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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:20

And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again ,.... Out of Egypt; the chief men knew of it before, for he had headed them in their approach and address to Rehoboam; but the people in common had not, and especially those of the various tribes besides that of Ephraim: that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel ; they sent for him from his tent or house, which probably was in Shechem, and gave him an invitation to come to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:15

The cause was from the Lord - God left him to himself, and did not incline his heart to follow the counsel of the wise men. This is making the best of our present version; but if we come to inquire into the meaning of the Cause of all this confusion and anarchy, we shall find it was Rehoboam's folly, cruelty, and despotic tyranny: and was this from the Lord? But does the text speak this bad doctrine? No: it says סבה sibbah , the Revolution, was from the Lord. This is consistent... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:16

So Israel departed unto their tents - That is, the ten tribes withdrew their allegiance from Rehoboam; only Judah and Benjamin, frequently reckoned one tribe, remaining with him. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:18

King Rehoboam sent Adoram - As this was the person who was superintendent over the tribute, he was probably sent to collect the ordinary taxes; but the people, indignant at the master who had given them such a brutish answer, stoned the servant to death. The sending of Adoram to collect the taxes, when the public mind was in such a state of fermentation, was another proof of Rehoboam's folly and incapacity to govern. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:20

Made him king over all Israel - What is called Israel here, was ten-twelfths of the whole nation; and had they a right to call another person to the throne? They had not, - they had neither legal nor constitutional right. Jeroboam was not of the blood royal; he had no affinity to the kingdom. Nothing could justify this act, but the just judgment of God. God thus punished a disobedient and gainsaying people; and especially Solomon's family, whose sins against the Lord were of no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:1-20

The accomplishment of the predicted judgment. I. DANGERS OFTEN COME DISGUISED . 1 . It was a time of joyous expectation . Nothing betokened the nearness of rebellion and disaster. All Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. There was no dispute about the succession, and no unwillingness to own the sway of the house of David. All was hopeful. Danger may lurk in joy like a venomous insect in a flower. 2 . The people's request was reasonable . Rehoboam could... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:12

So Jeroboam and [LXX. omits] all the people came to Rehoboam the third day ["Three days' expectation had warmed these smoking Israelites" (Hall) ], as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:12-15

Infatuation. "Whom the gods mean to destroy they first infatuate." Such was the observation of a heathen philosopher; and it is true, only that the infatuators are devils, and God permits. The text furnishes a case in point. What but infatuation could have prompted Rehoboam to have acted so insanely? It is seen— I. IN HIS REFUSAL TO HEARKEN TO THE PEOPLE . 1 . They assembled to honour him . 2 . Their reservation was not unreasonable . II. IN THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:12-16

The rending of the kingdom. The name of Rehoboam is remarkable as seen in the light of the facts of his history. The "enlarger of the kingdom" becomes the chief instrument in its disruption. The one strong nation, the throne of which he inherited from his father, is changed by his folly into two comparatively weak and distracted kingdoms, which maintain towards each other an attitude of perpetual jealousy and strife. The revolt of the ten tribes was a calamity from the ill effects of which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:13

And the king answered the people [the omission of Jeroboam's name, though perhaps it cannot he pressed in argument, is noticeable] roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him. read more

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