2 Chronicles 10

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 10

1¶ And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.

2And 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.

3And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

4Thy 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.

5And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.

6And 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?

7And 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.

8But 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.

9And 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?

10And 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.

11For 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.

12¶ So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.

13And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,

14And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.

15So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16And when all Israel [saw] that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and [we have] none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: [and] now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.

17But [as for] the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

18Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that [was] over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to [his] chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

19And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Rehoboam, seeking to be made king in Shechem, was confronted by all Israel, led by Jeroboam, who requested a lighter burden than his father Solomon had imposed. Rehoboam rejected the wise counsel of the old men and instead followed the harsh advice of the young men. Consequently, he answered the people roughly, threatening to increase their servitude, which led to the rebellion of ten tribes against the house of David.

Medium Summary

Upon Solomon's death, Rehoboam went to Shechem where all Israel assembled to make him king. Jeroboam, who had fled to Egypt from Solomon, returned and, along with the people, petitioned Rehoboam to ease the heavy yoke his father had placed upon them. Rehoboam sought counsel, first from the old men who advised kindness and good words to secure the people's loyalty. However, he then consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who urged him to declare he would make their yoke even heavier, chastising them with scorpions instead of whips. Rehoboam adopted this harsh counsel, refusing to hearken to the people's plea. This outcome was ordained by God to fulfill His word spoken through Ahijah concerning Jeroboam, leading to Israel's rebellion against the house of David.

Long Summary

After the death of King Solomon, his son Rehoboam journeyed to Shechem, where all the tribes of Israel had gathered to establish him as their king. Jeroboam, who had previously fled to Egypt to escape Solomon, returned and joined the assembly. Together, Jeroboam and all Israel approached Rehoboam, requesting that he lighten the grievous servitude and heavy yoke that his father Solomon had imposed upon them, promising their service in return. Rehoboam asked them to return in three days, during which time he sought counsel. He first consulted the old men who had served his father, who advised him to be kind, please the people, and speak good words, assuring him they would then be his servants forever. However, Rehoboam disregarded this wise counsel and instead sought advice from the young men with whom he had been raised. These young men advised him to declare that his 'little finger' would be thicker than his father's loins, and that he would add to their yoke, chastising them with scorpions where his father had used whips. On the third day, when the people returned, King Rehoboam answered them roughly, adopting the harsh advice of the young men. This refusal to hearken unto the people was divinely orchestrated, for the cause was of God, to fulfill the prophecy spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam. Seeing that the king would not listen, all Israel declared they had no portion in David and no inheritance in the son of Jesse, proclaiming, 'every man to your tents, O Israel.' Thus, Israel rebelled against the house of David, though Rehoboam continued to reign over the children of Israel dwelling in the cities of Judah. When Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the tribute, the children of Israel stoned him to death, forcing Rehoboam to flee swiftly in his chariot to Jerusalem.

Core Concepts

  • Rehoboam's AccessionThe chapter opens with Rehoboam going to Shechem, where all Israel had assembled to make him king, setting the stage for the crucial events of his reign's beginning.
  • The People's GrievanceLed by Jeroboam, the people petitioned Rehoboam to ease the 'grievous servitude' and 'heavy yoke' that King Solomon had imposed, indicating widespread discontent with the previous reign's burdens.
  • Counsel of EldersRehoboam first consulted the old men who had served his father, who advised a conciliatory approach, suggesting that kindness and good words would secure the people's lasting loyalty.
  • Counsel of Young MenRejecting the elders' wisdom, Rehoboam sought advice from the young men he grew up with, who advocated a harsh and threatening response, promising to increase the people's burdens and chastise them more severely.
  • Rehoboam's Harsh ReplyFollowing the young men's counsel, Rehoboam answered the people roughly, declaring he would make their yoke heavier and chastise them with 'scorpions,' directly provoking their rebellion.
  • Divine SovereigntyThe KJV explicitly states that Rehoboam's refusal to listen was 'of God,' indicating that the division of the kingdom was a fulfillment of the Lord's word spoken through Ahijah to Jeroboam.
  • Division of the KingdomAs a direct consequence of Rehoboam's actions, ten tribes of Israel rebelled against the house of David, forming their own kingdom under Jeroboam, while Rehoboam retained control only over Judah.