And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.
Soon after becoming king, at the beginning of his reign, Rehoboam went to Shechem expecting formal recognition from all the tribes, for all Israel had gathered there to make him king. The gathering was an opportunity for him to inspire confidence by showing concern for his subjects. Instead, his failure to consider the consequences of his course permanently weakened his influence over many of them.
There he rejected the people's request for reforms and announced that he would continue and intensify the oppressive policies begun under Solomon. That decision helped bring about the revolt and the division of Israel into Judah and Benjamin under Rehoboam and the ten northern tribes under Jeroboam.
Soon after becoming king, at the beginning of his reign, Rehoboam went to Shechem expecting formal recognition from all the tribes, for all Israel had gathered there to make him king. The gathering was an opportunity for him to inspire confidence by showing concern for his subjects. Instead, his failure to consider the consequences of his course permanently weakened his influence over many of them.
There he rejected the people's request for reforms and announced that he would continue and intensify the oppressive policies begun under Solomon. That decision helped bring about the revolt and the division of Israel into Judah and Benjamin under Rehoboam and the ten northern tribes under Jeroboam.