1 Kings 12:21-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 12:16-24

We have here the rending of the kingdom of the ten tribes from the house of David, to effect which, I. The people were hold and resolute in their revolt. They highly resented the provocation that Rehoboam had given them, were incensed at his menaces, concluded that that government would in the progress of it be intolerably grievous which in the beginning of it was so very haughty, and therefore immediately came to this resolve, one and all: What portion have we in David? 1 Kgs. 12:16. They... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:21

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem , From Shechem, which was forty miles F14 Reland. Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 2. p. 1007. from Jerusalem: he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon ; which not only shows courage reassumed by Rehoboam, now safely home, but the hearty attachment of Judah and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:22

But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God ,.... A prophet in those days, see 2 Chronicles 12:15 and the word that came to him, as in the Targum, is called the word of prophecy: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:23

Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah ,.... He is called king before, but of what tribe or tribes is not expressly said, only it is implied in 1 Kings 12:17 and he is only acknowledged king of Judah by the Lord himself: and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin ; which made but one house, as before but one tribe, 1 Kings 11:36 . and to the remnant of the people ; of the other tribes that might dwell among them at Jerusalem, and especially Simeon, whose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:24

Thus saith the Lord ,.... A common preface the prophets used when they spoke in the name of the Lord: ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel ; and that because they were their brethren; though that is not the only reason, another follows: return every man to his house, for this thing is from me ; it was according to the will of God, as Josephus rightly says F15 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 8. c. 8. sect. 3.) ; it was by his ordination and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:24

For this thing is from me - That is, the separation of the ten tribes from the house of David. They - returned to depart - This was great deference, both in Rehoboam and his officers, to relinquish, at the demand of the prophet, a war which they thought they had good grounds to undertake. The remnant of the people heard the Divine command gratefully, for the mass of mankind are averse from war. No nations would ever rise up against each other, were they not instigated to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:21

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah with [Heb. and ] the tribe of Benjamin, [It is at first sight somewhat surprising that Benjamin, so long the rival of Judah, and which had so long resisted the rule of David, should on this occasion have detached itself from the leadership of Ephraim, its near and powerful neighbour, and a tribe, too, with which it had a sort of hereditary connexion. That a sort of jealousy existed at one... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:21-24

The Message of Shemaiah. In the order of Providence the words of the prophet Ahijah became so far translated into history, that ten of the tribes of Israel had revolted from the son of Solomon and had made the son of Nebat their king. Rehoboam, unwilling to lose so important a portion of his kingdom, was now mustering a formidable army to reduce them to submission. At this juncture the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah. Let us consider— I. THE MESSAGE . 1 . It was the word of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:21-33

I. AN ERROR THAT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED ( 1 Kings 12:21-24 ). Rehoboam had zeal and strength behind him in his attempt to bring back the tribes by force. One hundred and eighty thousand men responded to his call; but all were dispersed at the lifting up of God's hand. The attempt was forbidden, 1 . Because of the ties of kindred . These were forgotten by Rehoboam when he threatened the people with a heavier yoke. Tyranny is possible only in the denial of the brotherhood... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:22

But the word of God came unto Shemaiah [This part of the history is probably derived from the "book" which this prophet wrote ( 2 Chronicles 12:15 ). When Keil describes him as "a prophet who is not mentioned again," he has surely overlooked 2 Chronicles 12:7 , 2 Chronicles 12:8 , where we find him prophesying with reference to the army of Shishak], the man of God [a common expression in the books of Kings. It rarely occurs in the other Scriptures. This designation is not altogether... read more

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