Scripture Daily

Context No. 156 of 4322 · 1 Kings

Context · Reflection

1 Kings 12:1-5: in context

1Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2When 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; 3and 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.” 5He said to them, “Depart for three days, then come back to me.” So the people departed.

Solomon is dead, and his son Rehoboam goes to Shechem, where all Israel has gathered to make him king. That he has to go north to be confirmed says something already: the northern tribes are not assuming it. This passage is the negotiation.

They send for Jeroboam, who had led Solomon's labor gangs, fallen out with him, and fled to Egypt. He comes back and stands with the assembly, and they put one request to the new king. Your father made our yoke heavy. Lighten the hard service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you. It is a conditional offer of loyalty, and it is not a small complaint. The forced labor that built the temple and the fortress cities came out of these tribes.

Rehoboam asks for three days. In the verses after this, he takes the counsel of the old men who served his father, who tell him to speak kindly and they will be his servants forever, and then rejects it for the advice of the young men he grew up with, who tell him to promise scorpions. The kingdom splits and never reunites. He asked for time and used it to find the answer he already wanted. When I ask for time to consider something, am I weighing it or shopping for permission?

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