THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

(1 KINGS 12:1-13:34)

Central truth: In any circumstance the consequences of not wanting to follow the advice of experienced people can
be dire.
A. Historical background:
Early History of the Divided Kingdom: The division of the kingdom of Israel was the result of a foolish decision on
the part of Rehoboam. The tribes that separated had a long history of antagonism that had threatened for many
years to cause division. The largest tribe was Judah and he enjoyed prominence as the leader of the other tribes. It
received the largest geographic area of the promised land because it was the most numerous. But Ephraim was
Joseph's favorite son and although that tribe was not that large, it had already demonstrated its supposed
superiority. Shechem was in Ephraim. The separation later worsened and led to the breakup of the monarchy, the
date of the division of the kingdom was 931 BC, the year in which Israel ceased to be a united monarchy.
Shechem. It is an ancient city of Palestine about 9 km south of Samaria and 54 km north of Jerusalem. It is situated
between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, in the part of Palestine that came to be known as Samaria, the northern
kingdom, and for a time was the capital. It has a history of more than 4,000 years and is much older than
Jerusalem. It is mentioned 48 times in the Bible and is related to biblical history from Abraham to Christ: it is the first
place where Abraham lived in Canaan, Gen. 12:1-7. After meeting Esau, Jacob went to Shechem, Gen. 33:18-20.
Jacob's daughter was dishonored, Simeon and Levi vindicated her, Gen. 34. Jacob hid idols there.
There blessings and curses were pronounced upon Israel, Dt.27-38; Josh. 8. Abimelech was made king, captured
and sowed the city with salt, Judg. 9. Rehoboam rejected and the kingdom divided, 1 Kings 12:1-24. Jeroboam
elected king, fortified it as his capital, 1 Kings 12:25-33.
Peniel. The name means "Face of God" and designates a place on the east side of the Jordan near the Jabbok River.
This form occurs only in Gen. 32:30, and in other places it is called Penuel. The name was given to this place by
Jacob after the night he fought near Jabbok, for "I saw God face to face, and my soul was delivered." Later a city
with a tower was built here. It was among the places where Gideon's army pursued the Midianites. It was one of the
towns that Jeroboam built and fortified (1 Kings. 12.25).
B. Emphasis:
The division of the kingdom, 1R. 12:1-24. Rehoboam met with the people in Shechem who came there to make him
king, and Jeroboam also came at the request of the people. In that place the future king listens to the complaints
and a request from the people: a significant reduction in heavy taxes. At that moment Rehoboam receives two
opposing pieces of advice: that of the elders or men of experience who suggest that he agree; and that of his
friends, of the same age, who advise him to exercise a tough policy. Rehoboam did not listen to the people or people
of experience, but to his friends. This caused a rejection by the northern tribes who did not accept him as king, nor
were they willing to give him tribute, so they killed their envoy. At the same time they named Jeroboam king of the
northern tribes, thus causing the division of the kingdom. Finally Rehoboam receives God's order not to go to war to
try to dominate the other tribes.
Jeroboam distances Israel from Jehovah, 1 Kings. 12:25-33. Jeroboam began trying to strengthen his position both
in the political-military sphere, so he rebuilt Shechem and Peniel, and in the religious sphere, for which he placed
two calves: one in Dan and the other in Bethel.
APPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY.
One of the things that differentiates the wise from the fool is the ability to make decisions. The passage shows some
teachings for behaving wisely in those moments:
1. A wise person recognizes when they need advice to make a decision. In a moment as solemn as the one he
was facing, the king understood that the decision he made could give his reign a long-term direction. And he
recognized that he needed to be advised.
2. A wise person is willing to listen to different opinions. It is wise to listen to various points of view on a problem.
It is foolish to seek to hear what one wants.
3. A wise person knows how to differentiate between good advice and bad advice. Rehoboam did not know how
to differentiate between good judgment and bad judgment. His friendly relations influenced him, and he ignored
good advice.
4. A wise person is not guided by pride or arrogance. Rehoboam was haughty and arrogant for not listening to the
people. Pride and haughtiness are always bad advisors (Prov. 11:2), and do not produce good results.
 WORKSHEET
THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
(1 KINGS 12:1-33)

Central truth: In any circumstance the consequences of not wanting to follow the advice of experienced people can
be dire.
