Rehoboam Listens to The Bad Advice of The Younger Men

II Chronicles 10:1–19
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The kingdom which David had consolidated and Solomon had brought to the pinnacle of prosperity was soon to be divided into two rival parts, the ten northern and two southern tribes. Though Solomon must have had many sons, none are mentioned except Rehoboam, whom he begat by Namah the Ammoniates (I Kings 14:21). Rehoboam went to Shechem, to be crowned king which was traditional for rulers in Israel. 

When Jeroboam, former building superintendent under Solomon, had heard that Solomon had died, he returned from Egypt where he fled from Solomon sometime previou­sly (v. 2, I Kings 11:26-28, 40). By popular request Jeroboam headed a delegation which appealed to Rehoboam to lighten their land of labor and taxation. Rehoboam consulted with the old advisers of his father, who counseled him to listen to the Israelites. But then he turned to his own peers who urged him not to relent but rather to make the people’s yoke heavier.

When Rehoboam confronted Jeroboam and the people, he repeated the policy advocated by his foolish cohorts. However, he had already promised Jeroboam that he would rule over the northern tribes. Under these circumstances Israel rebelled, and God allowed the separation of the northern tribes under Jeroboam’s leadership.

Application

Where do you look to for advice? Wrong advice can affect you the rest of your life.  It is so easy to reject good advice when it contradicts one’s personal desires. In the past, have you surrounded yourself with “yes” men who you knew would agree with you, or do you have real friends who will challenge you to think critically?