Prophets and Kings
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 6: The Rending of the Kingdom
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With the rending of the kingdom early in Rehoboam's reign the glory of Israel began to depart, never again to be regained in its fullness.
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"Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the
City of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead." 1
Kings 11:43. {PK 87.1}
Soon after his accession to the throne, Rehoboam went to
Shechem, where he expected to receive formal recognition from all the tribes.
"To Shechem were all Israel come to make him king." 2 Chronicles
10:1. {PK 87.2}
Among those present was Jeroboam the son of Nebat—the
same Jeroboam who during Solomon's reign had been known as "a mighty man
of valor," and to whom the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite had delivered the
startling message, "Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of
Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee." 1 Kings 11:28, 31. {PK 87.3}
The Lord through His messenger had spoken plainly to
Jeroboam regarding the necessity of dividing the kingdom. This division must
take place, He had declared, "because that they have forsaken Me, and have
worshiped [88] Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh
the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have
not walked in My ways, to do that which is right in Mine eyes, and to keep My
statutes and My judgments, as did David." Verse 33. {PK 87.4}
Jeroboam had been further instructed that the kingdom was
not to be divided before the close of Solomon's reign. "I will not take
the whole kingdom out of his hand," the Lord had declared; "but I
will make him prince all the days of his life for David My servant's sake, whom
I chose, because he kept My commandments and My statutes: but I will take the
kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten
tribes." Verses 34, 35. {PK
88.1}
Although Solomon had longed to prepare the mind of Rehoboam,
his chosen successor, to meet with wisdom the crisis foretold by the prophet of
God, he had never been able to exert a strong molding influence for good over
the mind of his son, whose early training had been so grossly neglected.
Rehoboam had received from his mother, an Ammonitess, the stamp of a
vacillating character. At times he endeavored to serve God and was granted a
measure of prosperity; but he was not steadfast, and at last he yielded to the
influences for evil that had surrounded him from infancy. In the mistakes of
Rehoboam's life and in his final apostasy is revealed the fearful result of
Solomon's union with idolatrous women. {PK 88.2}
The tribes had long suffered grievous wrongs under the
oppressive measures of their former ruler. The extravagance of Solomon's reign
during his apostasy had led him [89] to tax the people heavily and to
require of them much menial service. Before going forward with the coronation
of a new ruler, the leading men from among the tribes determined to ascertain
whether or not it was the purpose of Solomon's son to lessen these burdens. "So
Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying, Thy father made our
yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy
father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee." {PK 88.3}
Desirous of taking counsel with his advisers before
outlining his policy, Rehoboam answered, "Come again unto me after three
days. And the people departed. {PK 89.1}
"And King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that
had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel
give ye me to return answer to this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If
thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them,
they will be thy servants forever." 2 Chronicles 10:3-7. {PK 89.2}
Dissatisfied, Rehoboam turned to the younger men with whom
he had associated during his youth and early manhood, and inquired of them,
"What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to
me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?" 1
Kings 12:9. The young men suggested that he deal sternly with the subjects of
his kingdom and make plain to them that from the very beginning he would brook
no interference with his personal wishes. {PK 89.3}
Flattered by the prospect of exercising supreme authority,
Rehoboam determined to disregard the counsel of the older [90] men of
his realm, and to make the younger men his advisers. Thus it came to pass that
on the day appointed, when "Jeroboam and all the people came to
Rehoboam" for a statement concerning the policy he intended to pursue,
Rehoboam "answered the people roughly, . . . saying, My father
made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you
with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." Verses 12-14. {PK 89.4}
Had Rehoboam and his inexperienced counselors understood the
divine will concerning Israel, they would have listened to the request of the
people for decided reforms in the administration of the government. But in the
hour of opportunity that came to them during the meeting in Shechem, they
failed to reason from cause to effect, and thus forever weakened their
influence over a large number of the people. Their expressed determination to
perpetuate and add to the oppression introduced during Solomon's reign was in
direct conflict with God's plan for Israel, and gave the people ample occasion
to doubt the sincerity of their motives. In this unwise and unfeeling attempt
to exercise power, the king and his chosen counselors revealed the pride of
position and authority. {PK
90.1}
The Lord did not allow Rehoboam to carry out the policy he
had outlined. Among the tribes were many thousands who had become thoroughly
aroused over the oppressive measures of Solomon's reign, and these now felt
that they could not do otherwise than rebel against the house of David.
