Rehoboam
Introduction
Theme: Rehoboam’s failure was caused by his sin. God directed Rehoboam to accomplish His plan to divide the Kingdom of Israel.
Time: About 931 BC to 913 BC
Overview: Today’s study will examine several applications for believers that may be gained from the life and times of King Rehoboam of Judah, as Scripture describes him in 2 Chronicles 10-12 and 1 Kings 12, 14. Rather than reading the entire passages of Scripture, we will focus on three key areas. First, Rehoboam’s heart was not with God, Second, whom God loves, He chastises, and third, God’s sovereignty shown in Rehoboam and his times.
Ahijah: A prophet from Shiloh who prophesied that God would give kingship of the 10 northern tribes to Jeroboam. He wrote a history of Solomon’s reign (2 Chronicles 9:29)
Jeroboam: King of Israel after the 12 tribes were divided, son of Nebat and Zeruah the widow. He was Solomon’s overseer of Joseph, or the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
Rehoboam: King of Judah after the 12 tribes were divided, son of Solomon and Naamah the Ammonitess.
Shemaiah: The prophet by whom God sent word to Rehoboam that he should not wage war to suppress the 10 northern tribes’ rebellion. Shemaiah wrote a history of Rehoboam’s reign (2 Chronicles 12:15).
Solomon: Son of David, King over all 12 tribes of Israel during Israel’s “Golden Age”.
Historical Background: Solomon grew up as a royal child in a royal palace, unlike David and Saul. We might liken this to our nation’s “coming of age” in the 19th Century when US presidents were no longer born in log cabins. God blessed Solomon’s reign with great wealth and power, but Israel’s national strength deteriorated in step with growing national apostasy. Solomon’s kingdom extended from the Euphrates River in what is modern day Syria (1 Chronicles 18:3) to the “River of Egypt”, a branch of the Nile that terminated about 10 miles east of today’s Suez Canal (1 Kings 8:65). The Scriptural account of Solomon’s wealth staggers the imagination and can best be summed up with this passage from 1 Kings 10:21: And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. Incredible wealth was provided by God to Solomon and Israel as part of God’s promise (1 Kings 3:13 and 2 Chronicles 1:12).
Just as we will see that Jehoshaphat’s foreign alliance had spiritual ramifications for his sons, Solomon’s foreign relations with Egypt influenced the times of Rehoboam. There are several issues to be mentioned before we discuss the applications of today’s Scripture passage.
Egypt’s military influence during Solomon’s reign declined considerably since the time of Moses and the Exodus 500 years earlier. The empire of Thutmosis III, c. 1475 BC and the architectural splendors of Rameses II, c. 1250 BC were long past. The Pharaoh who was Solomon’s father in law Psusennes II, was a member of Egypt’s 21st dynasty, whose rulers controlled only the Nile delta. Upper Egypt and the old imperial capital, Thebes, was ruled by the high priests of Amun. Marriages of Egyptian princesses to foreign rulers were not common, since Pharaoh was considered to be a deity, but rulers of the 21st Dynasty relied on marriages of state to influence Theban priests and maintain an interest in Palestine. Solomon’s famous marriage to the daughter of Pharaoh was a mark of status for Israel’s new ruling family, but one of many foreign policies implemented by a weak Pharaoh.
While Solomon depended on his Egyptian alliance as a cornerstone his policy, 21st Dynasty rulers hedged their bets by harboring Jeroboam from Solomon. Jeroboam fled to Egypt Solomon in connection with Ahijah’s prophecy that promised Jeroboam kingship of ten tribes. Worldly notions of alliance and friendship were far different to Pharaoh than to those held by Solomon.
Pharaoh Shishak’s invasion during Rehoboam’s reign revealed the fleeting nature of Solomon’s designs. Shishak, called Sheshonq I in history, was the founding member of a new dynasty in Egypt, the 22nd.
