1 Könige 12:1-4

1 Und Rehabeam zog gen Sichem; denn das ganze Israel war gen Sichem gekommen, ihn zum König zu machen.

2 Und Jerobeam, der Sohn Nebats, hörte das, da er noch in Ägypten war, dahin er vor dem König Salomo geflohen war, und blieb in Ägypten.

3 Und sie sandten hin und ließen ihn rufen. Und Jerobeam samt der ganzen Gemeinde Israel kamen und redeten mit Rehabeam und sprachen:

4 Dein Vater hat unser Joch zu hart gemacht; so mache du nun den harten Dienst und das schwere Joch leichter, das er uns aufgelegt hat, so wollen wir dir untertänig sein.

1 Könige 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.