King Solomon presided over peace and prosperity in a united Israel, dying with a large legacy to live up to.

“Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”” (1 Kings 12 3-4).

These charges were serious. Solomon had needed many workers and much wealth for his great palace and temple. Jeroboam was the prophesied leader of the northern tribes. His leading the delegation was suspicious, but the complaint the people had needed to be addressed.

Solomon, in the tradition of the wise, had surrounded himself with other wise men to assist him. 

“Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”

And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. And he said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” (1 Kings 12 6-9)

Note the wording ‘how should we answer’. He counts himself among the other young men, already considering their counsel more important before they’ve given it.

“Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’” (10-11)

In other words, ‘Don’t give a thing to these rebels! These ungrateful fools don’t know what real suffering is, but they will soon enough!” 

These harsh threats were not of God’s annointed, but the words of a tyrant. It could only enrage the people, and was just the pretext Jeroboam needed to make his own claim to rule. 

“Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying:

‘What share have we in David?

We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.

To your tents, O Israel!

Now, see to your own house, O David!’” (v. 16)

The kingdom became divided. Four hundred years of war and suffering followed, the nation split apart by these rash actions. The elders suggesting conciliation would not have prevented the rebellion, prophesied by God, but Rehoboam would not have been guilty of contributing to it through his arrogance and folly. But he was guilty, because he followed poor counsel.

Art: Jim Padgett via Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org