But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
At Shechem the people asked for decided reforms in the administration of government. Rehoboam rejected the old men's counsel to be kind and speak good words to them. He instead followed the young men's counsel to add to the yoke and to chastise with scorpions rather than with whips. He answered the people roughly, announcing his intention to perpetuate and increase the oppressive measures introduced in Solomon's reign.
When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, they renounced any portion in David and any inheritance in the son of Jesse. They departed to their tents. Aroused by those oppressive measures, they rebelled against the house of David. That unwise and unfeeling refusal made the division final.
Despite the revolt, Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites who dwelt in the cities of Judah. Thenceforth the twelve tribes were divided. Judah and Benjamin formed the lower kingdom of Judah under his rulership. The ten northern tribes formed the kingdom of Israel with Jeroboam as ruler.
The refusal and the resulting division was from the Lord. The Lord did not allow Rehoboam to carry out his announced intention. This was in order to perform what He had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat concerning the rending of the kingdom.
At Shechem the people asked for decided reforms in the administration of government. Rehoboam rejected the old men's counsel to be kind and speak good words to them. He instead followed the young men's counsel to add to the yoke and to chastise with scorpions rather than with whips. He answered the people roughly, announcing his intention to perpetuate and increase the oppressive measures introduced in Solomon's reign.
When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, they renounced any portion in David and any inheritance in the son of Jesse. They departed to their tents. Aroused by those oppressive measures, they rebelled against the house of David. That unwise and unfeeling refusal made the division final.
Despite the revolt, Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites who dwelt in the cities of Judah. Thenceforth the twelve tribes were divided. Judah and Benjamin formed the lower kingdom of Judah under his rulership. The ten northern tribes formed the kingdom of Israel with Jeroboam as ruler.
The refusal and the resulting division was from the Lord. The Lord did not allow Rehoboam to carry out his announced intention. This was in order to perform what He had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat concerning the rending of the kingdom.