Topical Bible: Rashness: Rehoboam, in Forsaking the Counsel of the Old Men

◄ Rashness: Rehoboam, in Forsaking the Counsel of the Old Men ►

Topical Encyclopedia

Background:
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon and grandson of David, ascended to the throne of Israel following Solomon's death. His reign is notably marked by a critical decision that led to the division of the united kingdom of Israel. This decision is a classic example of rashness, as Rehoboam chose to ignore the seasoned advice of the elders in favor of the impetuous counsel of his peers.

Biblical Account:
The account of Rehoboam's rashness is found in 1 Kings 12 and 2 Chronicles 10. Upon Solomon's death, Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king. The people, led by Jeroboam, approached Rehoboam with a request to lighten the heavy yoke that Solomon had placed upon them. They promised loyalty in return for relief from the burdensome labor and taxes.

Rehoboam sought counsel on how to respond. The elders who had served Solomon advised him to be a servant to the people, to speak kindly to them, and to grant their request. They believed that this approach would secure the people's loyalty and ensure a stable reign. As recorded in 1 Kings 12:7 , the elders said, "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them, if you will respond to them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever."

However, Rehoboam rejected the wisdom of the elders. Instead, he turned to the young men he had grown up with, who advised him to increase the people's burdens. They suggested he should assert his authority by telling the people, "My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father scourged you with whips, but I will scourge you with scorpions" (1 Kings 12:10-11).

Consequences:
Rehoboam's decision to follow the advice of the young men rather than the elders led to disastrous consequences. His harsh response alienated the northern tribes, resulting in the division of the kingdom. Ten tribes rebelled against Rehoboam's rule, forming the northern kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam, while only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to Rehoboam, constituting the southern kingdom of Judah.

This division fulfilled the prophecy given to Jeroboam by the prophet Ahijah, as a judgment against Solomon's idolatry and the nation's unfaithfulness. Rehoboam's rashness and failure to heed wise counsel not only fractured the kingdom but also set the stage for ongoing conflict and strife between the northern and southern kingdoms.

Lessons:
Rehoboam's account serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of rashness and the importance of seeking and heeding wise counsel. His failure to listen to the experienced elders underscores the value of humility and discernment in leadership. The narrative highlights the potential for significant consequences when leaders act impulsively and prioritize pride or peer pressure over sound judgment and the welfare of their people.

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1 Kings 12:8-15
But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
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