It would be impossible for anyone to realistically imagine what it must have been like to have been the son of Solomon, King of Israel. Solomon’s wealth was beyond the ability to compute; his wisdom excelled the wisdom of anyone living before or after him; his dominion was world-wide and his influence incalculable. So, to have been reared in Solomon’s palace would have afforded one a “privileged place,” never duplicated before or after.
Rehoboam was in line to become king after the death of his father, Solomon. But because Solomon “loved” many strange women; and because Solomon took to himself many of the idols of his foreign wives, God said to Solomon before he died, “Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou has not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.” (I Kings 11:11) In fact, through the prophet Ahijah, God revealed that Jeroboam, “…a mighty man of valor,”–and young and industrious–(I Kings 11:28) would rule over ten tribes and Rehoboam would be king over Judah and Benjamin, for the sake of David so that a light would always be in Jerusalem. (I Kings 11:36)
I Kings 12 relates how the division of the kingdom came about after Solomon’s death. Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, went to Shechem where all Israel had gone to make him king. Enter Jeroboam, who, having been in exile, came to Shechem, and with “all the congregation,” approached Rehoboam to enquire of him whether he would continue the grievous reign of his father, which had become a heavy yoke, or whether he would lighten up their burdens a bit. Rehoboam said he would have an answer in three days, and during that span of time he sought counsel from a group of older men who advised Rehoboam to “be a servant unto this people…and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will serve thee well.” (I Kings 12:7) Rehoboam also sought counsel from a group of younger men that were his age and they counselled, “…Thus shalt thou speak unto this people…My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” (I Kings 12:10,11)
Upon hearing Rehoboam’s answer, most of the people followed Jeroboam in his split away from Rehoboam, leaving only Judah and Benjamin for Rehoboam to reign over from Jerusalem. Jeroboam eventually made Samaria the capital of the northern ten-tribe confederacy, setting up golden calves for the people to worship, calling them their gods.
Thus, Rehoboam, King Solomon’s son, had a kingdom in shambles shortly after the death and burial of his father who reigned over the most glorious kingdom known to mankind!
Rehoboam’s potential was unimaginable, with a royal family, incalculable finances; as well as educational and environmental opportunities few people would ever dream of.
But arrogancy and spiritual adultery brought him and the kingdom he inherited from his father to just a shadow of the glory of Solomon’s kingdom at its zenith. Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines: “And he loved many wives.” (2 Chr.11:23) And the sinful example of his singularly blessed father was likewise the ruin of Rehoboam.
To his credit, Rehoboam did listen to God’s warning to him through the prophet Shemaiah, and he led a three-year long revival, strengthening the priests and Levites in Jerusalem, and strengthening the kingdom, walking for a time in the ways of the Lord. (2 Chr.11:1-17)
Sadly though, before he died, he “forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him,” (2 Chr.12:1) and God raised up Shishak, king of Egypt, to come against Jerusalem, at which time Rehoboam and Israel repented again, humbling themselves and declaring, “The Lord is righteous,” (2 Chr.12:6-8) resulting in God saying that because they had humbled themselves He would not destroy them, but they would be under the heel of Shishak all the days of Rehoboam.
So, tragically, Rehoboam, son of the wise and wealthy Solomon, embraced the worst of his father’s sins, adultery and idolatry, adding the sins of pride and arrogancy, and lost every advantage that the heir of the greatest wealth amassed in one place at one time the world has ever known.
The epitaph of Rehoboam’s life was written into scripture for all the world to read for all of time: “And he did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.” (2 Chr.12:14)
Sin shortens lives and limits opportunities. Solomon reigned 40 years; Rehoboam reigned 17 years, and Solomon’s grandson, son of Rehoboam, reigned just three years.
Reminds me of what the humanist Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) once said, “I have lost my life in doing nothing—with great labor.”
“Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” (Solomon to his son, Provs.4:23)
YOU and GOD 