Rehoboam King of Judah

2022-05-03

Rehoboam son of Solomon became king after his father’s death. When Jeroboam son of Nebat came with the people of Israel to lighten the people’s burdens, Rehoboam went to his counselors for advice. His older counselors who aided his father told him to speak kindly and serve the people. However, the new king rejected this advice in favor of younger counselors, who told him to speak roughly and to make their lives harder. A little grace would have changed the entire outcome of this meeting. If only he had learned his father’s proverbs: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

After Adoram the chief of tribute was stoned by the northern tribe, Rehoboam prepared for battle. However, the word of the Lord by Shemaiah told Rehoboam to back off, as this division came from the Lord.

During Rehoboam’s reign, the Levites from all Israel came to Judah to serve, because they were replaced by base men in the northern kingdom.

Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, an Ammonitess. Having a pagan woman had a profound effect on him, even though he grew up learning his father’s proverbs. As his kingdom was established, high places, groves, and abominations abounded. The king of Egypt invaded and raided the Temple treasury. The famed shields of gold were stolen, and Rehoboam could only replace them with brass ones. This shows how the economy had declined since the reign of his father. The invasion humbled Rehoboam and his princes, and they returned to the Lord. Things were better in the end of his reign than at the beginning. “And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well” (2 Chronicles 12:12). It is never too late to turn to the Lord.

This is a part of the Kings of Judah series. To go back to the table of contents, proceed here.