Jeroboam’s Rebellion

Topic: Relationships
Passage: 1 Kings 11:23–43

October 25, 2021

Commentary

 

Solomon had both internal and external adversaries. We have already heard about Hadad, the Edomite, who had taken refuge in Egypt and lived for the day he could take revenge of David’s slaughter of the Edomites. Apparently he caused trouble for Solomon militarily (v. 25). Now we meet another enemy of Solomon, Rezon, who was from Zolah, just south of Damascus. He took control of that region (vv. 23-25).

Next we meet an internal adversary, Jeroboam, who was from Ephrain, the leading tribe in the Northern Kingdom. Apparently he had worked for Solomon and as a result of his good work was promoted to leader over the whole labor force of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (vv. 26-28).  The one tribe to be left with Solomon was Judah (v. 32). This one tribe was taken over by Solomon’s son Rehoboam.

Jeroboam was told that he could rule over all that his heart desired (v. 37). Unfortunately, Jeroboam did not value this promise and it was forfeited. No reason is stated but Jeroboam apparently tried to take matters into his own hands and seize the kingdom. Because of this, Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. Solomon ruled for 40 years but his life ended in tragedy. He became more of a lover of the things God prohibited than in God Himself. The man who had the most wisdom of any man who ever lived failed to apply this wisdom to his life and died a very unhappy old man. We have here the conclusion of Solomons story. A summary of the years of his reign (v. 42): He reigned in Jerusalem (not, as his father, part of his time in Hebron and part in Jerusalem). His reign was as long as his father’s, but not his life. Sin shortened his days.

Application

Because I have a great relationship with God in the past does not guarantee my relationship with Him in the future. Solomon was one of the wisest men that ever lived but he died a very unhappy old man.

1 Kings 11:23– 43 (NET)

23 God also brought against Solomon another enemy, Rezon son of Eliada who had run away from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah. 24 He gathered some men and organized a raiding band. When David tried to kill them, they went to Damascus, where they settled down and gained control of the city. 25 He was Israel’s enemy throughout Solomon’s reign and, like Hadad, caused trouble. He loathed Israel and ruled over Syria.

26 Jeroboam son of Nebat, one of Solomon’s servants, rebelled against the king. He was an Ephraimite from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. 27 This is what prompted him to rebel against the king: Solomon built a terrace, and he closed up a gap in the wall of the city of his father David. 28 Jeroboam was a talented man; when Solomon saw that the young man was an accomplished worker, he made him the leader of the work crew from the tribe of Joseph. 29 At that time, when Jeroboam had left Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road; the two of them were alone in the open country. Ahijah was wearing a brand new robe, 30 and he grabbed the robe and tore it into twelve pieces. 31 Then he told Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces, for this is what the Lord God of Israel has said: ‘Look, I am about to tear the kingdom from Solomon’s hand and I will give ten tribes to you. 32 He will retain one tribe, for my servant David’s sake and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel. 33 I am taking the kingdom from him because they have abandoned me and worshiped the Sidonian goddess Astarte, the Moabite god Chemosh, and the Ammonite god Milcom. They have not followed my instructions by doing what I approve and obeying my rules and regulations, as Solomon’s father David did. 34 I will not take the whole kingdom from his hand. I will allow him to be ruler for the rest of his life for the sake of my chosen servant David who kept my commandments and rules. 35 I will take the kingdom from the hand of his son and give ten tribes to you. 36 I will leave his son one tribe so my servant David’s dynasty may continue to serve me in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen as my home. 37 I will select you; you will rule over all you desire to have and you will be king over Israel. 38 You must obey all I command you to do, follow my instructions, do what I approve, and keep my rules and commandments, as my servant David did. Then I will be with you and establish for you a lasting dynasty, as I did for David; I will give you Israel. 39 I will humiliate David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.’” 40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam escaped to Egypt and found refuge with King Shishak of Egypt. He stayed in Egypt until Solomon died.

41 The rest of the events of Solomon’s reign, including all his accomplishments and his wise decisions, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of Solomon. 42 Solomon ruled over all Israel from Jerusalem for forty years. 43 Then Solomon passed away and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam replaced him as king.

