1 Kings 12:14-24

14 he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, 1"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 scorpions."
15 So the king did not listen to the people, for 2it was a turn of affairs brought about by the LORD that he might fulfill his word, which 3the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

The Kingdom Divided

16 And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, "What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. 4To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David." So Israel went to their tents.
17 But Rehoboam reigned over 5the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah.
18 Then King Rehoboam sent 6Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.
19 7So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
20 And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was none that followed the house of David but 8the tribe of Judah only.
21 9When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
22 But the word of God came to 10Shemaiah the man of God:
23 "Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the 11rest of the people,
24 'Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, 12for this thing is from me.'" So they listened to the word of the LORD and went home again, according to the word of the LORD.

1 Kings 12:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 12

This chapter relates Rehoboam's going to Shechem to be made king, and Jeroboam's return from Egypt, 1Ki 12:1,2, the people's request to Rehoboam to be eased of their taxes, as the condition of making him king, 1Ki 12:3,4, his answer to them, after three days, having had the advice both of the old and young men, which latter he followed, and gave in a rough answer, 1Ki 12:5-15, upon which ten tribes revolted from him, and two abode by him, 1Ki 12:16-20, wherefore he meditated a war against the ten tribes, but was forbid by the Lord to engage in it, 1Ki 12:21-24 and Jeroboam, in order to establish his kingdom, and preserve the people from a revolt to the house of David, because of the temple worship at Jerusalem, devised a scheme of idolatrous worship in his own territories, 1Ki 12:25-33.

Cross References 12

  • 1. [See ver. 4 above]
  • 2. ver. 24
  • 3. 1 Kings 11:11, 31
  • 4. See 2 Samuel 20:1
  • 5. 1 Kings 11:13, 36
  • 6. 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 5:14
  • 7. 2 Kings 17:21
  • 8. 1 Kings 11:13, 32, 36
  • 9. For ver. 21-24, see 2 Chronicles 11:1-4
  • 10. 2 Chr. 12:5, 7, 15
  • 11. [ver. 17]
  • 12. ver. 15
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.