God tested Solomon and Israel with fabulous wealth and lifestyles far beyond what the nation enjoyed when it was ruled by Saul and armed with sharp sticks just 100 years previously. Although Egypt was relatively impotent militarily previous to Shishak, it was still the ancient world’s treasure house. Egypt’s manufactured goods and agricultural products were traded for raw materials from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor, and Solomon’s kingdom was astride these ancient trade routes. Solomon acted as a middleman and also instituted new businesses that obtained the best economic results from Israel’s geography (2 Chronicles 1:15-17).
Today, our nation is facing several serious crises. Consider these national conditions facing Rehoboam as he took office:
1. Growing apostasy: Solomon’s foreign trade and system of alliances brought the people into contact with many pagan influences. Tolerant attitudes toward heathen practices were necessary to support this trade, and such allowances were made by Solomon for the sake of wealth. Think of 1 Timothy 6:10: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. According to the principle laid down by Paul, self indulgence resulted in growing apostasy, with Solomon as the leading example. The same circular process of love of money, foreign trade, wealth, tolerance of sin, and apostasy has played out in the histories of The Netherlands and Great Britain, once Christian countries and great trading nations.
2. Rebellious attitudes to authority: Solomon used his gifts from God foolishly. Rather than being a witness to the nations, Solomon used wisdom and wealth given by God for himself, resulting sad decline. Solomon’s building programs included not only the Temple, but also sumptuous palaces and state of the art fortifications in many cities (1 Kings 9:15-19). This work required vast amounts of labor. 150,000 Caananite slaves were used for the heaviest work, but even this was not sufficient for Solomon’s plans: 30,000 Israelites were drafted to cut wood in Lebanon for terms of four months per year. The tax and labor burden on Israel, combined with apostasy and self gratification, raised rebellious spirits before Rehoboam’s foolish answer. Note that in 2 Chronicles 10:3, the 10 tribes had already prepared for rebellion by sending for Jeroboam. All of the tribes quickly slipped into idolatry and perversion after the nation divided. This portion of Old Testament history fits precisely the description of sinful declension described in Romans 1:21-32.
Let us now turn to the main applications of today’s study:
1.0 Rehoboam’s heart was not with God
2 Chronicles 12:13-14 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
The life of Rehoboam teaches us that parents’ sinful activities have repercussions in the lives of their children. Rehoboam’s mother was an Ammonitess, one of Solomon’s many wives. Three issues come immediately to mind: God’s intention for marriage is a relationship between one man and one woman as a symbol of the relationship between Christ and the Church (Genesis 2:24, et al [Matthew 19:5,6; Mark 10:6-8; 1 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 5:31; 1 Timothy 3:2,12; Titus 1:6], Isaiah 62:5, et al [Ephesians 5:23-33, Revelation 19:7-9; 21:9]). God says that polygamy turns kings away from Him (Deuteronomy 17:17). Finally, unbelievers are not suitable marriage partners for God’s people (2 Corinthians 6:14). Although the Israelites were not specifically forbidden to take Ammonite wives, it is clear from Scripture that this marriage involved serious spiritual liabilities (Deuteronomy 23:3).
Rehoboam’s polygamy and his willingness to turn away from God’s Law in the area of marriage indicates that he was not prepared to seek God in this important aspect. As believers, we must seek God before and during marriage and encourage young people to do so.
Rehoboam’s failure to seek God when he faced trials and decisions is notable by its absence. He went to Shechem without first seeking God. Rehoboam also considered the 10 tribes’ proposal, sent an emissary to the rebels, planned an invasion of the rebellious territory, and selected his successor without seeking God. God sent Rehoboam all of the Levites, priests, and godly people from the 10 northern tribes and preserved him from destruction by the Egyptians, but there is still no record of Rehoboam making any effort to seek God. He was willing, in the first part of his reign, to participate in public worship, but the latter part of his reign is marked by idolatry and perversion.
2 Chronicles 12:13 comments: So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem is telling, since man cannot prosper on the basis of his own works or counsel. We are well advised in
Jeremiah 17:5-10 ¶ Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Rehoboam fortified cities, provisioned them with food and weapons, and placed his sons in command — in other words, he made every fleshly preparation that one might consider wise to ensure a prosperous future, but he took no account of God.
