WHY REHOBOAM WAS UNABLE TO PRESERVE HIS ROYAL LINEAGE (1 KINGS 12: 1-20).

Answer Details

After the death of Solomon, his son Rehoboam went to Shechem to be made king over all Israel. The people, led by Jeroboam who had returned from Egypt, presented a genuine grievance: Solomon had laid a heavy yoke of forced labour and taxation upon them. They pleaded, "Lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke that he put on us, and we will serve you."

Rehoboam lost the kingdom, and with it the greater part of his royal lineage, for the following reasons:

• He rejected the counsel of the elders. The older men who had served Solomon advised him to be a servant to the people and speak good words to them; if he did so, they would serve him forever. He despised their wise, moderating advice.
• He preferred the reckless advice of his young peers. The young men who had grown up with him urged him to increase the burden, telling him to say, "My little finger is thicker than my father's loins."
• He answered the people harshly. He told them, "My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions," promising even harsher oppression rather than relief.
• His pride and inexperience. He wanted to appear stronger than his father and failed to understand the mood and legitimate suffering of the people.
• It was the fulfilment of God's word. The turn of events was from the Lord, that He might fulfil His word spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, dividing the kingdom because of Solomon's idolatry.
• He mismanaged the crisis. When the people rebelled, he sent Adoram, who was over the forced labour, and the people stoned him to death. This inflamed matters further.

As a result, the ten northern tribes rejected him, crying, "What portion have we in David? To your tents, O Israel!" They made Jeroboam king, and only the tribe of Judah (with Benjamin) remained loyal to the house of David. Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem, and his royal rule over a united Israel was permanently broken.