# 1 Kings 12 đ: The Kingdom Divides
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## Rehoboam Loses His Kingdom
[[#Verse 01.]] Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, for all Israel had gathered in Shechem to make Rehoboam king.Â
[[#Verse 02.]]Â Â When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard the news, he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] They sent for him, and Jeroboam and the whole Israelite assembly came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,Â
[[#Verse 04.]] âYour father made us work too hard. Now if you lighten the demands he made and donât make us work as hard, we will serve you.âÂ
[[#Verse 05.]]Â He said to them, âGo away for three days, then return to me.â So the people went away.
[[#Verse 06.]] King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, âHow do you advise me to answer these people?â 7 They said to him, âToday if you will be a servant to these people and grant their request, speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants from this time forward.â 8 But Rehoboam rejected their advice and consulted the young advisers who served him, with whom he had grown up.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] They said to him, âToday if you will be a servant to these people and grant their request, speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants from this time forward.â
[[#Verse 08.]] But Rehoboam rejected their advice and consulted the young advisers who served him, with whom he had grown up.
[[#Verse 09.]] He asked them, âHow do you advise me to respond to these people who said to me, âLessen the demands your father placed on usâ?âÂ
[[#Verse 10.]] The young advisers with whom Rehoboam had grown up said to him, âSay this to these people who have said to you, âYour father made us work hard, but now lighten our burden.â Say this to them: âI am a lot harsher than my father!Â
[[#Verse 11.]] My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.ââ
[[#Verse 12.]] Jeroboam and all the people reported to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had ordered when he said, âReturn to me on the third day.âÂ
[[#Verse 13.]]Â The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older menÂ
[[#Verse 14.]] and followed the advice of the younger ones. He said, âMy father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.âÂ
[[#Verse 15.]] The king refused to listen to the people, because the Lord was instigating this turn of events so that he might bring to pass the prophetic announcement he had made through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
[[#Verse 16.]] When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, âWe have no portion in David, no share in the son of Jesse! Return to your homes, O Israel! Now, look after your own dynasty, O David!â So Israel returned to their homes.Â
[[#Verse 17.]]Â (Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.)Â
[[#Verse 18.]] King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, the supervisor of the work crews, out after them, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam managed to jump into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem.
[[#Verse 19.]]Â So Israel has been in rebellion against the Davidic dynasty to this very day.Â
[[#Verse 20.]]Â When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. No one except the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty.
[[#Verse 21.]] When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from all Judah and the tribe of Benjamin to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.Â
[[#Verse 22.]]Â But God told Shemaiah the prophet,
[[#Verse 23.]]Â âSay this to King Rehoboam son of Solomon of Judah, and to all Judah and Benjamin, as well as the rest of the people,Â
[[#Verse 24.]] âThis is what the Lord has said: âDo not attack and make war with your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you go home. Indeed this thing has happened because of me.âââ So they obeyed the Lordâs message. They went home in keeping with the Lordâs message.
## Jeroboam Makes Golden Calves
[[#Verse 25.]]Â Jeroboam built up Shechem in the Ephraimite hill country and lived there. From there he went out and built up Penuel.
[[#Verse 26.]]Â Jeroboam then thought to himself:Â âNow the Davidic dynasty could regain the kingdom.Â
[[#Verse 27.]] If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the Lordâs temple in Jerusalem, their loyalty could shift to their former master, King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.âÂ
[[#Verse 28.]] After the king had consulted with his advisers, he made two golden calves. Then he said to the people, âIt is too much trouble for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look, Israel, here are your gods who brought you up from the land of Egypt.âÂ
[[#Verse 29.]]Â He put one in Bethel and the other in Dan.Â
[[#Verse 30.]]Â This caused Israel to sin;Â the people went to Bethel and Dan to worship the calves.
[[#Verse 31.]] He built temples on the high places and appointed as priests common people who were not Levites.Â
[[#Verse 32.]] Jeroboam inaugurated a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival celebrated in Judah. On the altar in Bethel he offered sacrifices to the calves he had made. In Bethel he also appointed priests for the high places he had made.
## A Prophet from Judah Visits Bethel
[[#Verse 33.]] On the fifteenth day of the eighth month (a date he had arbitrarily chosen) Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar he had made in Bethel. He inaugurated a festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to offer sacrifices.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
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###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Rehoboam went to Shechem to be made king (12:1), the same place where Joshua renewed the covenant with Israel (Joshua 24:1, 25).
2. Rehoboam's young advisers told him to say his little finger was thicker than his father's waist (12:10).
3. The cry for Israel to go home to their tents (12:16) echoes Sheba's earlier revolt against David (2 Samuel 20:1).
4. Adoram, who was over the forced labor, was stoned to death by Israel (12:18).
5. The division of the kingdom fulfilled the word Ahijah spoke to Jeroboam (12:15; 11:29-39).
6. The prophet Shemaiah stopped Rehoboam's 180,000 soldiers from going to war against Israel (12:21-24).
7. From this point on, "Israel" usually refers to the northern kingdom and "Judah" to the southern kingdom.
8. Jeroboam set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan (12:29), near the southern and northern edges of his kingdom.
9. Jeroboam's announcement echoes Aaron's words over the golden calf at Sinai (Exodus 32:4).
10. Jeroboam appointed priests who were not Levites and created a festival in the eighth month to rival the one in Judah (12:31-33).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Servant King. The elders told Rehoboam that if he would serve the people, they would serve him forever (12:7). Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Rehoboam rejected the counsel of the older men and listened to his friends (12:8). Whose voices are shaping your decisions?
2. The elders said a leader who serves will be followed (12:7). What does servant leadership look like at home, at work, or in church?
3. Jeroboam created new worship centers to protect his own power (12:26-30). How do people still reshape worship to fit their own interests?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 7: If you serve this people today, they will serve you always.
- đ verse 15: The turn of events came from the Lord to fulfill His word through Ahijah.
- đ verse 28: Jeroboam makes two golden calves and tells Israel these are their gods.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[1 Kings 11#Verse 29.|1 Kings 11:29-39]] - Ahijah's prophecy of the divided kingdom.
- đ [[2 Chronicles 10#Verse 01.|2 Chronicles 10:1-19]] - The parallel account of Israel's rebellion.
- đ [[Exodus 32#Verse 01.|Exodus 32:1-8]] - Israel's golden calf at Sinai.
- đ [[Proverbs 15#Verse 22.|Proverbs 15:22]] - Plans succeed with many advisers.
- đ [[Mark 10#Verse 42.|Mark 10:42-45]] - The Son of Man came to serve.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[1 Kings 12 - SOAP|Listen to Those Ahead of You]]
## đ Internal Notes