2.0 Whom God loves, He chastises
2 Chronicles 12:7-8 And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
When Shishak came to power in Egypt, the old dynasty’s family ties with Solomon’s House vanished. Shishak, with new military vigor, united Egypt and reclaimed Egypt’s dominance over Palestine. He had no need for diplomacy with Rehoboam, the weak ruler of a rump state. Egypt did not have the power to sus- tain an empire in Palestine, as before, so Shishak conducted a raid that probably had three aims: Jeroboam, former “client” of Pharaoh, was brought under an Egyptian protectorate. Rehoboam was also made Egypt’s vassal. The two apostate kingdoms were therefore unable to maintain rule over Middle Eastern trade routes and Egypt retained customs revenue for itself. Finally, the riches that Solomon had gained from this trade were taken back to Egypt.
God chose Israel as His own: He called Abraham out of Ur and called the new nation out of bondage in Egypt and gave them the Promised Land. There are many parallels between God’s choosing Israel the nation and God’s choosing an individual, but we must be careful in this application — although every person who is called is saved, not every person in Israel was saved. The important parallel to be seen here is that God chastised His people Israel to bring them back to Him, and he also chastises us for the same reason.
Judah turned away from God to worship idols, practised perverted lifestyles, and depended on their own resources and abilities rather than looking to God. Because the nation was chosen by God, He reminded Judah that His burden was easy and His yoke was light by assigning their service to Egypt.
Consider what Egypt represents to the elect. The Egyptians held Israel in bondage, where they labored under the cruelest conditions without hope. Whatever hopes they might have entertained were repressed without quarter by their murderous taskmasters, except for the true hope of deliverance based solely on God’s grace. This typifies how sin holds men in a bondage from which only God can deliver.
This analogy is continued by Israel’s passing through the Red Sea being likened to baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1-2). Israel longed for the pleasures of their bondage in Numbers 11:4-9, considering Pharaoh’s cruelty preferable to God’s grace. Believers are often tempted with past sin.
God sent Pharaoh to correct His people, reminding them that He was a merciful provider in contrast to the world, just as God does with believers today.
Spurgeon says, “there is nothing denied you, in the service of God, that would be a blessing to you.”
Sin, like Pharaoh’s slavery, is without any reward but death. This is shown by Paul in Romans 6:21: What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. Slaves worked their entire lives laboring for others without tasting the fruits of their work and in the end they died, still slaves. This is the same fate of those who remain in bondage to sin.
Consider, however, our place in Christ described by Paul:
Galatians 4:28-31 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Because we are of the family of God, we receive the gifts of regeneration and faith, and also receive God’s grace through Christ that enables us to live a life that will be rewarded in Heaven with Him. We do not earn anything, but by God’s unmerited favor receive adoption into His family and an inheritance as a family member. This is shown in Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Note how sin is based on works, but God’s blessings are based on grace in this passage. Slaves earn nothing but death, but those who are free in God’s grace are joint heirs with His Son (Romans 8:17). what a contrast there is between bondage to sin and election to God’s family!
Rehoboam and Judah forsook their inheritance as God’s people for the pleasures of sin. God sent Shishak to correct His people’s behavior. He did not cast off His people, even though it was certainly a chastisement to have their country looted and for them to come under Egyptian service.
It is important to be clear in our understanding about the analogy between the believer and Israel, because this point in the passage illustrates important truth to us: First, God will correct those that are His, and that this correction is proof of our sonship (Hebrews 12:7-8). Second, God will not cast us away when we sin, even though there are serious consequences to our sin.
Confusion may arise when deriving this point from the Scripture passage, because we are likening our individual election with that of the election of Israel. Paul discusses the difference between Israel the nation and the individual when he says in Romans 9:6 For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel. God’s word is clear that salvation is by grace through faith, and not by nationality. The point of 2 Chronicles 12:7-8 is that it is an example of God correcting His people, not casting them away, and that God may use unpleasant, but necessary methods to remind us of His grace.
