Reflections on 2 Chronicles 10

 2 Chronicles 10(Contemporary English Version)

1. Rehoboam went to Shechem where everyone was waiting to crown him king.
2. Jeroboam son of Nebat heard what was happening, and he returned from Egypt, where he had gone to hide from Solomon.
3. The people from the northern tribes of Israel sent for him. Then together they went to Rehoboam and said,
4. "Your father Solomon forced us to work very hard. But if you make our work easier, we will serve you and do whatever you ask."
5. Rehoboam replied, "Come back in three days for my answer." So the people left.
6. Rehoboam went to some leaders who had been his father's senior officials, and he asked them, "What should I tell these people?"
7. They answered, "If you want them to serve and obey you, then you should be kind and promise to make their work easier."
8. But Rehoboam refused their advice and went to the younger men who had grown up with him and were now his officials.
9. He asked, "What do you think I should say to these people who asked me to make their work easier?"
10. His younger advisors said: Here's what we think you should say to them: "Compared to me, my father was weak.
11. He made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"
12. Three days later, Jeroboam and the others came back.
13. Rehoboam ignored the advice of the older advisors. He spoke bluntly
14. and told them exactly what his own advisors had suggested. He said: "My father made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"
15. When the people realized that Rehoboam would not listen to them, they shouted: "We don't have to be loyal to David's family. We can do what we want. Come on, people of Israel, let's go home! Rehoboam can rule his own people." Adoniram was in charge of the work force, and Rehoboam sent him to talk to the people. But they stoned him to death. Then Rehoboam ran to his chariot and hurried back to Jerusalem. Everyone from Israel's northern tribes went home, leaving Rehoboam to rule only the people from Judah. And since that day, the people of Israel have been opposed to David's descendants in Judah. All of this happened just as Ahijah the LORD's prophet from Shiloh had told Jeroboam.
16. (SEE 10:15)
17. (SEE 10:15)
18. (SEE 10:15)
19. (SEE 10:15)

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A quip attributed to Woody Allen comes to mind in reading this passage. It says, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans." The players in the events recorded in chapter 10 may have thought they were "pulling the strings" to bring about their intended outcomes, while all along events were transpiring as God had planned. But it was He who was pulling the strings.

Rehoboam no doubt thought he was making a wise move by going to Shechem for his coronation and thus appease the northern tribes who had become disenchanted with the yoke his father had placed on them. But the northern tribes wanted more than a conciliatory gesture. They wanted specific promises and Rehoboam was not wise enough nor secure enough as a leader to know how best to address their concerns. Therefore he chose, as insecure leaders tend to do, to assert his authority by force.

1 Kings 11 gives a background for Jeroboam's actions and why he was living in Egypt waiting for the death of Solomon. It also informs us that this split in the kingdom that took place on this occasion was of God as does verse 15 of this chapter. 1 Kings 11 tells how God informed Jeroboam through the prophet Ahijah that he was to eventually rule the 10 northern tribes of Israel. Solomon evidently got word of this and sought to kill him. Therefore Jeroboam fled to Egypt and lived there until he heard of Solomon's death. The reason God gave for the split in the kingdom and giving the larger portion to Jeroboam was because of Solomon's apostasy in bringing pagan worship to Israel. Had it not been for God's promise to David to keep a descendant of his on the throne, the whole kingdom would likely have gone to Jeroboam.

Chapter 11 tells of Jeroboam showing up for Rehoboam's coronation and leading a contingent to challenge Rehoboam concerning the type rule he would have over them. If he was going to continue the heavy yoke of his father, they wanted no part in it. If he was not going to continue with the heavy yoke they pledged their loyalty to him. Rehoboam sought counsel both from his wiser and older leaders and also from his peers with whom he had grown up. He accepted the counsel of his peers over that of the elders probably because it was what he wanted to do anyway.

With bluster Rehoboam announced to the northern tribes that "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I, with barbed whips." At this announcement an immediate split occurred with the ten northern tribes seceding from the kingdom. Rehoboam had to run for his life back to Jerusalem.