1 Kings 12:2 ASV

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

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 1 Kings 12:1-24

SECOND PERIOD. (975 TO 722 B.C.)THE DIVIDED MONARCHY IN JUDAH AND ISRAEL(1 Kings 12:1-17)FIRST EPOCHFrom The Division Of The Kingdom Until The Reign Of Ahab(1 Kings 12:1 to 1 Kings 16:34)FIRST SECTIONThe Division Of The Kingdom(1 Kings 12:0)A.—The renunciation of the house of David by the ten tribes1 Kings 12:1-24 (2 Chronicles 10:1 to 2 Chronicles 11:4.)1And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem tomake him king. 2And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who... read more

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - 1 Kings 12:1-17

1 Kings HOW TO SPLIT A KINGDOM 1Ki_12:1 - 1Ki_12:17 . The separation of the kingdom of Solomon into two weak and hostile states is, in one aspect, a wretched story of folly and selfishness wrecking a nation, and, in another, a solemn instance of divine retribution working its designs by men’s sins. The greater part of this account deals with it in the former aspect, and shows the despicable motives of the men in whose hands was the nation’s fate; but one sentence 1Ki_12:15 draws back the... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Kings 12:1-11

the Wise King’s Foolish Son 1 Kings 11:41-43 ; 1 Kings 12:1-11 Solomon’s reign had been splendid but very oppressive, and it was reasonable to ask for some relief. The people felt that the accession of the new king gave them their opportunity, and apparently they took the first step in this momentous crisis. We are expressly told that Rehoboam came to Shechem . If this mighty gathering had been called by himself or his court, the people would have had to come to him at Jerusalem . Here... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Kings 12:1-33

Breaking Three Commandments 1 Kings 21:1-29 ; 1 Kings 1:1-53 ; 1 Kings 2:1-46 ; 1 Kings 3:1-28 ; 1 Kings 4:1-34 ; 1 Kings 5:1-18 ; 1 Kings 6:1-38 ; 1 Kings 7:1-51 ; 1 Kings 8:1-66 ; 1 Kings 9:1-28 ; 1 Kings 10:1-29 ; 1 Kings 11:1-43 ; 1 Kings 12:1-33 ; 1 Kings 13:1-34 ; 1 Kings 14:1-31 ; 1 Kings 15:1-34 ; 1 Kings 16:1-34 From a worldly point of view Naboth might have done a good stroke of business by selling his estate to. Ahab. A royal price and assured favor might have been... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 12:1-33

In this and the four following chapters we have the central section of this Book recording the tragedy of the break-up of the nation and the degradation of the people. It covers a period of about sixty years, from the disruption after the death of Solomon to the corruption of Ahab's reign and the coming of Elijah. The seed of strife had long been growing, as we have seen. The occasion of the actual division arose on the human side, with Rehoboam's accession and Jeroboam's return to the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:1-16

Rehoboam’s Arrogance Alienates Israel (1 Kings 12:1-16 ). The elders of Israel came together with a view to anointing Rehoboam as king on condition that he would guarantee them a somewhat easier lifestyle, but he was too arrogant to take advantage of the offer, and instead listened to the advice of younger hotheads like himself. The result was, that under the influence of Jeroboam, Israel asserted its independence and decided to choose its own king for itself. However, what is of the greatest... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:1-33

The Kingdom In Crisis And The Collapse Of An Empire (1 Kings 12:1 to 1 Kings 14:31 ). The death of Solomon, as always with the death of a king who had ruled powerfully for a long time and had been somewhat autocratic, resulted in hopes being raised among the people that things might now be made better for them. Indeed they appear to have been quite satisfied with the thought of Rehoboam being their king, as long as he would meet them halfway, and they actually gathered at Shechem to... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:1-24

1 Kings 12:1-Jeremiah : . The Revolt of the Northern Tribes.— It is doubtful whether this section is Judæ an or not. It bears some resemblance to 2 Samuel 9-20, and the parts of 1 K. which seem to be a continuation of that history. On the other hand it is not favourable to the house of David, The writer assumes, that Israel has a right to elect a king, and that Solomon could not, like David, have nominated his successor. This passage may be an extract from a northern source, perhaps the... read more