1 Kings 12:1-4

Rehoboam’s Folly

1 ¹Rehoboam went to ²Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

2 And as soon as ³Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for ⁴he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from^[a] Egypt.

3 And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam,

4 ⁵“Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke 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. 12:1 For ver. 1-19, see 2 Chr. 10:1-19
• 2. 12:1 [Judg. 9:6]
• 3. 12:2 ch. 11:26
• 4. 12:2 ch. 11:40
• 5. 12:4 ch. 4:7, 22; 9:15; See 1 Sam. 8:11-18

Footnotes

• [a] 12:2 Septuagint, Vulgate (compare 2 Chronicles 10:2); Hebrew 'lived in'