1 Kings 12:15

15 The king did not listen to the people, because the turn of events came from the Lord to carry out His word, which the Lord had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.^[a]

1 Kings 12:15 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 12:15

Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people
To lessen their taxes, and ease them of their burdens, as they desired:

for the cause was from the Lord;
it was according to his will and appointment; the defection of the people was willed by the Lord, and various things in Providence turned up to alienate their minds from Rehoboam, and dispose them to a revolt from him in favour of Jeroboam; and the Lord suffered the counsellors of Rehoboam to give him the advice they did, and gave him up to the folly of his own heart to take it:

that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake to Ahijah
the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat;
see ( 1 Kings 11:29-39 ) .

1 Kings 12:15 In-Context

13 Then the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice the elders had given him

14 and spoke to them according to the young men's advice: "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips."

15 The king did not listen to the people, because the turn of events came from the Lord to carry out His word, which the Lord had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

16 When all Israel saw that the king had not listened to them, the people answered him: What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Israel, return to your tents; David, now look after your own house! So Israel went to their tents,

17 but Rehoboam reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Kg 11:29-39