Sermon Tone Analysis

Rehoboam (2 Chron 10-12)

Chapter 10:

Solomon’s son “Rehoboam went to Shechem” to be crowned ruler of Israel.

Chapter 10: Rehoboam (930–913 B.C.) succeeded his father, Solomon, and all Israel came to him.

Jeroboam and all Israel appealed to Rehoboam to lighten the burden of taxation his father had levied.

Rehoboam followed the poor advice of his young counselors by threatening to increase the load on the people.

The northern tribes rebelled, ousting the king and his officials (10:16–19).

This fulfilled Ahijah’s prophecy of God’s judgment against Solomon’s house ().

The Chronicler probably omitted Jeroboam’s coronation because he did not consider Jeroboam or the later kings of the Northern Kingdom legitimate heirs to Israel’s throne because they rebelled against “the house of David” (10:19).

Jeroboam hears about this and decides to return to Egypt.

If we remember from 1 Kings, some years before, Jeroboam I (“son of Nebat”) had been divinely anointed to be ruler over ten-twelfths of the nation of Israel ().

It was because of this that he was “in Egypt,” having “fled from Solomon.”

Some years before, Jeroboam I (“son of Nebat”) had been divinely anointed to be ruler over ten-twelfths of the nation of Israel ().

It was because of this that he was “in Egypt,” having “fled from Solomon.”

Jeroboam and all Israel appealed to Rehoboam to lighten the burden of taxation his father had levied.

He wisely decided to take some time to think things over and to seek some counsel.

He sought counsel from two groups of people.

He first went to those who attended his father, and they gave him sound advice that he rejected.

He then went to young men who he grew up with, men who were not as experienced.

They gave him foolish advice that he decided to follow.

When he gave all Israel his judgment that he was going to increase their burden, the northern tribes rebel against Rehoboam.

Solomon’s son “Rehoboam went to Shechem” to be crowned ruler of Israel.Rehoboam (930–913 B.C.) succeeded his father, Solomon, and all Israel came to him.

Jeroboam and all Israel appealed to Rehoboam to lighten the burden of taxation his father had levied.

Rehoboam followed the poor advice of his young counselors by threatening to increase the load on the people.

The northern tribes rebelled, ousting the king and his officials (10:16–19).

This fulfilled Ahijah’s prophecy of God’s judgment against Solomon’s house ().

The Chronicler probably omitted Jeroboam’s coronation because he did not consider Jeroboam or the later kings of the Northern Kingdom legitimate heirs to Israel’s throne because they rebelled against “the house of David” (10:19).

The whole course of events “was from God” (v.15), who had, through his prophet “Ahijah the Shilonite” who had said that God was going to strip away much of the kingdom after Solomon’s time.

It is interesting that in this passage there is a lot of focus on David being the one the ten tribes rejected.

They are rejecting David’s house.

This brings to mind the fact that they are removing themselves from the blessings that God had promised his people in the covenant He had given to David.

They are rejecting God’s "son.”

They also will end up rejecting God’s temple and the city where He placed his name and desired to be worshipped when Jeroboam builds golden calves and places them in Dan & Bethel for worship.

He also made some kind of “goat idols” for worship on the high places.

Although these events came about because of God’s promise to split the nation, the northern tribes, led by Jeroboam, rebel against God’s law and are judged because of it.

Rehoboam followed the poor advice of his young counselors by threatening to increase the load on the people.

The northern tribes rebelled, ousting the king and his officials (10:16–19).

This fulfilled Ahijah’s prophecy of God’s judgment against Solomon’s house ().

The Chronicler probably omitted Jeroboam’s coronation because he did not consider Jeroboam or the later kings of the Northern Kingdom legitimate heirs to Israel’s throne because they rebelled against “the house of David” (10:19).

APPLICATION: Seek sound wisdom and be willing to listen to it!

Rehoboam did the right thing in seeking wisdom from those older and more experienced than himself.

He learned this fro his father’s proverbs.

But he was foolish in deciding to listen to his own counselors instead.

APPLICATION: Seek sound wisdom and be willing to listen to it!

Rehoboam did the right thing in seeking wisdom from those older and more experienced than himself.

He learned this fro his father’s proverbs.

But he was foolish in deciding to listen to his own counselors instead.

Chapter 11:

As had been prophesied by Ahijah (see 10:15; cf. ), only the two tribes of “Judah and Benjamin” remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty (vv.3, 12).

