Rehoboam — The Young Punk Who Split a Kingdom

From Idiotic Things People Did in the Bible

Then the king answered the people roughly … saying, “My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist … I will chastise you with scourges!” 1 Kings 12:13–14

What He Did

When the people begged for mercy after Solomon’s heavy taxes and compulsory labor, Rehoboam rejected wise counsel and followed his young buddies’ advice—oppress and push them even more.

Why It Was Idiotic

He betrayed his own people. Ten tribes revolted and formed their own kingdom. Rehoboam inherited unity—and blew it in one idiotic speech.

Here’s the Scoop

Rehoboam was the son of King Solomon and the grandson of King David. His mother was Naamah the Ammonitess (1 Kings 14:21). He became the king of Israel after Solomon’s death around 931 B.C.

Rehoboam could have walked before God with a humble heart, but he didn’t. Our hearts are easily puffed up with pride. He was the king of Israel, and it seems the crown went straight to his head. He should have been humbled by the legacies of his father and grandfather, vowing not to repeat their errors. He should have prayed for the wisdom of Solomon, but it seems wisdom was the last thing on his clueless mind.

When Rehoboam became king, the people of Israel asked him to lighten the harsh burdens Solomon had placed on them (see 1 Kings 12:1–4). He first consulted the elders, who advised leniency, but then he listened to the counsel of young men who urged him to be even harsher. Rehoboam declared:

“My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!” (1 Kings 12:10)

This nasty, hateful, and arrogant response understandably led to a national revolt. Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel rejected Rehoboam’s rule and chose Jeroboam as their king, forming the northern kingdom of Israel. Rehoboam retained authority only over Judah and Benjamin, forming the southern kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 12:16–20).

Though he initially obeyed God’s command not to fight the northern tribes (2 Chronicles 11:1–4), his reign quickly fell into spiritual decline. He and the people of Judah forsook the Lord and adopted pagan practices:

And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD… (1 Kings 14:22, KJV)

As a result, in the fifth year of his reign, King Shishak of Egypt invaded Jerusalem and plundered the temple and the royal palace (1 Kings 14:25–26; 2 Chronicles 12:2–9).

Rehoboam ruled 17 years in Jerusalem. Though he humbled himself before God during Shishak’s invasion (2 Chronicles 12:6–7), his heart was not fully committed to the Lord:

And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD. (2 Chronicles 12:14)

He died and was buried in Jerusalem. His son Abijah succeeded him as king (1 Kings 14:31; 2 Chronicles 12:16).

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“This godless world thinks it knows best. It is like Rehoboam—puffed up with sinful pride. It mocks the Bible and instead chooses its own way rather than the way of God: Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. (Psalm 107:17, KJV)”

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Too often youth ignore (or even despise) the elderly. It seems that most of us forget they were once young. The elderly have walked through the land mines of life, and those who want to save themselves some pain would be wise to consider their counsel. They may have good solid advice on subjects such as financial stability, gambling, alcohol use, self-control, marriage, and more. So it’s wise to set aside time in life’s busyness and sit at their feet and learn. Rehoboam didn’t do that. He listened, and like a rebellious spoiled brat, decided to do the opposite. Why? Because that’s the dark side of human nature. It thinks it knows best. It listens—but only to sin as its dictator. Its only agenda is pleasure. Millions have ruined their lives because they didn’t flee from youthful lusts and preferred their own way instead of wise advice. Rehoboam mocked the advice that could have eased life for his people, and instead listened to the counsel of the ungodly—and brought about disaster.

Here is our big lesson: We have a Book that is pregnant with the best of good advice. This sound counsel doesn’t necessarily come from the elderly. It comes from those who are more than elderly—every one of them is dead. But they, being dead, yet speak to us—sometimes as wise counselors and sometimes as cautionary tales—if we’re willing to listen. Adam and Eve remind us of the absolute necessity of obedience to God and the fear and consequences of disobedience. Cain reminds us to guard our hearts with all diligence against the sin of jealousy. David shouts from the pages of Scripture about the importance of walking in the fear of God, and the subtlety of having a wandering eye that has no regard for consequences. And Solomon reminds us that we can have wisdom, but it will be of no benefit if we don’t have a heart after the Lord.

God gave us this story in Scripture to remind us to listen to sound advice. This godless world thinks it knows best. It is like Rehoboam—puffed up with sinful pride. It mocks the Bible and instead chooses its own way rather than the way of God:

Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. (Psalm 107:17, KJV)

From Idiotic Things People Did in the Bible