The Kingdom Divides
Rehoboam goes to Shechem to be made king and is met with a condition: his father's heavy yoke of forced labour and taxation should be lightened. He asks for three days.
The elders who served Solomon advise him to speak kindly and be served for life. The young men he grew up with advise the opposite, and supply the line he uses — my little finger is thicker than my father's waist. The northern tribes walk out, and the tax officer sent after them is stoned to death.
Ten tribes follow Jeroboam and one kingdom becomes two. To stop his people going south to worship, Jeroboam sets up golden calves at Bethel and Dan, an act the books of Kings cite for the next two centuries as the sin of Jeroboam. Neither kingdom is ever reunited.
Where in scripture
[26] Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king. [27] This was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of his father David’s city. [28] The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he put him in charge of all the labor of the house of Joseph. [29] At that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the way; now Ahijah had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field. [30] Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces. …
1 Kings 11:26–43 — opening verses
[1] Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. [2] When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt, [3] and they sent and called him), Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, [4] “Your father made our yoke difficult. Now therefore make the hard service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.” [5] He said to them, “Depart for three days, then come back to me.” The people departed. [6] King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, “What counsel do you give me to answer these people?” …
1 Kings 12:1–33 — opening verses
[1] Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. [2] When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of king Solomon), Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. [3] They sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying, [4] “Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.” [5] He said to them, “Come again to me after three days.” So the people departed. [6] King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, “What counsel do you give me about how to answer these people?” …
2 Chronicles 10:1–19 — opening verses
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
