1 Kings 12:1-10

1 venit autem Roboam in Sychem illuc enim congregatus erat omnis Israhel ad constituendum eum regem

2 at Hieroboam filius Nabath cum adhuc esset in Aegypto profugus a facie regis Salomonis audita morte eius reversus est de Aegypto

3 miseruntque et vocaverunt eum venit ergo Hieroboam et omnis multitudo Israhel et locuti sunt ad Roboam dicentes

4 pater tuus durissimum iugum inposuit nobis tu itaque nunc inminue paululum de imperio patris tui durissimo et de iugo gravissimo quod inposuit nobis et serviemus tibi

5 qui ait eis ite usque ad tertium diem et revertimini ad me cumque abisset populus

6 iniit consilium rex Roboam cum senibus qui adsistebant coram Salomone patre eius dum adviveret et ait quod mihi datis consilium ut respondeam populo

7 qui dixerunt ei si hodie oboedieris populo huic et servieris et petitioni eorum cesseris locutusque fueris ad eos verba lenia erunt tibi servi cunctis diebus

8 qui dereliquit consilium senum quod dederant ei et adhibuit adulescentes qui nutriti fuerant cum eo et adsistebant illi

9 dixitque ad eos quod mihi datis consilium ut respondeam populo huic qui dixerunt mihi levius fac iugum quod inposuit pater tuus super nos

10 et dixerunt ei iuvenes qui nutriti fuerant cum eo sic loquere populo huic qui locuti sunt ad te dicentes pater tuus adgravavit iugum nostrum tu releva nos sic loqueris ad eos minimus digitus meus grossior est dorso patris mei

1 Kings 12:1-10 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.