Read your Bible and answer:
1. Dilemma and foolish decision of Rehoboam, 1 Kings. 12:1-15.
v. 1-5. Shechem was a very suitable place for Rehoboam's coronation as king of Israel. On the eve of this
celebration, the northern tribes, led by the tribe of Ephraim, sent for Jeroboam who lived in (v.2) . They
wanted me to ask Rehoboam to lower taxes (v.__) . If he had reduced taxes and lightened the serfdom of his
people, the king would have won the support of the petitioners. But he responded that he needed (v.5) ___ days to
think.
v. 6-15. The king asked two groups of advisors to give him their recommendation. The elders who had been
Solomon's official advisors wisely advised him to lighten the burden of taxes and work (v.__). But Rehoboam did not
hear this correct advice and turned to follow the advice of his contemporaries (v.__) . The words Rehoboam used to
answer the people's request seem intended to provoke antagonism ( v.14) : “My father made your yoke heavy, but I
to your yoke; my father punished you with
lashes, but I will punish you with ”. Instead of listening to the people, Rehoboam put his selfish interests
first of all. The writer records that what happened was Jehovah's design (v.__) to fulfill the prophecy given through
Ahijah. God's judgment for Solomon's apostasy was being fulfilled.
2. Israel's rebellion, 1 K. 12:16-24.
Rehoboam's insensitivity to the problems of the Israelites eliminated all hope of economic recovery. His threat,
typical of a dictator, scared away his broken subjects. It was at that place and time that the 10 tribes separated and
broke unity. Only the closest countrymen of the tribe of Judah (v.__) did not abandon him. The response of the
northern Israelites (v.__) became a war cry (Sheba used it years before to rebel against David (2 Sam. 20:1).
Rehoboam wanted to restore unity by force. Probably because they were close neighbors and because of the capital,
the tribe of Benjamin joined with that of Judah. The two tribes gathered together (v.21) __________ men for
fight against his brothers from the 10 northern tribes. These war plans were interrupted by a prophet of Jehovah
named (v.22) ___________________ who announced that Jehovah had said (v.24) “Do not go or fight against
your the children of Israel; return each one to his house, for this I have done, ” and so
He convinced Rehoboam and the entire house of Judah to return to their homes.
4. Jeroboam's evil reign in Israel, 1R. 12:25-33.
Jeroboam chose Shechem as his capital. His machinations reveal that he had an evil and unbelieving heart, instead
of believing in the promise of God he sought his own safety and distanced the people from his Lord. He was afraid
that Israel would return to the house of Rehoboam and to prevent this he began a series of reforms: he made two
calves or bulls of gold and told them (v.28) : “You have gone up enough to ; Behold your gods, O Israel, who
brought you up from
the land of Egypt”; to prevent the Israelites from traveling to Jerusalem to worship in the temple built by Solomon.
New shrines to idols were also built to replace the temple that contained the ark with its golden cherubs. These were
located in the cities of (v.29) ___________________________________________________________ and ____.
He also instituted a solemn feast in the 8th month and installed a different priestly system (v.__).
APPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY.
One of the things that differentiates the wise from the fool is the ability to make decisions. The passage shows some
teachings to behave wisely in those moments:
1. A wise person recognizes when they need advice to make a decision. In a moment as solemn as the one he
was facing, the king understood that the decision he made could give his reign a long-term direction. And he
recognized that he needed to be advised.
2. A wise person is willing to listen to different opinions. It is wise to listen to various points of view on a problem.
It is foolish to seek to hear what one wants.
3. A wise person knows how to differentiate between good advice and bad advice. Rehoboam did not know how
to differentiate between good judgment and bad judgment. His friendly relations influenced him, and he ignored
good advice.
 WORKSHEET
4. A wise person is not guided by pride or arrogance. Rehoboam was haughty and arrogant for not listening to the
people. Pride and haughtiness are always bad advisors (Prov. 11:2), and do not produce good results.
 JAMIESON-FAUSSET-BROWN BIBLE COMMENTARY
CHAPTER 12
1-5. REJECT THE ADVICE OF THE ELDERS.
