1 Kings 12:1-4

Rebellion against Rehoboam

1 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. ¹

2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he was still ^[a] in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since.

3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam and said,

4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

1 Kings 12:1-4 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

• 1. (2 Chronicles 10:1–15)

Footnotes

• [a] Or he remained