=1‒15= (= 1 Kings xii. 1‒15).
THE CONFERENCE AT SHECHEM.
¹And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to
Shechem to make him king.
=1.= _Shechem_] Chosen by Rehoboam for its central position, for it is
in the heart of Western Palestine between Mt Ebal and Mt Gerizim.
²And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it,
(for he was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of
king Solomon,) that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. ³And they
sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they
spake to Rehoboam, saying,
=2.= _Jeroboam_] For his antecedents (which are not given by the
Chronicler) see 1 Kings xi. 26 ff.
_that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt_] So we should read also in
1 Kings xii. 2 for “and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt.” The difference in
Hebrew between the two readings when written without the vowels is
confined to one letter, מ instead of ב.
⁴Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the
grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put
upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. ⁵And he said unto them,
Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.
=4.= _the grievous service of thy father_] The “service” complained of
is described (in part) in 1 Kings v. 13, 14 (no parallel in Chronicles).
Compare viii. 9 (= 1 Kings ix. 22), note.
_and we will serve thee_] The people claim their ancient right to a
voice in the appointment of a king; compare 1 Samuel xi. 14, 15 (Saul)
and 2 Samuel v. 1‒3 (David).
⁶And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, that had
stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying,
What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?
=6.= _stood before_] Compare Deuteronomy i. 38; 1 Kings xvii. 1. The
phrase is used to express service, whether rendered to God or to man.
⁷And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people,
and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be
thy servants forever. ⁸But he forsook the counsel of the old men
which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men
that were grown up with him, that stood before him. ⁹And he said
unto them, What counsel give ye, that we may return answer to
this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that
thy father did put upon us lighter? ¹⁰And the young men that
were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou
say unto the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father
made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus
shalt thou say unto them, My little finger is thicker than my
father’s loins.
=7.= _If thou be kind to this people, and please them_] The Chronicler
has softened the forcible words of the parallel passage (1 Kings xii.
7), “If thou wilt be a _servant_ unto this people this day, and wilt
_serve_ them.” The words which were too blunt for Rehoboam were also
too blunt for the Chronicler.
¹¹And 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. ¹²So Jeroboam and all the
people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying,
Come to me again the third day.
=11.= _with whips_] A whip or flail was among the insignia of an
Egyptian (and perhaps also of an Israelite) king. Compare Erman,
_Ancient Egypt_, English Translation p. 60 (where an illustration is
given) and p. 63.
_with scorpions_] The expression may be proverbial and metaphorical,
but some authorities (e.g. Peshitṭa) take “scorpion” to be the name
of a particular kind of scourge, the lash of which was provided with
thorns or hooks.
¹³And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook
the counsel of the old men, and spake to them after the counsel
of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but
I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I
_will chastise you_ with scorpions.
=13.= _answered them roughly_] It was difficult for the son of so
powerful a king as Solomon to realise that there was any necessity for
a soft answer. Solomon had put down Israelite discontent by driving
Jeroboam into exile in Egypt, and David had put down somewhat easily
the movement under Sheba son of Bichri (2 Samuel xx. 1‒22). Could the
good fortune of the house of David fail at this third crisis?
¹⁵So the king hearkened not unto the people; for it was brought
about of God, that the LORD might establish his word, which he
spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of
Nebat.
=15.= _Ahijah_] Compare 1 Kings xi. 29‒39. The incident referred to is
not narrated in Chronicles, being assumed to be known.
=16‒19= (= 1 Kings xii. 16‒19).
THE REVOLT.
¹⁶And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them,
the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in
David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every
man to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David.
So all Israel departed unto their tents.
=16.= _What portion have we in David ... the son of Jesse_] The same
protest was voiced by Sheba in his brief rebellion against David
(1 Samuel xx. 1). Contrast the language of the ten tribes after the
collapse of Absalom’s rebellion: _We have ten parts in the king_
(2 Samuel xix. 43).
_to your tents_] See note on vii. 10.
¹⁷But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of
Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
=17.= The order is much improved if this verse be read after verse 19.
¹⁸Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the levy; and
the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. And
king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee
to Jerusalem. ¹⁹So Israel rebelled against the house of David,
unto this day.
=18.= _Hadoram_] Called “Adoram” in the parallel passage (1 Kings xii.
18) and “Adoniram” (1 Kings iv. 6, v. 14 [28, Hebrew]).