Articles
Person Of The Week: Rehoboam
When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam inherited the throne. His 17 years of rule promoted decline in the morals and spiritual integrity of the people (I Kings 14:22-24). In the fifth year of his reign, God allowed the Egyptians to plunder the temple and the royal palace as punishment for the people's sins (14:25-26).
Rehoboam is best known for his political ineptitude that led to the division of the nation of Israel. Solomon had treated some of the northern tribes harshly, and a delegation came to Rehoboam to appeal for leniency (I Kings 12:1-17). Rehoboam consulted his advisers -- a group of younger men who counseled him to increase the demands upon the petitioners and an older group that suggested a reprieve. Rehoboam, himself young and inexperienced in matters of state, followed the wrong advice -- that of the younger counselors.
Rehoboam’s threats infuriated the representatives of the northern tribes, and they revolted and became a separate state. They were cut off from Jerusalem, the religious center of the nation, and established an unauthorized system of worship. This division led to various conflicts between the two groups and the northern confederation of tribes (now called Israel) fell about 200 years later.
Not all advice is good advice, and the advice we can trust most of all comes from God.
