1 Kings 12:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 12:1-15

Solomon had 1000 wives and concubines, yet we read but of one son he had to bear up his name, and he a fool. It is said (Hos. 4:10), They shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase. Sin is a bad way of building up a family. Rehoboam was the son of the wisest of men, yet did not inherit his father's wisdom, and then it stood him in little stead to inherit his father's throne. Neither wisdom nor grace runs in the blood. Solomon came to the crown very young, yet he was then a wise man.... read more

John Gill

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

And Rehoboam went to Shechem ,.... After the death and internment of his father: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king : as was pretended, though in reality it was to seek occasion against him, and make Jeroboam king; it is very probable they knew of the prophecy of Ahijah, and therefore would not go to Jerusalem, but to Shechem, a city in the tribe of Ephraim, of which Jeroboam was, and where he had sowed the seeds of sedition when ruler there; and this place they chose,... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Rehoboam went to Shechem - Rehoboam was probably the only son of Solomon; for although he had a thousand wives, he had not the blessing of a numerous offspring; and although he was the wisest of men himself, his son was a poor, unprincipled fool. Had Solomon kept himself within reasonable bounds in matrimonial affairs, he would probably have had more children; and such as would have had common sense enough to discern the delicacy of their situation, and rule according to reason and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:1

EXPOSITION THE REVOLT OF THE TEN TRIBES .—With the reign of Rehoboam, on which our historian now enters, we begin the second great period in the history of the Hebrew monarchy, so far as it is related in these Books of KINGS . The first, which comprises the Augustan age of Israel, the short-lived maturity of the race in the reign of Solomon, has extended over forty years, from B.C. 1015 to B.C. 975. The second, which is the period of the existence of the two kingdoms of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:1-5

The Dead and the Living. "The king is dead; long live the king!" This paradox expresses an important truth. Bathsheba recognized it when David on his deathbed promised her that Solomon, her son, should succeed him on the throne, and she said, "Let my lord king David live forever" ( 1 Kings 1:31 ). I. SOLOMON IS DEAD . 1 . His active form is no longer seen . 2 . Where is the disembodied spirit? II. BUT HE SURVIVES IN REHOBOAM . This fact is the ground... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 12:1

The first step taken by the new king was a most judicious one. If anything could have removed the disaffection of the Ephraimites, and caused them to submit to the ascendancy of Judah, it would have been the honor done to their capital by its selection as the scene of the coronation. Shechem (now Nablous) lay on the flank of Mount Gerizim, directly opposite to Mount Ebal, in a position second to none in all Palestine. Though Abimelech had destroyed the place Judges 9:45, it had probably soon... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 12:1

1 Kings 12:1. Rehoboam went to Shechem With a view to be there declared Solomon’s successor by the people, and made king. It does not appear that he called the people thither, but went thither because they had prevented him, and pitched upon that place rather than upon Jerusalem, because it was most convenient for all, being in the centre of the kingdom; and because, as it was in the potent tribe of Ephraim, they supposed they might there more securely propose their grievances, which they... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:1-24

Click image for full-size version12:1-16:28 EARLY DAYS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOMRevolt against Rehoboam (12:1-24)From the time of the judges there had been tension between Judah and the northern tribes, particularly Ephraim. Rehoboam apparently knew of the possibility that the northern tribes would break away from him, and therefore he arranged for a special coronation ceremony in Shechem, one of the more important northern cities (12:1).Jeroboam decided immediately that he would test Rehoboam’s... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Kings 12:1

Shechem. A national sanctuary (Joshua 24:1 ). Now Nablous, corruption of Neapolis, the (New town) of Vespasian. The site of Abraham's first altar. Jacob's first home. Here the tribes met. Here Joseph was buried. All this before Jebus became Jerusalem. Hence the envy of Ephraim for Judah (Isaiah 11:13 ). Degraded by new name, Sychar = drunkenness (Isaiah 28:1-7 ). Yet here alone in all the world is the Paschal lamb still slain. read more

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