3.0 God’s sovereignty in His dealings with Rehoboam
2 Chronicles 11:4 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
Man talks incessantly about his accomplishments. Mankind has always made much of what he has achieved, from the days of Lamech (Genesis 4:23), to the days of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:30), and to a host of modern day braggarts such as those who boasted of building a “Thousand Year Reich” or of becoming “more popular than Jesus”. Despite the infinitely wide gap between man’s boasting and his spiritual achievement, even some who profess Christianity often seem impressed with man’s ability to control his destiny.
The story of Rehoboam’s times is a clear demonstration of man’s inability to obey God or prosper without God. Jeroboam was made ruler over 10 tribes because Solomon failed to keep God’s covenant (1 Kings 11:10). Rehoboam’s arrogant reply to his countrymen’s discontent precipitated their rebellion. The rebellious scheming of the 10 tribes by calling Jeroboam from Egypt shows their unwillingness to obey God’s ordained government. Finally, Jeroboam’s readiness to lead the rebellion and speedy institution of idol worship has little in common with David’s care for God’s people and reluctance to kill Saul.
It seems odd that this collection of factors play should play a role in God’s plan, which Scripture tells us “is done of me”. Our Lord Jesus Christ was put to death by schemers, hypocrites, and oppressors, but Isaiah 53:10 tells us: Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him. We know God is holy and without sin, and yet these events are marked by the grossest of human sin. How can this be? If God is in control of all things, then why does He still find fault with men when His will is accomplished through their wicked acts?
These questions are answered by Scriptural doctrines of God’s sovereignty and by the fact that God does not take counsel with man regarding His divine designs. The accusation is sometimes made that all Calvinists talk about is God’s sovereignty. Here, we are in good company, for Scripture speaks much about God’s sovereignty. Many Christians have some understanding of what God’s sovereignty is — perhaps a notion that God is all-powerful. A few, and I hope all of us here, agree with the doctrines called “Sovereign Grace”. But the reason that Calvinists discuss sovereignty so much is because it is one of God’s key attributes described in Scripture, and applying knowledge of His sovereignty to our lives is so essential for our sanctification and joy.
The account of Rehoboam showed God having used sinful Egyptians to punish sin in His people. The Egyptians were idolators and cruel oppressors. Ancient history shows them to have been arrogant, confident in themselves, and in their pagan gods. Their raid into Judah involved many sinful practices that were a burden and misery to God’s people. God does more than permit sin, He directs it, as we will see in our study of King Ahab (1 Kings 22:20-32). There are many other examples of this in Scripture; too many to recount here. At the same time, God is not the source of evil, as James tells us in James 1:13. Evil is from man and God directs it, just as we see in this passage, where God’s purposes were at work, and God said that the thing, i.e., rebellion, was done of Him.
God directed Jeroboam to rule the 10 tribes but the sin of the 10 tribes and Jeroboam was to rebel against God’s constituted government, the House of David. Why did God do this? Romans chapter 1 instructs us that sin is the punishment for sin, and the consequences of sin are hardening of the heart toward God, resulting in further sin. Just as God’s offering His free grace to sinners is a demonstration of His mercy and lovingkindness, His withdrawal of His grace and actively giving men reprobate minds (Romans 1:28) and hardened hearts (Romans 9:18) is a demonstration of His righteousness and justice (Romans 3:19).
These doctrines relate to our passage in this way: God prepared a people Israel for Himself from which the Messiah would come. He instituted the Law for these people and the events that occurred to these people as part of His plan of Salvation (Galatians 3:24, 1 Corinthians 10:11), by which He glorifies Himself (Romans 11:36, 1 Corinthians 10:31). Though Rehoboam was a reprobate, God separated the faithful Levites and God-fearing people from the 10 northern tribes and brought them to Judah under Rehoboam. Godly people, in God’s plan, remained under the House of David as God had promised.
The 10 northern tribes then began a 200 year descent into increasing judgement and sin, in keeping with the pattern described in Romans 1. God sent great prophets to the northern tribes, like Elijah and Elisha, but other than a small faithful remnant, we see the Northern kingdom increasingly hardened to God. We know from Scripture that God soon began to judge Jeroboam and his rebellious subjects. The Bible does not mention Shishak’s invasion of the Northern kingdom, but Shishak recorded his victories over Jeroboam in temple inscriptions that last to this day, mentioning Israelite towns like Shunem and Megiddo.
