And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
Soon after Solomon's death, at the beginning of Rehoboam's reign, the event took place. Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to give him formal recognition as king. The oppressive measures of Solomon's reign had already thoroughly aroused many thousands among the tribes to rebel against the house of David. The meeting at Shechem was an opportunity for Rehoboam to show concern for his subjects and earn their confidence as a wise ruler.
Rehoboam and his chosen counselors acted unwisely and without feeling in the exercise of power, revealing pride of position and authority and failing to understand God's purpose concerning Israel. He rejected the people's request for decided reforms in the administration of government and instead announced his intention to perpetuate and add to the evils introduced in Solomon's reign. The Lord did not allow Rehoboam to carry out the policy he proposed.
The resulting rebellion acted in harmony with the prophet's prediction concerning the rending of the kingdom, dividing the twelve tribes so that Judah and Benjamin formed the lower kingdom of Judah under Rehoboam and the ten northern tribes formed the kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam. Because he failed to consider the consequences of his choices, Rehoboam made an irreparable mistake at Shechem that permanently weakened his influence over a large part of the people.
Soon after Solomon's death, at the beginning of Rehoboam's reign, the event took place. Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to give him formal recognition as king. The oppressive measures of Solomon's reign had already thoroughly aroused many thousands among the tribes to rebel against the house of David. The meeting at Shechem was an opportunity for Rehoboam to show concern for his subjects and earn their confidence as a wise ruler.
Rehoboam and his chosen counselors acted unwisely and without feeling in the exercise of power, revealing pride of position and authority and failing to understand God's purpose concerning Israel. He rejected the people's request for decided reforms in the administration of government and instead announced his intention to perpetuate and add to the evils introduced in Solomon's reign. The Lord did not allow Rehoboam to carry out the policy he proposed.
The resulting rebellion acted in harmony with the prophet's prediction concerning the rending of the kingdom, dividing the twelve tribes so that Judah and Benjamin formed the lower kingdom of Judah under Rehoboam and the ten northern tribes formed the kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam. Because he failed to consider the consequences of his choices, Rehoboam made an irreparable mistake at Shechem that permanently weakened his influence over a large part of the people.