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(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Chronicles 10:1–11, “And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. And they sent and called him. 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. And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed. 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 for ever. But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him. And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us? And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”
After Solomon was dead, Rehoboam went to Shechem, a traditional place of worship, to be crowned as king over Israel. Solomon had made a lifetime enemy of Jeroboam because a prophet had told Jeroboam that he would be king of a large part of Solomon’s kingdom. Jeroboam spoke for the people and asked Rehoboam to be a kinder king than his father. Solomon may have been wise but he was also a severe leader to Israel. Rehoboam consulted with his advisors. He asked the men who had advised his father and they told him to deal kindly with the people. Rehoboam also asked his own group of friends. They were drunk with their new status and advised Rehoboam to be even more severe than his father. He answered them roughly as his own friends advised him.
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