"When all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people
answered the king, saying, What [91] portion have we in David? neither
have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to
thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents." Verse 16. {PK 90.2}
The breach created by the rash speech of Rehoboam proved
irreparable. Thenceforth the twelve tribes of Israel were divided, the tribes
of Judah and Benjamin composing the lower or southern kingdom of Judah, under
the rulership of Rehoboam; while the ten northern tribes formed and maintained
a separate government, known as the kingdom of Israel, with Jeroboam as their
ruler. Thus was fulfilled the prediction of the prophet concerning the rending
of the kingdom. "The cause was from the Lord." Verse 15. {PK 91.1}
When Rehoboam saw the ten tribes withdrawing their
allegiance from him, he was aroused to action. Through one of the influential
men of his kingdom, "Adoram, who was over the tribute," he made an
effort to conciliate them. But the ambassador of peace received treatment which
bore witness to the feeling against Rehoboam. "All Israel stoned him with
stones, that he died." Startled by this evidence of the strength of
revolt, "King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to
Jerusalem." Verse 18. {PK
91.2}
At Jerusalem "he assembled all the house of Judah, with
the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were
warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to
Rehoboam the son of Solomon. But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of
God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto
all the house [92] of Judah and Benjamin, and to the
remnant of the people, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor
fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his
house; for this thing is from Me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the
Lord, and returned to depart, according to the word of the Lord." Verses
21-24. {PK 91.3}
For three years Rehoboam tried to profit by his sad
experience at the beginning of his reign; and in this effort he was prospered.
He "built cities for defense in Judah," and "fortified the
strongholds, and put captains in them, [93] and
store of victual, and of oil and wine." He was careful to make these
fortified cities "exceeding strong." 2 Chronicles 11:5, 11, 12. But
the secret of Judah's prosperity during the first years of Rehoboam's reign lay
not in these measures. It was their recognition of God as the Supreme Ruler
that placed the tribes of Judah and Benjamin on vantage ground. To their number
were added many God-fearing men from the northern tribes. "Out of all the
tribes of Israel," the record reads, "such as set their hearts to
seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lord God
of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam
the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way
of David and Solomon." Verses 16, 17. {PK 92.1}
In continuing this course lay Rehoboam's opportunity to
redeem in large measure the mistakes of the past and to restore confidence in
his ability to rule with discretion. But the pen of inspiration has traced the
sad record of Solomon's successor as one who failed to exert a strong influence
for loyalty to Jehovah. Naturally headstrong, confident, self-willed, and
inclined to idolatry, nevertheless, had he placed his trust wholly in God, he
would have developed strength of character, steadfast faith, and submission to
the divine requirements. But as time passed, the king put his trust in the
power of position and in the strongholds he had fortified. Little by little he
gave way to inherited weakness, until he threw his influence wholly on the side
of idolatry. "It came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom,
and had strengthened himself, he forsook [94] the law
of the Lord, and all Israel with him." 2 Chronicles 12:1. {PK 93.1}
How sad, how filled with significance, the words, "And
all Israel with him"! The people whom God had chosen to stand as a light
to the surrounding nations were turning from their Source of strength and
seeking to become like the nations about them. As with Solomon, so with
Rehoboam—the influence of wrong example led many astray. And as with
them, so to a greater or less degree is it today with everyone who gives
himself up to work evil—the influence of wrongdoing is not confined
to the doer. No man liveth unto himself. None perish alone in their iniquity.
