Explanation: In 1 Kings 12, Rehoboam came to the important and historical city of Shechem, centrally located among the northern tribes, to be installed as king of Israel after the death of his father Solomon. Jerusalem, which was the capital city of the kingdom, would have been the natural place for this coronation; so the choice of Shechem may have been a concession to the northern tribes to more firmly establish Rehoboam's connection, not just to his own tribe of Judah, but to all of the other tribes of Israel, as well. Jeroboam and other officials came to Rehoboam and asked for relief from taxes and forced labor (1 Kings 5:13-14; 1 Kings 11:28 -- compare 1 Samuel 8:11-17). They considered this to be a grievous bondage. In a sense, it was similar in kind, though not in degree, to the bondage in Egypt. Under Solomon they had experienced peace and liberty (1 Kings 4:25, 1 Kings 9:15, 1 Kings 9:22-23); but this had either disappeared, or more probably, in my opinion, was overshadowed by the continuing burdens which had long coexisted with the benefits provided by Solomon. Rehoboam asked for three days to consider their request (1-5).
     He first consulted with his older advisers who had served Solomon. They advised him to serve the people, speak kindly to them, and relieve their burdens. His younger advisers advised him to speak sternly to the people and to increase their burdens. Possibly they thought this would intimidate the other tribes into submission (6-11).
     Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the older men and spoke to the people in accord with the harsh measures recommended by the young advisers. This harsh measure was the end process of a decline into folly from which Israel did not recover until after the Exile. This decline is documented in chapters 10, 11, and 12. Chapter 10 reveals Solomon's unsurpassed wisdom: "So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom" (verse 23). Chapter 11, in complete contrast to chapter 10, reveals Solomon's deep, idolatrous folly. The present chapter, chapter l2, reveals the appalling folly of Solomon's son, Rehoboam, by which the kingdom was divided (12-15).
     When Rehoboam delivered his answer to the people, they repudiated him and the household of David. They stoned Adoram, who was over the tribute; and Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem. The people then made Rehoboam king over ten tribes. these ten tribes retained the name "Israel," while Judah and Benjamin, under Rehoboam, took the name "Judah" (16-20).
     Rehoboam gathered an army and prepared to fight Israel and reunite the kingdom. But God, speaking through the prophet Shemaiah, forbade the action, noting that the division had been sent by him. So they stopped the planned war and departed (21-24).
     Jeroboam enlarged and fortified Shechem and did the same for Penuel. He was concerned that the people might return their loyalty to the house of David if they went to Jerusalem to worship, and might even attempt to kill him. He therefore made two golden calf idols and put them at opposite ends of his kingdom in Bethel (in the south) and Dan (in the north). He then centralized worship for Israel in Dan. He also made priests of non-Levites. In addition, he instituted a new feast and made offerings on the altars in Dan and Bethel and burned incense (25-33).
     However, in the Kingdom of Judah, under Rehoboam's rule, various people from all of the tribes of Israel came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD; they strengthened Judah; and they and Judah walked for three years in the ways of David and Solomon (2 Chronicles 11:16-17).
     [ Sermons: William Still. Nick Needham. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: Today's painting depicts the key moment of today's chapter, the moment when Rehoboam turned to idolatry, taking the ten tribes with him. ]

     ²⁵ Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. ²⁶ And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: ²⁷ If this people go up do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. ²⁸ Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which bought [lifted] thee up out of the land of Egypt. ²⁹ And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. ³⁰ And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. ³¹ And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. ³² And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. ³³ So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

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