1 Kings 14:31
And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David; his mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite. And his son Abijam reigned in his place.
And Rehoboam rested with his fathers
This phrase indicates the death of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon and the first king of the southern kingdom of Judah after the division of Israel. The expression "rested with his fathers" is a common biblical euphemism for death, suggesting a peaceful passing and a joining with ancestors. It reflects the belief in an afterlife where the deceased are gathered to their people, as seen in Genesis 25:8 with Abraham.

and was buried with them in the City of David;
The City of David refers to Jerusalem, specifically the ancient part of the city that David captured from the Jebusites and established as his capital (2 Samuel 5:7). Being buried in the City of David was an honor, signifying Rehoboam's royal status and lineage. This burial place underscores the continuity of the Davidic dynasty, which holds significant messianic implications as prophesied in 2 Samuel 7:12-16.

his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.
Naamah's identity as an Ammonite highlights the political alliances formed through marriage during Solomon's reign, as he took many foreign wives (1 Kings 11:1-4). The Ammonites were descendants of Lot (Genesis 19:38) and often in conflict with Israel. Her mention here may imply the influence of foreign cultures and religions in Judah, contributing to the spiritual decline during Rehoboam's reign (1 Kings 14:22-24).

And his son Abijam reigned in his place.
Abijam, also known as Abijah, succeeded Rehoboam as king of Judah. His reign continued the Davidic line, which is crucial for the fulfillment of God's covenant with David. Despite his short reign and the continuation of idolatrous practices (1 Kings 15:3), the preservation of the Davidic line is significant in biblical history, ultimately leading to the birth of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, as outlined in the genealogies of Matthew 1:7 and Luke 3:31.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Rehoboam
The son of Solomon and king of Judah, whose reign was marked by division and conflict. His leadership led to the split of the united kingdom of Israel.

2. City of David
A term often used to refer to Jerusalem, specifically the area where David established his capital and where the kings of Judah were buried.

3. Naamah the Ammonite
Rehoboam's mother, highlighting the foreign influence in the royal family, which was contrary to the Israelite law that discouraged intermarriage with foreign nations.

4. Abijam
Rehoboam's son, who succeeded him as king. His reign continued the pattern of disobedience to God.

5. Burial with Fathers
A phrase indicating the continuation of the Davidic line and the tradition of royal burials in Jerusalem.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Godly Leadership
Rehoboam's reign serves as a reminder of the consequences of poor leadership and the importance of seeking God's wisdom in governance.

The Influence of Family and Heritage
The mention of Naamah the Ammonite highlights the impact of family background and the potential for foreign influences to lead one away from God's commands.

God's Faithfulness to His Promises
Despite the failures of Rehoboam and his successors, God remained faithful to His covenant with David, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

The Legacy We Leave
Rehoboam's legacy was one of division and disobedience. This challenges us to consider the spiritual legacy we are leaving for future generations.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Rehoboam's account is a cautionary tale about the consequences of turning away from God's laws and the importance of repentance and obedience.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Rehoboam's leadership compare to that of his father Solomon, and what lessons can we learn about the importance of seeking God's wisdom in our own leadership roles?

2. In what ways does the influence of Naamah the Ammonite reflect the potential impact of our family and cultural background on our spiritual lives?

3. How does the continuity of the Davidic line, despite the failures of its kings, demonstrate God's faithfulness to His promises?

4. What steps can we take to ensure that we are leaving a positive spiritual legacy for the next generation?

5. How can we apply the lessons from Rehoboam's reign to avoid the consequences of disobedience in our own lives, and what scriptures can guide us in this pursuit?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 11:43
This verse parallels 1 Kings 14:31, describing Solomon's death and Rehoboam's succession, emphasizing the continuity of the Davidic line.

2 Chronicles 12:16
Provides a similar account of Rehoboam's death and burial, reinforcing the historical record of the kings of Judah.

Deuteronomy 7:3-4
Warns against intermarriage with foreign nations, which is relevant to Rehoboam's lineage through Naamah the Ammonite.

