But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
Rehoboam's unwise and unfeeling refusal at Shechem to grant the people's request for reforms in government provoked rebellion, as the tribes, aroused by the oppressive measures of Solomon's reign, rose against the house of David. After Israel stoned Adoram and Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem, he gathered 180,000 chosen warriors from Judah and Benjamin at Jerusalem to fight against Israel and bring the kingdom back to himself as Solomon's son.
The word of God came at that moment to stop Rehoboam from carrying out his proposed harsh policy of war against the northern tribes to win back the kingdom. It came by Shemaiah the man of God to Rehoboam and to all Judah and Benjamin and the remnant, forbidding them to march and fight their brethren the children of Israel and commanding every man to return to his house, because the division of the kingdom was from Him. The command was obeyed, and the army broke up and went home according to the word of the Lord.
The rending of the kingdom was thus from God in harmony with the prophet's prediction, leaving the tribes of Judah and Benjamin under Rehoboam and giving the ten northern tribes to Jeroboam.
Rehoboam's unwise and unfeeling refusal at Shechem to grant the people's request for reforms in government provoked rebellion, as the tribes, aroused by the oppressive measures of Solomon's reign, rose against the house of David. After Israel stoned Adoram and Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem, he gathered 180,000 chosen warriors from Judah and Benjamin at Jerusalem to fight against Israel and bring the kingdom back to himself as Solomon's son.
The word of God came at that moment to stop Rehoboam from carrying out his proposed harsh policy of war against the northern tribes to win back the kingdom. It came by Shemaiah the man of God to Rehoboam and to all Judah and Benjamin and the remnant, forbidding them to march and fight their brethren the children of Israel and commanding every man to return to his house, because the division of the kingdom was from Him. The command was obeyed, and the army broke up and went home according to the word of the Lord.
The rending of the kingdom was thus from God in harmony with the prophet's prediction, leaving the tribes of Judah and Benjamin under Rehoboam and giving the ten northern tribes to Jeroboam.