in the discontent which the burdens laid on the people by Solomon ha...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    MADE OUR YOKE GRIEVOUS] i.e. by the forced labour imposed upon them (1 Kings 5:13)....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S LESSONS FROM HISTORY 1 KINGS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 12 THE *KINGDOM DIVIDES V1 Rehoboam went to Shechem. All the *Israelites had gone there to make him king. V2 Jeroboam the son of Nebat w...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WE WILL SERVE THEE. — It seems evident from the tone of the narrative, and especially from the absence of all resentment on the part of the king on the presentation of these conditions, that they were...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    אָבִ֖יךָ הִקְשָׁ֣ה אֶת ־עֻלֵּ֑נוּ וְ אַתָּ֡ה...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    A NEW REIGN 1 Kings 12:1 "A foolish son is the calamity of his father." - Proverbs 19:13. "He left behind him Roboam, even the foolishness of the people, and one that had no understanding." - Sir...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE WISE KING'S FOOLISH SON 1 Kings 11:41; 1 Kings 12:1 Solomon's reign had been splendid but very oppressive, and it was reasonable to ask for some relief. The people felt that the accession of the...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    BREAKING THREE COMMANDMENTS 1 Kings 21:1; 1 Kings 1:1; 1 Kings 2:1; 1 Kings 3:1;...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In this and the four following Chapter s we have the central section of this Book recording the tragedy of the break-up of the nation and the degradation of the people. It covers a period of about six...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    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, (a) lighter, and we will serve thee. (a) Do not oppress us with...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Yoke, of personal service, (Calmet) first to build the temple, and afterwards to erect palaces, fortify cities, &c. The works of Mello gave the greatest discontent. (Haydock)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (2) 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;) (3) That they sent and cal...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Solomon was now at the height of his glory, a vivid type of a greater than Solomon. And it is only when we see that he really does thus prefigure the Lord Jesus as King that we can understand the impo...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 11 AND 12. Till now we have had the beautiful picture of God's blessing resting upon the son of David, whose only desire it had been to possess wisdom from Go...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THY FATHER MADE OUR YOKE GRIEVOUS,.... Laid heavy taxes upon them, for the finishing of his buildings, for the maintenance of his household, for keeping such a large number of horses and chariots, and...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 y...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _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 concubin...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The Israelites assembled at Shechem to crowne Rehoboam, by Ieroboam make a suite of relaxation vnto him. 6 Rehoboam refusing the olde mens counsell, by the aduice of young men, answereth them rough...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Rehoboam's Foolish Answer...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Thy father made our yoke grievous, namely, the yoke of labor, the burden of servile work, the heavy taxation for the many public buildings and improvements; NOW, THEREFORE, MAKE THOU THE GRIEVOUS SERV...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE TEN TRIBES REBEL (vs.1-24) Rehoboam went to Shechem for his inauguration as king of Israel (v.1). Jereboam, in Egypt, received word quickly of Solomon's death, and his friends in Israel sent to...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-15 The tribes complained not to Rehoboam of his father's idolatry, and revolt from God. That which was the greatest grievance, was none to them; so careless were they in matters of religion, if the...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    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...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Kings 12:4 father H1 made H7185 yoke H5923 heavy H7185 (H8689) lighten H7043 (H8685) burdensome H7186 service...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    REHOBOAM'S ARROGANCE ALIENATES ISRAEL (1 KINGS 12:1). The elders of Israel came together with a view to anointing Rehoboam as king on condition that he would guarantee them a somewhat easier lifestyle...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “ Your father made our yoke grievous. Now therefore you make the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.” The Israelites then sent a dep...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE KINGDOM IN CRISIS AND THE COLLAPSE OF AN EMPIRE (1 KINGS 12:1 TO 1 KINGS 14:31). The death of Solomon, as always with the death of a king who had ruled powerfully for a long time and had been some...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Accession and folly of Rehoboam. Kingdom divided. CHARACTERS: God, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Adoram, Shemiah. CONCLUSION: Taking the counsel of unspiritual men always spells blunder and a rough...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Kings 12:1. _Shechem._ This city was famed for mischief. Here Dinah was ruined, and the men slaughtered. Here Joseph was sold, and now the ten tribes revolted. 1 Kings 12:4. _Thy father made our yok...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _When Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt heard of it _. .. _ they sent and called him._ THE KINGDOM DIVIDED 1. This chapter reveals one of the turning-points in Israel’s history, for it is...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 12:1 The Kingdom Is Divided. Two kingdoms emerge. Judah is made up of two tribes (Judah and Benjamin) in the south and is ruled by Rehoboam. Israel is made up of the ten northe...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 KINGS—NOTE ON 1 KINGS 12:4 YOUR FATHER MADE OUR YOKE HEAVY. Solomon placed great financial burdens on the people. They are no longer living in freedom in the Promised Land. They are again a people u...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE DISRUPTION OF THE KINGDOM CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.— 1 Kings 12:1. REHOBOAM WENT TO SHECHEM—Instead of remaining in _Jerusalem_, whither Israel should have come to him, as they did to David...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE REVOLT OF THE TEN TRIBES.—With the reign of Rehoboam, on which our historian now enters, we begin the second great period in the history of the Hebrew monarchy, so far as it is related...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now Rehoboam came to Shechem: and all Israel gathered to Shechem (1 Kings 12:1) Which is just about the center of the land, just about the heart of the country. And they gathered to make him king. An...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 John 5:3; 1 Kings 4:20; 1 Kings 4:22; 1 Kings 4:23; 1 Kings 4:25;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    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 Solomon having so...

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