The Kingdom Divides

Rehoboam traveled to Shechem because all Israel had gathered there to make him king (1 Kings 12:1). Jeroboam, who had been in Egypt to escape King Solomon, returned after the assembly sent for him. Jeroboam and the congregation of Israel requested that Rehoboam lighten the hard service and heavy yoke imposed by his father. Rehoboam requested three days to consider the matter. He first consulted the elders who had served Solomon; they advised him to speak good words and serve the people to secure their lifelong loyalty. However, he rejected this counsel and consulted the young men he had grown up with, who advised him to threaten the people with even greater burdens (1 Kings 12:8).

When Jeroboam and the people returned on the third day, Rehoboam spoke roughly to them as the young men suggested, stating his little finger would be thicker than his father's waist. The text states the king did not listen to the people because the turn of events was from the Lord to fulfill the word spoken through Ahijah. Seeing the king's refusal, the people of Israel declared they had no portion in David and departed to their tents, leaving Rehoboam to reign only over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah (1 Kings 12:17).

Rehoboam subsequently sent Adoram, who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. Rehoboam then fled in his chariot to Jerusalem. He assembled 180,000 chosen warriors from the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin to fight the house of Israel and restore the kingdom. However, the word of God came to Shemaiah, a man of God, instructing him to tell Rehoboam and the people not to fight their brothers. The text says the men obeyed the word of the Lord and went home (1 Kings 12:24). The text does not say what Jeroboam did immediately following the retreat of Rehoboam's army.