Every life is a light that brightens and cheers the pathway of others, or a
dark and desolating influence that tends toward despair and ruin. We lead
others either upward to happiness and immortal life, or downward to sorrow and
eternal death. And if by our deeds we strengthen or force into activity the
evil powers of those around us, we share their sin. {PK 94.1}
God did not allow the apostasy of Judah's ruler to remain
unpunished. "In the fifth year of King Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came
up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord, with
twelve hundred chariots, and three score thousand horsemen: and the people were
without number that came with him out of Egypt. . . . And he took the
fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem. {PK 94.2}
"Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the
princes of Judah, that were gathered together to [95] Jerusalem
because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the Lord, Ye have forsaken
Me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak." Verses
2-5. {PK 94.3}
The people had not yet gone to such lengths in apostasy that
they despised the judgments of God. In the losses sustained by the invasion of
Shishak, they recognized the hand of God and for a time humbled themselves.
"The Lord is righteous," they acknowledged. {PK 95.1}
"And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves,
the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves;
therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and
My wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know My service, and the
service of the kingdoms of the countries. {PK 95.2}
"So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem,
and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the
king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which
Solomon had made. Instead of which King Rehoboam made shields of brass, and
committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance
of the king's house. . . . And when he humbled himself, the wrath of
the Lord turned from him, that He would not destroy him altogether: and also in
Judah things went well." Verses 6-12. {PK 95.3}
But as the hand of affliction was removed, and the nation
prospered once more, many forgot their fears and turned again to idolatry.
Among these was King Rehoboam himself. Though humbled by the calamity that had
befallen [96] him, he failed to make this experience a
decisive turning point in his life. Forgetting the lesson that God had
endeavored to teach him, he relapsed into the sins that had brought judgments
on the nation. After a few inglorious years, during which the king "did
evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord," "Rehoboam
slept with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David: and Abijah his son
reigned in his stead." Verses 14, 16. {PK 95.4}
With the rending of the kingdom early in Rehoboam's reign
the glory of Israel began to depart, never again to be regained in its
fullness. At times during the centuries that followed, the throne of David was
occupied by men of moral worth and far-seeing judgment, and under the rulership
of these sovereigns the blessings resting upon the men of Judah were extended
to the surrounding nations. At times the name of Jehovah was exalted above
every false god, and His law was held in reverence. From time to time mighty
prophets arose to strengthen the hands of the rulers and to encourage the
people to continued faithfulness. But the seeds of evil already springing up
when Rehoboam ascended the throne were never to be wholly uprooted; and at
times the once-favored people of God were to fall so low as to become a byword
among the heathen. {PK
96.1}
Yet notwithstanding the perversity of those who leaned
toward idolatrous practices, God in mercy would do everything in His power to
save the divided kingdom from utter ruin. And as the years rolled on and His
purpose concerning Israel seemed to be utterly thwarted by the devices of men
inspired by satanic agencies, He still manifested His [97]
beneficent designs through the captivity and restoration of the chosen nation. {PK 96.2}
The rending of the kingdom was but the beginning of a
wonderful history, wherein are revealed the long-sufferance and tender mercy of
God. From the crucible of affliction through which they were to pass because of
hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, those whom God was seeking to
purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, were finally to
acknowledge: {PK 97.1}
"There is none like unto Thee, O Lord; Thou art great,
and Thy name is great in might. Who would not fear Thee, O King of nations?
. . . Among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their
kingdoms, there is none like unto Thee." "The Lord is the true God,
He is the living God, and an everlasting King." Jeremiah 10:6, 7, 10. {PK 97.2}
And the worshipers of idols were at last to learn the lesson
that false gods are powerless to uplift and save. "The gods that have not
made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from
under these heavens." Verse 11. Only in allegiance to the living God, the
Creator of all and the Ruler over all, can man find rest and peace. {PK 97.3}
With one accord the chastened and penitent of Israel and
Judah were at last to renew their covenant relationship with Jehovah of hosts,
the God of their fathers; and of Him they were to declare:
"He hath made the earth by His power,
He hath established the world by His wisdom,
And hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion. [98]
"When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters
in the heavens.
And He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends
of the earth;
He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the
wind out of His treasures.
"Every man is brutish in his knowledge:
Every founder is confounded by the graven image:
For his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath
in them.
"They are vanity, and the work of errors:
In the time of their visitation they shall perish.
The portion of Jacob is not like them:
"For He is the former of all things;
And Israel is the rod of His inheritance:
The Lord of hosts is His name."
Verses 12-16. {PK 97.4}
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"Jeroboam"
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