1. Rehoboam went to Shechem —He was the eldest son of Solomon, and had no doubt been designated by his
father as the heir to the throne, just as Solomon had been designated by David. The incident recounted here
occurred after the late king's funeral rites, and a period of public mourning. When “all Israel had come to make him
king,” it was not to exercise their old right of election, for, after God's promise that the family of David would reign
perpetually, their duty was submission to the authority of the heir. legitimate; but his object in making him king was
to renew the conditions and stipulations to which his constitutional kings were subject. Shechem — Ancient,
venerable and central city; It is evident, if not from the choice of that place, at least from the tenor of their language
and the concerted presence of Jeroboam, that the people were determined to rebel.
4. Your father aggravated our yoke - Such was the splendor of Solomon's court and the magnitude of his
enterprises, that neither the tribute of the dependent states, nor the gifts of foreign princes, nor the profits of his
commercial enterprises, were sufficient to carry them. forward, and he had been forced, in order to obtain the
necessary income, to begin a system of heavy taxes. The people looked only at the burdens and not the benefits
which they had received from the peaceful and prosperous reign of Solomon, and the evils from which they asked
deliverance were civil oppressions, and not idolatry, to which they seemed indifferent.
5. He said to them: Go, and within three days - It was prudent to consider the requests of the people in a calm
and deliberate manner. It is impossible to say whether any good would have resulted if he had followed the advice
of the wise and experienced old men. This would have at least removed any pretext for separation. But he preferred
the advice of his young companions (not in years, because they were all about forty-one years old, but lacking in
experience), who recommended prompt and decisive measures to subdue the discontented.
11. whippings… scorpions —These, in contrast to those, imply straps set with sharp iron points, used to punish
slaves.
15. the king did not listen to the people; because it was the ordination of Jehovah —That was the predominant
cause. Rehoboam's weakness and inexperience in public affairs have given rise to the assumption that, like many
other princes of the East, he had been isolated in the harem until the time of his accession, because his father
feared that he would aspire to the throne. like the two sons of David. The arrogant and violent response he gave to
a dissatisfied and exasperated people indicated such a great inability to appreciate the seriousness of the crisis, and
a lack of common sense, as to make it seem that he was incapable of passing judgment. His response was met with
scorn and derision. The rebellion was accomplished, but so quietly, that Rehoboam remained in Shechem,
considering himself the ruler of a united kingdom, until his chief tax collector, sent to deal with the people, was
stoned to death. This opened his eyes, and he fled for safety to Jerusalem.
20-33. JEROBOAM IS MADE KING OVER THEM.
20. When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned —Rehoboam resolved to defend his authority, leading a
large army to the provinces of the discontented. But the revolt of the ten tribes was already complete, when the
prophet Shemaiah ordered in the name of Jehovah, the abandonment of all hostile measures against the
revolutionaries. The army, intimidated by the divine prohibition, disbanded, and the king was forced to submit.
25. Jeroboam rebuilt Shechem . Destroyed by Abimelech (Judges 9:1-49). It was rebuilt and perhaps fortified by
Jeroboam, as a royal residence... he rebuilt Peniel - a ruined city, east of the Jordan, on the north bank of the
Jabbok. It was an important object to restore this fortress and secure its border on that side since it was on the
caravan road from Gilead to Damascus and Palmyra.
26. Jeroboam said in his heart: Now the kingdom will return to the house of David —Having received the
kingdom of God, Jeroboam should have trusted in divine protection; but he didn't do it that way. With a view to
withdrawing the people from the temple and destroying the sacred associations with Jerusalem, he introduced
serious and inexcusable innovations, under the pretext of saving the people the inconvenience and expense of a long
journey. 1st he erected two golden calves, or calves, Apis and Mnevis, as symbols, according to the Egyptians, of the
true God, and the most similar, according to his fantasy, to the figures of the cherubs. One was placed in Dan and
the other in Bethel, in the southern part, within sight of Jerusalem. This second place was the most frequented,
because the words (v. 30) should be translated: “the people even Dan went to worship before the one.” This
invocation was a sin, both because it established the worship of God under symbols and images, and also because it
distanced the people from the place that God had chosen to place his name. 2nd he changed the Feast of
Tabernacles from the 15th of the 7th month to the 15th of the 8th, the real reason was to erase the association with
the most pleasant and joyful festival of the year.
31. He made priests from the class of the people —literally, from among all the people, the Levites refusing to act.
He himself took upon himself the functions of the high priest, at least, at the great festival, probably because he had
seen the king of Egypt unite the royal and sacred offices, and believing the office of high priest too high to be
conferred on a subject .
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