2 CHRONICLES LESSON 10

     We will begin this lesson in II Chronicles 10:1 "And Rehoboam
went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him
king."

     In the last lesson, we learned that Rehoboam followed Solomon as
king, at Solomon's death. Shechem had been the ancient capital, and he
went there to be accepted of all Israel. The mother of Rehoboam was
the Ammonite princess, Naamah.

     II Chronicles 10:2 "And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of
Nebat, who [was] in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of
Solomon the king, heard [it], that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt."

     It appears, that he heard of the death of Solomon, and also, that
Rehoboam was about to be crowned king of all Israel. Jeroboam had fled
to Egypt, because he had greatly angered Solomon, and he feared for
his life. Jeroboam had been told by Ahijah, that he would be king of
ten of the tribes. He was an Ephramite.  He, now, returned to claim
his kingdom.

     II Chronicles 10:3 "And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and
all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,"  II Chronicles 10:4
"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."

     We see, from this, where much of the wealth of Solomon came from.
He heavily taxed the people. We see, also, that many of the people
were unhappy with this taxing system.  Jeroboam was the leader of the
group that rebelled.

     II Chronicles 10:5 "And he said unto them, Come again unto me
after three days. And the people departed."

     This showed a weakness in Rehoboam. He should have been close
enough to God to be able to answer this. The three days he asked for
were time enough to get some bad counsel, as well as good. He should
have prayed and met with the high priest.

     II Chronicles 10:6  "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?"

     The very next best thing that he could have done, was to have
taken counsel of these old wise men that had been with Solomon.

     II Chronicles 10:7 "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 for ever."

     A really good king, or a president, is good, because he serves
the people, instead of himself. He should have allowed his greatness
to show through his kindness to those he ruled over. This was
excellent advice the old men gave him.

     II Chronicles 10:8 "But he forsook the counsel which the old men
gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up
with him, that stood before him."

     Rehoboam is like so many of us who seek counsel. If the counsel
lined up with what we wanted to do in the first place, it is good. If
it is not what we want to hear, we are like Rehoboam, we reject it. He
went and found someone who would say what he wanted to hear. These
young men did not have even as much experience as Rehoboam, this was a
terrible place to go for advice. Seek advice from those who know more
than you, not less. Rehoboam was about 41 years old at this time.  He
should have known better.

     II Chronicles 10:9 "And he said unto them, What advice give ye
that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me,
saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?"

     Had these young men not said what Rehoboam wanted to hear, he
would have gone elsewhere. Rehoboam had never grown up himself. He had
not realized what made David and Solomon great. They sinned, but they
always sought God for advice.

     II Chronicles 10:10 "And the young men that were brought up with
him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that
spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou
[it] somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little
[finger] shall be thicker than my father's loins." II Chronicles 10:11
"For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to
your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise
you] with scorpions."

     Solomon had been the wealthiest king that had ever lived, but
that was not enough, it seemed. Greed for things of the flesh would
destroy Rehoboam. Solomon had been fair in his justice. They were
telling Rehoboam to tell these people that he would be a tyrant over
them.  He would not be fair and just. He wanted to put these proud
Hebrews into total servitude to him.

     II Chronicles 10:12 "So Jeroboam and all the people came to
Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me
on the third day."

     It appears, from this that Jeroboam was sincere in offering to
serve Rehoboam as king, if he would be fair, and just, and stop the
taxation without representation.

     II Chronicles 10:13 "And the king answered them roughly; and king
Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,"

     Rehoboam had spoken roughly, instead of speaking softly to these
people. He felt as if they had no choice. He wanted to be supreme
tyrant over his brethren. He had no compassion at all.

     II Chronicles 10:14 "And answered them after the advice of the
young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add
thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you]
with scorpions."

     This was the worst thing he could have possibly said to a people
who were already discontent.

     II Chronicles 10:15 "So the king hearkened not unto the people:
for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which
he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of
Nebat."

     We can see in this, that the LORD was allowing this to happen to
break up the twelve tribes into ten and two. God was so angered with
the idolatry that was going on in the land of the ten tribes, that He
wanted this break to be made. Idolatry had begun in Judah, as well,
but had not progressed as far as in the ten tribes. God hardened the
heart of Rehoboam, as He had Pharaoh's, to accomplish His will in
this.

     II Chronicles 10:16  "And when all Israel [saw] that the king
would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying,
What portion have we in David? and [we have] none inheritance in the
son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: [and] now, David, see
to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents."

     This is the same separation there had been in the beginning of
David's reign. David had reigned 7 years over just Judah, before he
became king of all Israel. Rehoboam was now king of Judah, again.
Bejamin was thought of as part of Judah. Now, Israel would be speaking
of the ten tribes, and Judah would be the other two. Ephraim had been
always jealous of Judah. Jeroboam, the leader of the ten tribes, was
of Ephraim.

     II Chronicles 10:17 "But [as for] the children of Israel that
dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them."

     Rehoboam continued to reign in Judah and Benjamin. Everyone
living in the area, that would be known of as Judah, would be reigned
over by Rehoboam. The main reason for this was the lineage God had
promised to David on the throne of Jerusalem.

     II Chronicles 10:18 "Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that [was]
over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones,
that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to [his]
chariot, to flee to Jerusalem."  II Chronicles 10:19 "And Israel
rebelled against the house of David unto this day."

     Hadoram and Adoniram are the same, probably. This was a tax
revolt.  They killed the tax collector and would not pay. Rehoboam
found safety in Jerusalem. The house of David was, now, called Judah.
                      2 Chronicles 10 Questions


1.  Which of Solomon's sons reigned in his stead?
2.  Why did he go to Shechem?
3.  Why was Jeroboam in Egypt?
4.  Who was Jeroboam's father?
5.  Who had told Jeroboam that he would rule ten of the tribes?
6.  What would cause Jeroboam to accept Rehoboam, as king over all
    twelve tribes?
7.  Where had the wealth of Solomon come from?
8.  How did the people feel about the taxing?
9.  What showed a weakness in Rehoboam?
10. How many days did he make Jeroboam wait for an answer?
11. Rehoboam should have sought counsel of whom?
12. What good counsel did he get from the old men?
13. Why did he not accept that counsel?
14. About how old was Rehoboam, when this counsel was taken?
15. If these young men's counsel had not pleased Rehoboam, what would
    he have done?
16. What advice did they give Rehoboam?
17. Whose advice did he take?
18. What one word describes the way Rehoboam spoke to them?
19. In verse 15, we find that this all happened for what purpose?
20. God hardened the heart of Rehoboam, as he had hardened ___________
    heart.
21. Who did Rehoboam send to collect the tribute?
22. What happened to him?
23. Hadoram and ___________ are the same person.
24. This is a ______ revolt.
25. From this time on, who was the house of David?