1 Kings 12:23

23 Speak thou to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and of Benjamin, and to the residue of the people, and say thou,

1 Kings 12:23 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 12:23

Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah
He is called king before, but of what tribe or tribes is not expressly said, only it is implied in ( 1 Kings 12:17 ) and he is only acknowledged king of Judah by the Lord himself:

and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin;
which made but one house, as before but one tribe, ( 1 Kings 11:36 )

and to the remnant of the people;
of the other tribes that might dwell among them at Jerusalem, and especially Simeon, whose inheritance was within the tribe of Judah, ( Joshua 19:1 )

saying:
as follows.

1 Kings 12:23 In-Context

21 And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, and gathered together all the house of Judah, and the lineage of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand of chosen men and warriors, that they should fight against the house of Israel, and should bring again the realm to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon (to fight against the house of Israel, and bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon).

22 Forsooth the word of God was made to Shemaiah, the man of God, and said,

23 Speak thou to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and of Benjamin, and to the residue of the people, and say thou,

24 The Lord saith these things, Ye shall not go up, neither ye shall fight against your brethren, the sons of Israel; turn each man again into his house, for this word is done of me (every man return to his house, for this word is from me). (And) They heard the word of the Lord, and they turned again from the journey, as the Lord commanded to them.

25 And Jeroboam builded Shechem, in the hill of Ephraim, and dwelled there (Then Jeroboam built Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there); and he went out from thence, and builded Penuel.