1 Kings 12:7, commentary and pictures

The counsel of 1 Kings 12:7 belongs to a crisis created when Solomon, though the wisest king, became a despot because he stopped making God his guide and counselor and was swayed by evil counselors. His fine sensibilities were blunted, and self-indulgence made his god changed the conscientious considerate spirit of his early reign. Extravagance practiced in selfish indulgence necessitated a grinding taxation of the poor of the nation, so that his rule had become severe judgment and cruel tyranny. By the time Rehoboam met the people at Shechem, the oppressive evils and burdens imposed under Solomon had thoroughly aroused many thousands among the tribes and produced open conflict.

On that day the older advisers urged Rehoboam to be a servant to the people, to serve them and treat them kindly. They counseled him to please them, to answer their request, and to speak good and gracious words to them, meaning to grant decided reforms in the administration of government. They promised that such service would ease the conflict and win the lasting loyalty of the people, so that they would serve him forever.

Rehoboam rejected that counsel, an unwise and unfeeling exercise of power that revealed pride of position and authority and failure to understand God's purpose concerning Israel. Instead he announced his intention to perpetuate and add to the oppression. That rejection was an irreparable mistake which the Lord did not allow to succeed. So the tribes rebelled against the house of David in harmony with the prophet's prediction of the rending of the kingdom, leaving Judah and Benjamin under Rehoboam and the ten northern tribes under Jeroboam.