He was one of Solomon’s twelve superintendents and had jurisdiction over all the taxes and labors exacted from the house of Joseph (see 1 Kings 11:28). Jeroboam was the son of Nebat (see 1 Kings 12:15), an Ephraimite. Who was Jeroboam and What Important Part Did He Play in the Division of Israel? Life in Israel was never to be the same thereafter. This national meeting in which Rehoboam sought a vote of confidence was an important event. … On the choice of Sichem as the place for doing homage Kimchi has quite correctly observed, that ‘they sought an opportunity for transferring the government to Jeroboam, and therefore were unwilling to come to Jerusalem, but came to Sichem, which belonged to Ephraim, whilst Jeroboam was an Ephraimite.’ If there could be any further doubt on the matter, it would be removed by the fact that they had sent for Jeroboam the son of Nebat to come from Egypt, whither he had fled from Solomon, and attend this meeting, and that Jeroboam took the lead in the meeting, and no doubt suggested to those assembled the demand which they should lay before Rehoboam.” ( Commentary on the Old Testament, 3:1:191–93.) The ten tribes of Israel made use of this right on Rehoboam’s ascent of the throne but instead of coming to Jerusalem, the residence of the king and capital of the kingdom, as they ought to have done, and doing homage there to the legitimate successor of Solomon, they had gone to Sichem, the present Nabulus, the place where the ancient national gatherings were held in the tribe of Ephraim. of anointing him and doing homage to him … , was an old traditional right in Israel, and the tribes had exercised it not only in the case of Saul and David, but in that of Solomon also. The right of making king the prince whom God has chosen, i.e. ‘All Israel,’ according to what follows, was the ten tribes beside Judah and Benjamin. “Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had come thither to make him king. “Apart from the fact that the tribes had no right to choose at their pleasure a different king from the one who was the lawful heir to the throne of David, the very circumstance that the tribes who were discontented with Solomon’s government did not come to Jerusalem to do homage to Rehoboam, but chose Sichem as the place of meeting, and had also sent for Jeroboam out of Egypt, showed clearly enough that it was their intention to sever themselves from the royal house of David. … Solomon’s son Rehoboam was the rightful successor to the throne, but northern Israel did not support him. Why Did Israel Gather at Shechem to Support Rehoboam Instead of Gathering at Jerusalem?įrom the early years after the settlement of Israel in Canaan, there had been jealousy between the two most powerful tribes, Ephraim and Judah. But his mother’s ancestry was Semitic since the Ammonites were descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew.
Since Rehoboam’s mother, Naamah, was an Ammonite (see 1 Kings 14:21), he was only half Israelite. The Bible does not mention any other sons or daughters of Solomon. Rehoboam was the son and successor of King Solomon (see 1 Kings 11:43).
(Individual-study students should complete all of this section.) See also 2 Chronicles 10–16.Ĭomplete Points to Ponder as directed by your teacher. Use Notes and Commentary below to help you as you read and study 1 Kings 12–16. Harmonious relationships can be developed and enhanced by understanding and applying insights from the scriptures.Īs you complete your study of this chapter, notice how the kings of Israel and Judah present both good and bad examples of the application of these principles. Not only is this true in nations or kingdoms, but it is also true in personal and family relationships. On the other hand, where there is harmony, happiness and progress follow. Where there is disharmony, unhappiness and tragedy result. A great lesson to be learned in life is to live in harmony with others. The Lord has said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” ( Matthew 12:25).
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