1 Kings 12:10-20

10 The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say to this people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!' But you shall speak to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins!

11 'Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.' "

12 Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, "¹Return to me on the third day."

13 The king answered the people harshly, for he forsook the advice of the elders which they had given him,

14 and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, "²My 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; ³for it was a turn of events from the LORD, ⁴that He might establish His word, which the LORD spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

The Kingdom Divided; Jeroboam Rules Israel

16 When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; ⁵To your tents, O Israel! Now look after your own house, David!" So Israel departed to their tents.

17 But ⁶as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

18 Then King Rehoboam sent ⁷Adoram, who was over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam made haste to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.

19 ⁸So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

20 It came about when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. ⁹None but the tribe of Judah followed the house of David.

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1 Kings 12:10-20 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 9

1. 1 Kings 12:5
2. Exodus 1:13, 14; Exodus 5:5-9, 16-18
3. Deuteronomy 2:30; Judges 14:4; 1 Kings 12:24; 2 Chronicles 10:15
4. 1 Kings 11:11, 31
5. 2 Samuel 20:1
6. 1 Kings 11:13, 36
7. 2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 5:14
8. 2 Kings 17:21
9. 1 Kin 11:13, 32, 36

Footnotes 3

[a]. Lit "spoken"
[b]. Lit "advised"
[c]. Lit "with stones that he died"