Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to King Rehoboam, as he had instructed them. The king ignored the advice of the older men and spoke harshly to the people, as the younger men had advised. He said, “My father placed heavy burdens on you; I will make them even heavier. He beat you with whips; I’ll flog you with bullwhips!”
King Rehoboam no doubt felt really powerful in uttering those words. How arrogance blinds men to the truth. May I ever remain humble, Lord.
It was the will of the Lord to bring about what he had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh. This is why the king did not pay any attention to the people.
Rehoboam is the face of the debacle but the blame lies clearly with Solomon (1 Kings 11:9-13). One often has to dig deeper to find the source behind the facade (2 Samuel 24:1).
When the people saw that the king would not listen to them, they shouted, “Down with David and his family! What have they ever done for us? People of Israel, let’s go home! Let Rehoboam look out for himself!”
The only possible response! Once it becomes evident that no common interest exists, why stay?
Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was in charge of the forced labor, to go to the Israelites, but they stoned him to death.
Of all the people he could have sent?! This demonstrates the extent to which Rehoboam was completely out of touch with reality. Solomon must have completely abandoned teaching his children (and why not, since it didn’t contribute directly to his own glory?). Sad.
At this, Rehoboam hurriedly got in his chariot and escaped to Jerusalem.
He came a powerful king. He left trying to save his own skin. Having one’s life on the line usually (not always) helps to open one’s eyes.
…Rehoboam… intended to go to war and restore his control over the northern tribes of Israel. But God told the prophet Shemaiah to give this message to Rehoboam and to all the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin: “Do not attack your own relatives, the people of Israel. Go home, all of you. What has happened is my will.” They all obeyed the Lord’s command and went back home.
How can on possibly know in the absence of a prophet? Discernment sure (Romans 12:2) but…