Verse 16
NORTHERN ISRAEL REJECTED REHOBOAM AS KING
"And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them."
Here in 1 Kings 12:17 is established a permanent separation of the northern Israel from the southern Israel, the former to be known as Israel, and the latter as Judah; and this usage is found extensively in the rest of the O.T.
"As for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah" (1 Kings 12:17). "A number of pious Israelites emigrated to Judah in order to remain under the rule of the Davidic king, and thus worship the true God in the true way at Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 11:16)."[10]
Rehoboam did not have to wait long to find out how stupid his young advisers were. He lost the greater part of his kingdom in one day with one foolish and irresponsible answer! But even then, Rehoboam did not realize his mistake.
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