It is from these two tribes that Rehoboam decided to mobilize troops in order to go and fight against Jeroboam so that he could get the tribes back under his rule.

But the LORD sent Shemaiah to Rehoboam to command Rehoboam not to fight against the ten tribes.

Rehoboam listened to what the LORD had commanded and returned to Judah.

Rehoboam then turned his attention to fortifying Judah’s cities ().

The cities that are listed are believed to all be toward Judah’s southern and western borders.

Their choice seems to have been dictated by threat from Egypt ().

Rehoboam then turned his attention to fortifying Judah’s cities ().

Oppressed by Jeroboam, Levites and priests fled to Judah, where they strengthened Rehoboam’s kingdom (11:13–17).

The strength of Rehoboam’s kingdom was also evidenced by the increasing size of his family (11:18–23).

When Jeroboam wanted to free the northern tribes from religious dependance on Judah, he oppressed the levites that lived in his territory, causing them to flee the land and to go to Judah.

Then we are told in verses 16-17:

“Those from every tribe of Israel who had determined in their hearts to seek the Lord their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked in the ways of David and Solomon for three years.”

()

Rehoboam’s kingdom grew stronger during this time, and the reason given here is that they “walked in the ways of David and Solomon.”

The glory and the faithfulness of David and Solomon are used as an example for God’s people to live by for the first time here.

If God’s people were willing to walk in the ways of David, then there would be blessing for the kingdom.

The strength of Rehoboam’s kingdom was also evidenced by the increasing size of his family (11:18–23).

He had many wives and many sons through those wives.

Chapter 12:

But then, in chapter 12, things go downhill.

Rehoboam and all His kingdom rejected the law of the LORD.

Because of this, the LORD brought an enemy against them.

Shishak, king of Egypt, invaded Judah and threatened the city of Jerusalem (12:1–4; ).

Shishak ruled from Tanis (biblical Zoan).

He was probably Pharaoh when Jeroboam went to Egypt to escape Solomon ().

The Egyptian account of his invasion is recorded on the walls in the temple at Karnak (Thebes).

There Shishak listed 150 cities captured in Israel and Judah, including the cities Rehoboam had fortified in the ch11.

Shishak ruled from Tanis (biblical Zoan).

He was probably Pharaoh when Jeroboam went to Egypt to escape Solomon ().

The Egyptian account of his invasion is recorded on the walls in the temple at Karnak (Thebes).

There Shishak listed 150 cities captured in Israel and Judah.

Shishak, king of Egypt, invaded Judah and threatened the city of Jerusalem (12:1–4; ).

Shishak ruled from Tanis (biblical Zoan).

He was probably Pharaoh when Jeroboam went to Egypt to escape Solomon ().

The Egyptian account of his invasion is recorded on the walls in the temple at Karnak (Thebes).

There Shishak listed 150 cities captured in Israel and Judah.

The prophet Shemaiah interpreted this invasion as God’s wrath because of Judah’s sin (12:5–8).

Rehoboam paid a heavy price, including the temple treasuries and Solomon’s vast wealth.

Because Rehoboam and the people humbled themselves, the Lord saved Jerusalem from total destruction (12:9–12).

Rehoboam’s reign was remembered more for its years of warfare with Jeroboam (12:13–16).

The prophet Shemaiah interpreted this invasion as God’s wrath because of Judah’s sin (12:5–8).

He told Rehoboam, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I have abandoned you to Shishak.’ ” Rehoboam paid a heavy price, including the temple treasuries and Solomon’s vast wealth.

But it could have been worse than this if Rehoboam and His leaders had not humbled themselves.

Because they humbled themselves, the Lord saved Jerusalem from total destruction (12:9–12).

“This is what the Lord says: ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I have abandoned you to Shishak.’ ”Rehoboam paid a heavy price, including the temple treasuries and Solomon’s vast wealth.

Because Rehoboam and the people humbled themselves, the Lord saved Jerusalem from total destruction (12:9–12).

Rehoboam’s reign was remembered more for its years of warfare with Jeroboam (12:13–16).

Chapter 12 closes by giving us an overview of Rehoboam’s reign (12:13-16).

APPLICATIONS:

Sin costs us dearly (12:5-8).

The saying goes: “sin always takes you farther than you want to go.