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Biblical Prophets - Bible Study Online
Now that Shechem had been chosen by the ten tribes of Israel that were to be ripped away from the House of David. It's presumed that Rehoboam had learned from his father Solomon, about the divine judgment that was brought against the "House of David." It's possible that Rehoboam had thought that he might be able to influence the outcome, to come out in his favor. It's also possible that Rehoboam thought that this might be some type of inauguration event that the Israel nation had planned for the start of his newly acquired kingship. Perhaps these presumptions would have been made true, if Rehoboam had agreed to some certain terms that was placed before him, by the ten tribes. More on this later. Once Rehoboam had arrived at the meeting place in Shechem, he would soon learn, that Jeroboam the man that his father Solomon, had tried to have killed -- would show up at the meeting as an invited guest. Rehoboam did not know that Jeroboam had been invited by the very same ten tribes that, he was trying to win favor with. Be as it may, they had this to say: "Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you." (1 Kings 12:4) What's interesting about this statement that was put before the new king: is that the ten tribes basically laid out a solution that would have solved Rehoboam's problem when it came to reigning over them. They basically told Rehoboam, that if he would lighten the burden that his father Solomon, who reigned before him; had afflicted them with, they would serve him. You would think that this would be a no-brainer from the new king. But instead he responded by saying: "Depart for three days, then come back to me." During these three days that Rehoboam had requested, he consulted the old wise men that had served under his father. Once they came before him, Rehoboam had asked them for their advice and they responded by saying: "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." Although this would seem like good advice, Rehoboam rejected their it and decided to seek a different opinion. So he turned to the young men who he had grew up with and asked them for their advice: "What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, 'Lighten the yoke which your father put on us'?" After hearing this the young men responded by saying: "Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us' -- thus you shall say to them: 'My little finger shall be thicker than my father's waist! And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!'" So Rehoboam would take the advice of the young men that he had grew up with and when Jeroboam and the ten tribes had came before him on the third day, just like Rehoboam had requested. The young king answered them by saying: "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!" After the ten tribes had heard what Rehoboam had to say, they replied: "What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David!" After they had spoken these words to Rehoboam, they departed and went back to their tents extremely disappointed. Now apparently Rehoboam knew that the ten tribes were disappointed with him, but he hoped that they would still recognize his authority, so he sent forth Adoram the official who was over the tribute, to go and meet with the ten tribes. This was another huge mistake that was made by Rehoboam, since Adoram was something like a tax collector, and the people despised him and the office he held. And when Adoram had came amongst them, the Israelites stoned him to death. After Rehoboam had learned about this horrific incident, the young king jumped into his chariot and fled to the city of Jerusalem (Southern Kingdom). Apparently, Rehoboam was still staying in Shechem when all of this had happened. So when he had learned that the ten tribes had stoned Adoram he quickly fled to Jerusalem, since he did not know if he was to be killed next. From this point forwarded, the ten tribes had rebelled and were set apart from the "House of David" and although Rehoboam still reigned over that "house," which was made up with the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the nation of Israel at this time, would be divided into two kingdoms. The kingdom that Rehoboam ruled would be known as the Southern Kingdom, and the other kingdom was known as the Northern Kingdom, and this kingdom would be ruled by Jeroboam, just like Ahijah the prophet had foretold. "Now it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent for him and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only." (1 Kings 13:20) Rehoboam flees for his life, will that be the last of what we will see of him? Or will Rehoboam regroup and try to retake control over the ten tribe through force? Who is this prophet that goes by the name "Shemaiah" and what role will he play in all of this?
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