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William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Kings 12:1-33

Religion Made Easy 1 Kings 12:28 Hebe was an adroit and subtle appeal to human nature. Tell the people they are tired; seem to be very anxious about their health; assure them that nothing but a true concern for their physical condition could ever have impelled you to consider the long distance to Jerusalem. Keep them away from Jerusalem, keep them away from the old songs and the old memories, from the reminiscences that start up and make a powerful appeal to human pathos; as it were, lay your... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:6-20

THE DISRUPTION1 Kings 12:6-20"It was of the Lord." It is no small proof of the insight and courageous faithfulness of the historian that he accepts without question the verdict of ancient prophecy that the disruption was God’s doing; for everything which happened in the four subsequent centuries, alike in Judah and in Israel, seemed to belie this pious conviction. We, in the light of later history, are now able to see that the disseverance of Israel’s unity worked out results of eternal... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Kings 12:1-33

III. THE DIVIDED KINGDOM 1. Rehoboam and the Revolt of the Ten Tribes CHAPTER 12 1. The revolt of the northern tribes (1 Kings 12:1-20 ) 2. The threatening war averted (1 Kings 12:21-24 ) 3. Jeroboam’s wicked schemes (1 Kings 12:25-33 ) Rehoboam (enlarger of the people) is the only son of Solomon mentioned in the Bible (1 Chronicles 3:10 ). Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 ; Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 seem to give a hint that his father was fearful about his reign in his stead. In 2 Chronicles 10:13 we... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Kings 12:9

12:9 And he said unto them, {c} What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?(c) There is nothing harder for them that are in authority than to control their desires and follow good counsel. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:1-33

THE TEN TRIBES REBEL (vs.1-24) Rehoboam went to Shechem for his inauguration as king of Israel (v.1). Jereboam, in Egypt, received word quickly of Solomon's death, and his friends in Israel sent to have him recalled from Egypt. Thus they had a capable leader to represent the cause of the majority in Israel before Rehoboam. Jereboam and the other representatives of Israel came to Rehoboam as soon as he had been made king. They had a serious request. They said Solomon had made their yoke... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:1-33

EARLY DAYS OF TWO KINGDOMS CAUSE OF THE DIVISION (1 Kings 12:1-25 ) 1 Kings 12:2-4 look as though there were a preconcerted purpose to revolt, and yet who can tell what a different history might have followed had the new king heeded wiser counsel? Note the reason of the protest, which was not Solomon’s idolatry and the heathenism he introduced, but their financial burdens; their civil oppression, rather than their religious wrongs. It is still so, and political reform looks only on the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 1 Kings 12:1-33

The Sin of Jeroboam 1 Kings 12:0 Kings must build. The enlargement and decorations of cities is pleasant to subjects. They sometimes mistake building for security, as for example in the case of Jericho. Jeroboam built Shechem. (See Judges 9:45 .) The meaning is that Jeroboam enlarged and fortified the old capital of Ephraim, which was now to become the royal city of Israel. Antiquity has always been an element of value. No new city could have had the charm of Shechem. How to attach the new to... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Kings 12:5-11

(5) And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. (6) And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? (7) And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants forever. (8) But he forsook the counsel of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:1-15

1-15 The tribes complained not to Rehoboam of his father's idolatry, and revolt from God. That which was the greatest grievance, was none to them; so careless were they in matters of religion, if they might live at case, and pay no taxes. Factious spirits will never want something to complain of. And when we see the Scripture account of Solomon's reign; the peace, wealth, and prosperity Israel then enjoyed; we cannot doubt but that their charges were false, or far beyond the truth. Rehoboam... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 Kings 12:1-15

Rehoboam's Foolish Answer v. 1. And Rehoboam went to Shechem, in the northern part of Ephraim's territory, and even then a center of the northern tribes; for all Israel, the ten tribes outside of Judah and Benjamin, were come to Shechem to make him king, to consider the question of recognizing him as king. v. 2. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, 1 Kings 11:40, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in... read more

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