Scripture tells us that conditions in Judah were at least as bad, if not worse, than those in Israel. Note Judah’s apostasy, idol worship, and perversion in 2 Kings 14:22-24. Although Judah also suffered terrible judgements and destructions, God preserved that nation for 1000 years until He brought forth David’s greater Son Jesus Christ, who, as God had promised, reigns forever as the righteous King. God preserved a remnant of Israel’s physical descendants, and by the power of Christ’s work on the cross, secured the salvation of some. He grafted us in to the chosen people, securing our salvation also.
The story of God using both righteous and unrighteous men to correct His spiritual people and judge the reprobate is throughout Scripture, and this account of the times of Rehoboam is but one example of God’s sovereign control of all men, both good and evil, and all events, to achieve His purpose.
For those of us who are saved and especially those of us who, by God’s grace, understand His sovereignty, accounts such as Rehoboam’s are full of blessing and reassurance. Despite wicked and rudderless leaders, despite fierce invaders, despite horrible immorality, we know and trust God’s promise that all things work for those who are called by God (Romans 8:28). We know that when Jesus told His followers not to be troubled in John 14:1, He was speaking to us, and we know that He has both the ability and intention to carry out His plan for us.
As we understand these wonderful doctrines, we draw closer to God. Instead of murmuring about our situations and fearing the ever-downward trend of world events, we are taught to see how our God is caring for us in very special ways.
We are sad to be separated from family, both physical and spiritual, yet we may truly be comforted and have joy, knowing their reward and anticipating our reunion before the Lord’s throne. We understand that our sufferings are not futile and without hope, as the heathen see them, but are instead God’s gracious hand, training us to rule with His Son, when He comes into His millennial kingdom. When we receive a rebuke, we can be sure that even though God disciplines us, He will not cast us away, but will fulfill His will and promise in us. He preserves us by the power of His Son’s blood, which has secured our salvation.
These are just a few of the many blessed reassurances that are seen and appreciated by the saint who understands God’s sovereignty. A five minute discussion among us would soon dwarf this list. Is it any wonder why the Calvinist loves to talk about God’s sovereignty? It is a constant reminder of God’s promises and His ability and willingness to keep them in our lives, even though we were at first His enemies.
4.0 Application
How do we access this wonderful reassuring confidence in our all-powerful God and in the work of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, on our behalf? We have a strong negative example in Rehoboam, a man who had so many earthly possibilities and such a dismal spiritual end: “And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD”. As people of God, let us continue to commit ourselves and encourage each other to seek the Lord through Scripture and prayer. Let us discuss the things of God freely and joyfully. Let us honor Him with our service, remaining dependent upon Him at all times. He is in control, and He will glorify Himself through our sanctification. The application of this Scriptural knowledge is a firm basis for our joy in Him.
5.0 Resources
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1 Kings 12 - 14, 2 Chronicles 10 - 12, Matthew Henry
Commentary on the Old Testament, Keil and Delitzsch, 2 Kings 11 - 12, 2 Chronicles 22:10 - 24:27; 2 Samuel 7:12-16, C. F. Keil
Old Testament Bible History, Alfred Edersheim, Book 5, ch 8, 9, 10
Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus, Book 8, ch 8 & 10
“Servitude or Service -- Which?”, Charles H. Spurgeon sermon #2306
“This thing is from Me”, Charles H. Spurgeon sermon #2476
“Rehoboam the Unready”, Charles H. Spurgeon sermon #2749
Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul to the Romans, Chapter 9, John Calvin
A Commentary on Romans, Chapters 1 and 9, Charles Hodge
Articles: “Ahijah”, “Jeroboam”, “Rehoboam”, “Shemaiah”, “Shishak”, “Solomon”, The Zondervon Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, ed. by Merrill C. Tenney
Article: “Egypt, History”, Encyclopedia Britannica
Chronological Charts of the Old Testament, John H. Walton