1 Kings 12:15

15 So the king did not listen to the people. The Lord caused this to happen to keep the promise he had made to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah, a prophet from Shiloh.

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 King Rehoboam spoke cruel words to them, because he had rejected the advice the older leaders had given him.

14 He followed the advice of the young men and said to the people, "My father forced you to work hard, but I will make you work even harder. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with whips that have sharp points."

15 So the king did not listen to the people. The Lord caused this to happen to keep the promise he had made to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah, a prophet from Shiloh.

16 When all the Israelites saw that the new king refused to listen to them, they said to the king, "We have no share in David! People of Israel, let's go to our own homes! So the Israelites went home.

17 But Rehoboam still ruled over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.