Rehoboam

In preparation for our study of the minor prophets, we are investigating the socio-economic, spiritual and political conditions that existed in the history of Israel during the period of the prophets. We know that Israel was permitted to leave (actually they were run out of the country by Pharaoh – Exodus 12:29-32) following the tenth plague, spent 40 years in the desert, and finally entered the Promised Land in about 1406 BC. After a period of alternating righteous obedience and apostasy, the Jews demanded a king to be set before them in about 1043 BC (1 Samuel 8:1-18; cf. Deuteronomy 17:14-20). The first three kings, Saul, David and Solomon reigned for about 112 years until finally Solomon died and his son Rehoboam ascended to the throne.

Rehoboam was the son of Solomon who ascended the throne of Judah following the death of his father (1 Kings 11:43) when he was 41 years old. The book of Kings tells us that Solomon had placed a heavy burden on the people and that the people sent a delegation, led by Jeroboam, to Rehoboam asking for some relief (1 Kings 12:4). After consulting with both his elders (those who counseled his father Solomon) and his young friends, Rehoboam refused to lighten the burden on the people and continued in the ways of his father (1 Kings 12:13-14).

As a result, a minor insurrection occurred in which the taskmaster over the laborers was killed and Rehoboam escaped with his life back to Jerusalem. Ultimately, the northern tribes seceded from the kingdom and set Jeroboam up as king. Although Rehoboam assembled an army of 180,000 men to march against Jeroboam, the prophet Shemaiah advised against war and Rehoboam relented.

Rehoboam reigned as king for 17 years (1 Kings 14:21) building great and fortified cities in the way of his father (2 Chronicles 11:5-12). During his reign, he led the people in sin; worshipping Asherah on the high places, employing male cult prostitutes and all the other abominations of the Canaanite nations who had lived in the land before them (1 Kings 14:22-24). Like Solomon, he too had multiple wives and concubines; 78 in all with whom he had 28 sons and 60 daughters (2 Chronicles 11:21).

In his fifth year (c. 925 BC) Shishak, king of Egypt came against Jerusalem because of his sin (2 Chronicles 12:5) and Rehoboam paid tribute to him in the way of the temple treasures and Solomon's wealth.