1 Koningen 12:18

18 Toen zond de koning Rehabeam Adoram, die over de schatting was; en het ganse Israel stenigde hem met stenen, dat hij stierf; maar de koning Rehabeam vervloekte zich om op een wagen te klimmen, dat hij naar Jeruzalem vluchtte.

1 Koningen 12:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 12:18

Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute,
&c.] There was one of this name in this office in the time of David, ( 2 Samuel 20:24 ) , this is the same with Adoniram, as Jarchi thinks, see ( 1 Kings 4:6 ) , him he sent either to collect the tribute of the Ephraimites, to show his authority; or rather to call the people back to have some further discourse with them, and endeavour to soften things, and bring them to a compliance, so Josephus ^F12; but it was too late, and he employed a very improper person; the heavy taxes were their complaint, and a tax gatherer, and especially one that was at the head of the tribute, must be of all men the most disagreeable to them; this is another instance of the folly and false steps of Rehoboam:

and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died;
the populace fell upon him at once, and stoned him to death; and which, though contrary to law and justice, was approved of and applauded by their principal men and all the people; so irritated and provoked were they by Rehoboam's answer to them. Hottinger ^F13 says, this man was buried in Shechem, which is very probable; but it is not expressed here, as he suggests it is; however, a grave stone, found A. D. 1480, in Spain, with this inscription, is not genuine,

``this is the grave of Adoniram, a servant of King Solomon, who came to collect tribute, and died such a day:''

therefore King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to
flee to Jerusalem;
from Shechem, fearing they would treat him in the same manner in their rage and fury; his courage was now cooled, and his haughty and hectoring spirit was now brought down, and he was glad to make use of his chariot for flight; this is the first time we read of a king of Israel riding in a chariot; though before of Sisera, a Canaanitish captain, and that only in a chariot of war.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 8. sect. 3.
F13 Praefat. ad Cipp. Hebr. p. 4. Vid. Walton. in Bibl. Polyglott. Prolegom. 3. sect. 35. p. 22.

1 Koningen 12:18 In-Context

16 Toen gans Israel zag, dat de koning naar hen niet hoorde, zo gaf het volk den koning weder antwoord, zeggende: Wat deel hebben wij aan David? Ja, geen erve hebben wij aan den zoon van Isai; naar uw tenten, o Israel! Voorzie nu uw huis, o David! Zo ging Israel naar zijn tenten.

17 Doch aangaande de kinderen van Israel, die in de steden van Juda woonden, over die regeerde Rehabeam ook.

18 Toen zond de koning Rehabeam Adoram, die over de schatting was; en het ganse Israel stenigde hem met stenen, dat hij stierf; maar de koning Rehabeam vervloekte zich om op een wagen te klimmen, dat hij naar Jeruzalem vluchtte.

19 Alzo vielen de Israelieten van het huis Davids af, tot op dezen dag.

20 En het geschiedde, als gans Israel hoorde, dat Jerobeam wedergekomen was, dat zij henen zonden, en hem in de vergadering riepen, en hem over gans Israel koning maakten; niemand volgde het huis Davids, dan de stam van Juda alleen.