Matthew 1:7
Lists Rehoboam in the genealogy of Jesus, showing God's faithfulness to His covenant despite human failure.
Unfaithfulness and its RebukeJ. Urquhart 1 Kings 14:21-31
The Entailments of SinJ.A. Macdonald 1 Kings 14:25-31
The Power and Weakness of External Circumstances in the Life of ManHomilist1 Kings 14:29-31
People
Abijah, Abijam, Ahijah, David, Israelites, Jeroboam, Naamah, Nadab, Rehoboam, Shishak, Sodomites, Solomon, Tirzah
Places
Bethel, Egypt, Euphrates River, Jerusalem, Shiloh, Tirzah
Topics
Abijah, Abijam, Abi'jam, Ammonite, Ammonitess, Buried, David, Fathers, Lieth, Mother's, Naamah, Na'amah, Rehoboam, Rehobo'am, Reign, Reigned, Rest, Rested, Slept, Stead, Succeeded, Town
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Kings 14:31

     5535   sleep, and death
     5701   heir

1 Kings 14:21-31

     5366   king

Library
Synopsis. --The Gradual Narrowing of the Miraculous Element in the Bible by Recent Discovery and Discussion. --The Alarm Thereby Excited in the Church. --The Fallacy Which
It is barely forty years since that beloved and fearless Christian scholar, Dean Stanley, spoke thus of the miracles recorded of the prophet Elisha: "His works stand alone in the Bible in their likeness to the acts of mediaeval saints. There alone in the Sacred History the gulf between Biblical and Ecclesiastical miracles almost disappears."[5] It required some courage to say as much as this then, while the storm of persecution was raging against Bishop Colenso for his critical work on the Pentateuch.
James Morris Whiton—Miracles and Supernatural Religion

Jeroboam
BY REV. ALFRED ROWLAND, D.D., LL.B. "Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin."--1 KINGS xiv. 16. Jeroboam's character is worthy of serious study, not only because it influenced the destiny of God's ancient people, but because it suggests lessons of the utmost value to His people still. He may be fairly regarded as a type of those who are successful men of the world. He was not an example of piety, for he had none--nor of lofty principle, for he was an opportunist who made expediency
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

Whether Contention is a Mortal Sin?
Objection 1: It would seem that contention is not a mortal sin. For there is no mortal sin in spiritual men: and yet contention is to be found in them, according to Lk. 22:24: "And there was also a strife amongst" the disciples of Jesus, "which of them should . . . be the greatest." Therefore contention is not a mortal sin. Objection 2: Further, no well disposed man should be pleased that his neighbor commit a mortal sin. But the Apostle says (Phil. 1:17): "Some out of contention preach Christ,"
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Divination by Drawing Lots is Unlawful?
Objection 1: It would seem that divination by drawing lots is not unlawful, because a gloss of Augustine on Ps. 30:16, "My lots are in Thy hands," says: "It is not wrong to cast lots, for it is a means of ascertaining the divine will when a man is in doubt." Objection 2: There is, seemingly, nothing unlawful in the observances which the Scriptures relate as being practiced by holy men. Now both in the Old and in the New Testament we find holy men practicing the casting of lots. For it is related
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Whole Heart
LET me give the principal passages in which the words "the whole heart," "all the heart," are used. A careful study of them will show how wholehearted love and service is what God has always asked, because He can, in the very nature of things, ask nothing less. The prayerful and believing acceptance of the words will waken the assurance that such wholehearted love and service is exactly the blessing the New Covenant was meant to make possible. That assurance will prepare us for turning to the Omnipotence
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). In our last chapter we considered at some length the much debated and difficult question of the human will. We have shown that the will of the natural man is neither Sovereign nor free but, instead, a servant and slave. We have argued that a right conception of the sinner's will-its servitude-is essential to a just estimate of his depravity and ruin. The utter corruption and degradation of human nature is something which
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.),
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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