Jeroboam’s Rebellion

Topic: Relationships
Passage: 1 Kings 11:23–43

September 9, 2020

Commentary

 

Solomon had both internal and external adversaries. We have already heard about Hadad, the Edomite, who had taken refuge in Egypt and lived for the day he could take revenge of David’s slaughter of the Edomites. Apparently he caused trouble for Solomon militarily (v. 25). Now we meet another enemy of Solomon, Rezon, who was from Zolah, just south of Damascus. He took control of that region (vv. 23-25).

Next we meet an internal adversary, Jeroboam, who was from Ephrain, the leading tribe in the Northern Kingdom. Apparently he had worked for Solomon and as a result of his good work was promoted to leader over the whole labor force of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (vv. 26-28).  The one tribe to be left with Solomon was Judah (v. 32). This one tribe was taken over by Solomon’s son Rehoboam.

Jeroboam was told that he could rule over all that his heart desired (v. 37). Unfortunately, Jeroboam did not value this promise and it was forfeited. No reason is stated but Jeroboam apparently tried to take matters into his own hands and seize the kingdom. Because of this, Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. Solomon ruled for 40 years but his life ended in tragedy. He became more of a lover of the things God prohibited than in God Himself. The man who had the most wisdom of any man who ever lived failed to apply this wisdom to his life and died a very unhappy old man. We have here the conclusion of Solomons story. A summary of the years of his reign (v. 42): He reigned in Jerusalem (not, as his father, part of his time in Hebron and part in Jerusalem). His reign was as long as his father’s, but not his life. Sin shortened his days.

Application

Because I have a great relationship with God in the past does not guarantee my relationship with Him in the future. Solomon was one of the wisest men that ever lived but he died a very unhappy old man.

1 Kings 11:23– 43 (NET)

23 God also brought against Solomon another enemy, Rezon son of Eliada who had run away from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah. 24 He gathered some men and organized a raiding band. When David tried to kill them, they went to Damascus, where they settled down and gained control of the city. 25 He was Israel’s enemy throughout Solomon’s reign and, like Hadad, caused trouble. He loathed Israel and ruled over Syria.

26 Jeroboam son of Nebat, one of Solomon’s servants, rebelled against the king. He was an Ephraimite from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. 27 This is what prompted him to rebel against the king: Solomon built a terrace, and he closed up a gap in the wall of the city of his father David. 28 Jeroboam was a talented man; when Solomon saw that the young man was an accomplished worker, he made him the leader of the work crew from the tribe of Joseph. 29 At that time, when Jeroboam had left Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road; the two of them were alone in the open country. Ahijah was wearing a brand new robe, 30 and he grabbed the robe and tore it into twelve pieces. 31 Then he told Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces, for this is what the Lord God of Israel has said: ‘Look, I am about to tear the kingdom from Solomon’s hand and I will give ten tribes to you. 32 He will retain one tribe, for my servant David’s sake and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel. 33 I am taking the kingdom from him because they have abandoned me and worshiped the Sidonian goddess Astarte, the Moabite god Chemosh, and the Ammonite god Milcom. They have not followed my instructions by doing what I approve and obeying my rules and regulations, as Solomon’s father David did. 34 I will not take the whole kingdom from his hand. I will allow him to be ruler for the rest of his life for the sake of my chosen servant David who kept my commandments and rules. 35 I will take the kingdom from the hand of his son and give ten tribes to you. 36 I will leave his son one tribe so my servant David’s dynasty may continue to serve me in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen as my home. 37 I will select you; you will rule over all you desire to have and you will be king over Israel. 38 You must obey all I command you to do, follow my instructions, do what I approve, and keep my rules and commandments, as my servant David did. Then I will be with you and establish for you a lasting dynasty, as I did for David; I will give you Israel. 39 I will humiliate David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.’” 40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam escaped to Egypt and found refuge with King Shishak of Egypt. He stayed in Egypt until Solomon died.

41 The rest of the events of Solomon’s reign, including all his accomplishments and his wise decisions, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of Solomon. 42 Solomon ruled over all Israel from Jerusalem for forty years. 43 Then Solomon passed away and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam replaced him as king.