2 Chronicles 10
19 verses
Solomon's son Rehoboam refuses the counsel of the elders who advise political wisdom and mercy, instead heeding the harsh advice of his young courtiers to increase burdens on the people, provoking the northern tribes to rebel and fracture the united monarchy into two kingdoms. Rehoboam's rejection of wise counsel represents a fundamental breach in the covenantal framework: instead of governing with wisdom like his father and grandfather, he governs with arrogance and self-interest, demonstrating how quickly a kingship can deteriorate when a ruler lacks the spiritual and personal qualities necessary for faithful leadership. The northern tribes' defection under Jeroboam occurs not through external military conquest but through the king's own self-destructive political choices, suggesting that covenant unfaithfulness produces internal disintegration. The Chronicler interprets the kingdom's division as occurring 'from God' because Rehoboam's hardened heart represents God's judgment on the deterioration of royal covenant faithfulness that became evident in Solomon's later years. Rehoboam's initial attempt to restore the kingdom by military force is divinely prohibited by the prophet Shemaiah, indicating that God Himself stands behind the division of the kingdom, not permitting human violence to reverse it. This chapter inaugurates the tragic decline of the Davidic monarchy and signals the beginning of the long decline that the Chronicler will chronicle through his narrative, establishing the principle that departure from covenant faithfulness produces national fragmentation and diminishment of the divine blessing.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.
0 0Open verse page →
2
And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
0 0Open verse page →
3
And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,
0 1Open verse page →
4
Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
0 0Open verse page →
5
And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.
0 0Open verse page →
6
And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?
0 0Open verse page →
7
And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.
0 0Open verse page →
8
But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.
0 0Open verse page →
9
And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
0 0Open verse page →
10
And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
0 0Open verse page →
11
For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
0 0Open verse page →
12
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.
0 0Open verse page →
13
And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
0 0Open verse page →
14
And answered them after the advice 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.
0 0Open verse page →
15
So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the Lord might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
0 0Open verse page →
16
And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.
0 0Open verse page →
The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this passage. Now I understand why — it's a daily...
17
But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
1 0Open verse page →
18
Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
0 0Open verse page →
19
And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
0 0Open verse page →
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
No notes on this chapter yet. Be the first to write one!