Read 2 Chronicles 10
Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam
10 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. 3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: 4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
5 Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people went away.
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.
7 They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”
10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “The people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”
12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king answered them harshly. Rejecting the advice of the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.
16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:
“What share do we have in David,
what part in Jesse’s son?
To your tents, Israel!
Look after your own house, David!”
So all the Israelites went home. 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.
18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
Go Deeper
Today’s reading is a cautionary tale of how, when we follow our own plans and avoid listening to God’s plans, we always end up finding destruction and hardship.
Rehoboam is the only son of Solomon that we truly know by name. As we know, Solomon had over a thousand wives and concubines. The only son we know of from the wives and concubines is Rehoboam, and he lives foolishly. This chapter shows us that sin always has consequences. Solomon was the wisest and richest man to ever live, but he started trusting in his own wisdom and not God’s. This led him down a path of lustful pursuits that led to terrible leadership in Rehoboam and ultimately to the writing of the book of Ecclesiastes, which puts on full display how all of Solomon’s worldly pursuits are utterly meaningless.
The Israelites were warned by God in 1 Samuel 8 that they would have a king that takes from them constantly. Solomon was a good king, but he still took a large amount of taxes and hard service from his people. Even after this, the people wanted another king. This king, Rehoboam, decided to double down on the “taking” part of Solomon’s reign and ignore the good parts. Again, Israel chose to forsake God’s plans and pursue their own desires for a king. Clearly this did not go well.
Next, we see that Rehoboam made a smart choice by speaking with his older, wiser advisors first. They share with Rehoboam that if he is a giving king instead of a taking king, that his people will adore him forever. God was clearly speaking through these advisors to Rehoboam. As we know, Jesus is the greatest servant leader in all of history. However, instead of abiding by God’s plans, Rehoboam seeks input from younger individuals that he had grown up with, even though they were unwise. They tell him to double down on being a taking king. This fed Rehoboam’s ego and was exactly what he wanted to hear. So, he went with this option.
In verses 16 and 17, we see what happens when we forsake God’s plans and pursue our own: chaos and destruction. The twelve tribes divide, Israel rebels against the entire house of David, and a tax collector is murdered. Division, rebellion, and murder. All of this could have been avoided.
It is easy to read this historical account and think “Rehoboam, what are you doing? Just listen!” However, if someone was writing a story of our life, would the future readers say the same thing about you? Are you listening to wise counsel? Are you pursuing God’s Truth instead of what the world says to be true? Are you actively rejecting what you want to hear in order to hear Truth from the Creator of all things?
Questions
- If someone wrote a story about your life up until this moment, would you look like a faithful servant of God or more like Rehoboam, pursuing your own wants and desires?
- How are you actively pursuing wise counsel?
- How are you actively rejecting poor counsel?
Keep Digging
There are several instances throughout the Old Testament of kings and prophets at conflict with one another, including Rehoboam. To learn more about some of these stand-offs, check out this blog post from The Bible Project.
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9 responses to “2 Chronicles 10”
A fork in the road.
Do we follow the world or follow God?
Easier or not so easy?
That is where Rehoboam was. He asked advice and got a godly counsel and a worldly counsel. He chose the world. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we also have choices. Over and over there will be forks in the road. We will have to choose the worldly, easy way or the path that God has which will not be as easy.
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Romans 12:17-18 ESV)
God as I follow You help me with these forks in the road. Show me, even in the hard, what Your hearts desire is for me. God help me to choose You always. God today, in these minutes of this day, continue to give me opportunities to share You with others, through actions, deeds, words and love. God thank You for giving me the opportunities with second chances, and being accountable my details of my life. God thank You for Your love goggles to see others, and words that express Your love as well today, in these minutes of this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I think of wise counsel, I’m reminded of the biblical community we are blessed with in our Life Group. God’s favor has been poured out on us as we live life together, sharing joys and sorrows and always bringing us back to the authority of scripture. They are the perfect pairing of grace and truth.
Wonderful!
❤
7 “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
This is common sense advice from the old men. They had experience, expertise, and wisdom. But common sense is not so common.
Instead, Rehoboam rejected that wise advice in favor of the naive counsel of his childhood buddies. Good luck with that!
God’s purpose will prevail even through human foolishness and bad decisions.
Lord, I pray for discernment and clarity in forks of the road I travel. Thank you for providing wise counsel in the community I live in and with. I confess that pride can blind my perspective. Forgive me and remind me of James 1:19 that advises, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.” May all my decisions and actions align with Your wisdom. In Jesus name, Amen!
Im sorry. I must have barged into this group un invited
Kelly this is for any one who is reading the BRP to put their thoughts and comments. You are very welcome to share. Any one who is reading can share. Some of us, me, find a way to be accountable for my walk with God. Please share your thoughts.
My idea of bingeworthy TV is any of those sweeping, dynastic dramas – think “The Tudors,” “Victoria” or “The Crown.” One consistent theme emerges throughout: British aristocracy is both brittle… and unpredictable. No sooner does a monarch come to power than they have to fight to keep hold of it. There’s always someone around, more than ready to end your reign.
So there are always critical tactics that come with taking the throne. You hurry to surround yourself with the new guard and get shut of the old (i.e., “my people“ in, “their people“ out).
And then there’s the question of those pesky subjects. What to do with them? I read somewhere that new leaders, responsible for governing the potentially “reluctant,” have two approaches to authority:
Earn respect.
Or instill fear.
Well, we see which way Rehoboam went. (Perhaps because he already knew he didn’t have a decent shot at being a respected ruler?)
And there’s the “nothing new under the sun” part of the story I see — leaders who care more about holding onto power than they do about caring for the powerless.
(IDK about you, but the current political climate has certainly left me feeling “heavily burdened“… and even beaten bloody at times.)
Clearly, Rehoboam’s story has me thinking a lot. And it leads me to ask these questions:
What does “good” leadership look like?
More importantly, how will WE lead?
In our most impactful positions, will we remain humble and faithful, committed to seeking wisdom and serving well? Are we resolved to stand firm where God has positioned us? Will we be leaders who obey God, even when obedience can look like chaos long before clarity?
Because those who would be servant-leaders for God understand this:
• Faithful leadership will sometimes be misunderstood leadership.
• Wise decisions can still create painful outcomes.
• Obedience doesn’t guarantee peace — but it does guarantee alignment with God’s plan.
• And as long as we lead surrendered, we never lead alone.