prophets and kings-第15章
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s a seed that will bear fruit。 Every deed of thoughtful kindness； of obedience； of self…denial； will reproduce itself in others； and through them in still others。 So every act of envy； malice； or dissension is a seed that will spring up in a 〃root of bitterness〃 whereby many shall be defiled。 Hebrews 12：15。 And how much larger number will the 〃many〃 poison！ Thus the sowing of good and evil goes on for time and for eternity。
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Chapter 6
The Rending of the Kingdom
〃Solomon slept with his fathers； and was buried in the City of David his father： and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead。〃 1 Kings 11：43。
Soon after his accession to the throne； Rehoboam went to Shechem； where he expected to receive formal recognition from all the tribes。 〃To Shechem were all Israel come to make him king。〃 2 Chronicles 10：1。
Among those present was Jeroboam the son of Nebat the same Jeroboam who during Solomon's reign had been known as 〃a mighty man of valor；〃 and to whom the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite had delivered the startling message； 〃Behold； I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon； and will give ten tribes to thee。〃 I Kings 11：28； 31。
The Lord through His messenger had spoken plainly to Jeroboam regarding the necessity of dividing the kingdom。 This division must take place； He had declared； 〃because that they have forsaken Me； and have worshiped
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Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians； Chemosh the god of the Moabites； and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon； and have not walked in My ways； to do that which is right in Mine eyes； and to keep My statutes and My judgments； as did David。〃 Verse 33。
Jeroboam had been further instructed that the kingdom was not to be divided before the close of Solomon's reign。 〃I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand；〃 the Lord had declared； 〃but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David My servant's sake； whom I chose； because he kept My commandments and My statutes： but I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand； and will give it unto thee； even ten tribes。〃 Verses 34； 35。
Although Solomon had longed to prepare the mind of Rehoboam； his chosen successor； to meet with wisdom the crisis foretold by the prophet of God； he had never been able to exert a strong molding influence for good over the mind of his son； whose early training had been so grossly neglected。 Rehoboam had received from his mother； an Ammonitess； the stamp of a vacillating character。 At times he endeavored to serve God and was granted a measure of prosperity； but he was not steadfast； and at last he yielded to the influences for evil that had surrounded him from infancy。 In the mistakes of Rehoboam's life and in his final apostasy is revealed the fearful result of Solomon's union with idolatrous women。
The tribes had long suffered grievous wrongs under the oppressive measures of their former ruler。 The extravagance of Solomon's reign during his apostasy had led him
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to tax the people heavily and to require of them much menial service。 Before going forward with the coronation of a new ruler； the leading men from among the tribes determined to ascertain whether or not it was the purpose of Solomon's son to lessen these burdens。 〃So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam； saying； Thy father made our yoke grievous： now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father； and his heavy yoke that he put upon us； and we will serve thee。〃
Desirous of taking counsel with his advisers before outlining his policy； Rehoboam answered； 〃Come again unto me after three days。 And the people departed。
〃And King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived； saying； What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people？ And they spake unto him； saying； If thou be kind to this people； and please them； and speak good words to them； they will be thy servants forever。〃 2 Chronicles 10：3…7。
Dissatisfied； Rehoboam turned to the younger men with whom he had associated during his youth and early manhood； and inquired of them； 〃What counsel give ye that we may answer this people； who have spoken to me； saying； Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter？〃 1 Kings 12：9。 The young men suggested that he deal sternly with the subjects of his kingdom and make plain to them that from the very beginning he would brook no interference with his personal wishes。
Flattered by the prospect of exercising supreme authority； Rehoboam determined to disregard the counsel of the older
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men of his realm； and to make the younger men his advisers。 Thus it came to pass that on the day appointed； when 〃Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam〃 for a statement concerning the policy he intended to pursue； Rehoboam 〃answered the people roughly； 。 。 。 saying； May father made your yoke heavy； and I will add to your yoke： my father also chastised you with whips； but I will chastise you with scorpions。〃 Verses 12…14。
Had Rehoboam and his inexperienced counselors understood the divine will concerning Israel； they would have listened to the request of the people for decided reforms in the administration of the government。 But in the hour of opportunity that came to them during the meeting in Shechem； they failed to reason from cause to effect； and thus forever weakened their influence over a large number of the people。 Their expressed determination to perpetuate and add to the oppression introduced during Solomon's reign was in direct conflict with God's plan for Israel； and gave the people ample occasion to doubt the sincerity of their motives。 In this unwise and unfeeling attempt to exercise power； the king and his chosen counselors revealed the pride of position and authority。
The Lord did not allow Rehoboam to carry out the policy he had outlined。 Among the tribes were many thousands who had become thoroughly aroused over the oppressive measures of Solomon's reign； and these now felt that they could not do otherwise than rebel against the house of David。 〃When all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them； the people answered the king； saying； What
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portion have we in David？ neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse： to your tents； O Israel： now see to thine own house； David。 So Israel departed unto their tents。〃 Verse 16。
The breach created by the rash speech of Rehoboam proved irreparable。 Thenceforth the twelve tribes of Israel were divided； the tribes of Judah and Benjamin composing the lower or southern kingdom of Judah； under the rulership of Rehoboam； while the ten northern tribes formed and maintained a separate government； known as the kingdom of Israel； with Jeroboam as their ruler。 Thus was fulfilled the prediction of the prophet concerning the rending of the kingdom。 〃The cause was from the Lord。〃 Verse 15。
When Rehoboam saw the ten tribes withdrawing their allegiance from him； he was aroused to action。 Through one of the influential men of his kingdom； 〃Adoram； who was over the tribute；〃 he made an effort to conciliate them。 But the ambassador of peace received treatment which bore witness to the feeling against Rehoboam。 〃All Israel stoned him with stones； that he died。〃 Startled by this evidence of the strength of revolt； 〃King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot； to flee to Jerusalem。〃 Verse 18。
At Jerusalem 〃he assembled all the house of Judah； with the tribe of Benjamin； an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men； which were warriors； to fight against the house of Israel； to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon。 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God； saying； Speak unto Rehoboam； the son of Solomon； king of Judah； and unto all the house
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of Judah and Benjamin； and to the remnant of the people； saying； Thus saith the Lord； Ye shall not go up； nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel： return every man to his hou
