Rehoboam Chose Poorly

Giving and receiving advice represent two potential hidden reefs in navigating life. We must be selective in accepting counsel from others. How well do we know this person? What’s their track record in adulting? In addition, we must weigh the counsel we generate for another against our personal motivations. Is my advice designed for his benefit, or is it skewed to nestle into my agenda? Though he was the son of Solomon and the fourth king of Israel, Rehoboam chose poorly. The advice he followed split his nation into two squabbling kingdoms and nearly cost him his life. Read with me as we study his story and learn from his experience.

 Rehoboam’s early life

What was home life like for Rehoboam? We know that his father, Solomon, collected an obscene harem consisting of 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, an Ammonitess (1 Kings 14:31). Here’s the scoop straight from Scripture:

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods.” Solomon held fast to these in love. 1 Kings 11:1-2 NASB

The Bible names only three children fathered by Solomon: his son Rehoboam, and his daughters Taphath (1 Kings 4:11) and Basemath (1 Kings 4:15). Does that imply there were no more children, though Solomon played house with 1000 ladies? We can only speculate.

The last years of Solomon’s life were marked by anything but wisdom, and interested readers can learn more about Solomon’s spiritual blind spots at this link: https://nicholsnotes.com/spiritual-blind-spots/.

Take a minute and picture Rehoboam’s environment as (possibly) the only son in that sea of femininity. He was sheltered, doted upon, pampered, and spoiled completely rotten. Keep your images in mind as we unfold Rehoboam’s interactions with his subjects.

Rehoboam becomes king

When he assumed the throne Rehoboam, age 41, was no longer a child, and he was fully responsible for his choices. He selected Shechem as the site for his coronation, possibly as a concession to the northern tribes of Israel. Unrest boiled to the surface during the ceremony as the followers of Jeroboam demanded a reduction in taxes and the forced labor requirements Solomon had placed on the nation.

At this moment we see in Rehoboam, perhaps, a hint of the wisdom which brought fame to his father. Rehoboam asked for time to study the situation and return with his answer. That is indeed a sound course of action when faced with the unknown.

Then he said to them, “Depart for three days, then return to me.” So the people departed. 1 Kings 12:5 NASB

Did the people have a case? Yes! Solomon had embarked on one building program after another, and someone had to pick up the tab for the materials and labor. His outlandish court had to be wined and dined. Solomon had appointed twelve deputies, one per tribe, each assigned to a month during which he must provide all that the king and his household required (see 1 Kings 4). The funds to support that largess came from the coffers of the citizens.

Rehoboam worked the issue

Sadly, I find no record of Rehoboam consulting God for advice about the tax situation. God is always the best chose for wise and solid counsel no matter the dilemma we face. To whom did the new king turn?

Rehoboam first consulted the elders who had served as his father’s board of advisers. I have to wonder if Solomon in his arrogance had stopped listening to them. Perhaps they had already caught whiffs of the rising stench of revolt in the kingdom. Their advice, “Cut the taxes. Scale back. Reduce the burden.”

Rehoboam next turned to the young men who grew up with him and served him. Toadies. Yes men. They benefited from Rehoboam’s lifestyle and would say and do anything to remain in his good graces. His prideful stance was no secret, and their response was crafted to massage his over-inflated ego.

The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’” 2 Chronicles 10:10-11 NLT

Out of touch. Clueless about the percolating turmoil. Wealthy and thinking everyone had that same privilege.  Tone deaf to the heartfelt cries of his subjects. We can describe Rehoboam in may ways. Herbert Lockyear offers this analysis.

“Rehoboam…was obsessed with the false premise that the subjects existed for the sovereign and not the sovereign for the subjects. Daily surrounded by unscrupulous flatterers who fed his self-importance, Rehoboam came to accept the nonsensical fiction of “the divine right of kings,” that led him to treat his subjects as mere puppets to be manipulated for the benefit of his reigning house.”[1]

Rehoboam’s choice led to disaster

How did the people respond to Rehoboam’s blunt and insulting reply?

When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded, “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Back to your homes, O Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!” So all the people of Israel returned home. 2 Chronicles 10:16 NLT

Disaster. A divided nation. Lost glory as neither of the two resulting nations would achieve the world status Israel held under David and Solomon. Buckle up for this next part. This set of events meshed directly into God’s plan. He had already sent a prophecy through Ahijah that Jeroboam would one day reign over ten tribes of Israel. Rehoboam’s failure was no surprise to the Sovereign God.

So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of events from God that the LORD might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 2 Chronicles 10:15 NASB

So what does this mean for us?

This paragraph is for the group with wisdom, experience, and scars from sixty plus years of living. We often feel passed over in favor of the hip crowd who can operate a dinglehopper (smart phone, tablet, whatever) using only their thumbs. Those folks are quite often not interested in our input. Biting our tongue and holding back our rock-solid advice is a struggle indeed. But we have to wait until we are asked.

What can we learn about giving and receiving advice from this study? Let’s break it into two categories.

Advice I generate for others

• Respect and treat as equals those seek our input.
• Recognize the position of respect they assign to us.
• Act with humility and grace.
• Keep personal ambitions in check.
• Don’t exploit the person.
• Ask God for His guidance. We cannot hide our motives from Him.
• Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know enough about this to offer help!”

Advice I seek from others

• Become adept at recognizing the moments when we need advice.
• Seek God’s direction first and always. Let His Spirit guide.
• Seek outside counsel carefully.
• Weigh the source thoroughly.
• Ask, “What does this person have to gain with this advice?”
• Pray over the advice before implementing it.

Rehoboam had only one chance to shore up his kingdom and perhaps stall the inevitable rebellion, and he blew it. He listened to the wrong source for his advice. Rehoboam implemented that wrong counsel. Rehoboam chose poorly.

How we will act differently?

For suggestions on helping young people make decisions see:

Helping Young People Make Good Decisions

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[1] Lockyear, Herbert. All the Men of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1958. p 284.