1 Kings 12
12
Rehoboam Loses His Kingdom
1 Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, for all Israel had gathered in#tn Heb “come [to].” Shechem to make Rehoboam#tn Heb “him”; the referent (Rehoboam) has been specified in the translation for clarity. king. 2#tc Verse 2 is not included in the Old Greek translation. See the note on 11:43. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard the news, he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since.#tn Heb “and Jeroboam lived in Egypt.” The parallel text in 2 Chr 10:2 reads, “and Jeroboam returned from Egypt.” In a purely consonantal text the forms “and he lived” and “and he returned” are identical (וישׁב). 3 They sent for him,#tn Heb “They sent and called for him.” and Jeroboam and the whole Israelite assembly came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4 “Your father made us work too hard.#tn Heb “made our yoke burdensome.” Now if you lighten the demands he made and don’t make us work as hard, we will serve you.”#tn Heb “but you, now, lighten the burdensome work of your father and the heavy yoke which he placed on us, and we will serve you.” In the Hebrew text the prefixed verbal form with vav (וְנַעַבְדֶךָ, [vÿna’avdekha] “and we will serve you”) following the imperative (הָקֵל [haqel], “lighten”) indicates purpose (or result). The conditional sentence used in the translation above is an attempt to bring out the logical relationship between these forms. 5 He said to them, “Go away for three days, then return to me.” So the people went away.
6 King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served#tn Heb “stood before.” his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them,#tn Heb “saying.” “How do you advise me to answer these people?” 7 They said to him, “Today if you show a willingness to help these people and grant their request, they will be your servants from this time forward.”#tn Heb “If today you are a servant to these people and you serve them and answer them and speak to them good words, they will be your servants all the days.” 8 But Rehoboam rejected their advice and consulted the young advisers who served him, with whom he had grown up.#tn Heb “He rejected the advice of the elders which they advised and he consulted the young men with whom he had grown up, who stood before him.” The referent (Rehoboam) of the initial pronoun (“he”) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 9 He asked them, “How do you advise me#tn In the Hebrew text the verb “we will respond” is plural, although it can be understood as an editorial “we.” The ancient versions have the singular here. to respond to these people who said to me, ‘Lessen the demands your father placed on us’?”#tn Heb “Lighten the yoke which your father placed on us.” 10 The young advisers with whom Rehoboam#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Rehoboam) has been specified in the translation for clarity. had grown up said to him, “Say this to these people who have said to you, ‘Your father made us work hard, but now lighten our burden.’#tn Heb “Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter upon us.” Say this to them: ‘I am a lot harsher than my father!#tn Heb “My little one is thicker than my father’s hips.” The referent of “my little one” is not clear. The traditional view is that it refers to the little finger. As the following statement makes clear, Rehoboam’s point is that he is more harsh and demanding than his father. 11 My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier.#tn Heb “and now my father placed upon you a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke.” My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.’”#tn Heb “My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.” “Scorpions” might allude to some type of torture using poisonous insects, but more likely it refers to a type of whip that inflicts an especially biting, painful wound. Cf. CEV “whips with pieces of sharp metal.”
12 Jeroboam and all the people reported#tn Heb “came.” to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had ordered when he said, “Return to me on the third day.” 13 The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older men 14 and followed#tn Heb “and spoke to them according to.” the advice of the younger ones. He said, “My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier.#tn Heb “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke.” My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.”#tn Heb “My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.” See the note on the same phrase in v. 11. 15 The king refused to listen to the people, because the Lord was instigating this turn of events#tn Heb “because this turn of events was from the Lord.” so that he might bring to pass the prophetic announcement he had made#tn Heb “so that he might bring to pass his word which the Lord spoke.” through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, “We have no portion in David, no share in the son of Jesse!#sn We have no portion in David; no share in the son of Jesse. Their point seems to be that they have no familial relationship with David that brings them any benefits or places upon them any obligations. They are being treated like outsiders. Return to your homes, O Israel!#tn Heb “to your tents, Israel.” The word “return” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. Now, look after your own dynasty, O David!”#tn Heb “Now see your house, David.” So Israel returned to their homes.#tn Heb “went to their tents.” 17 (Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.) 18 King Rehoboam sent Adoniram,#tc The MT has “Adoram” here, but the Old Greek translation and Syriac Peshitta have “Adoniram.” Cf. 1 Kgs 4:6. the supervisor of the work crews,#sn The work crews. See the note on this expression in 4:6. out after them, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam managed to jump into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem.#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the Davidic dynasty to this very day. 20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. No one except the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty.#tn Heb “there was no one [following] after the house of David except the tribe of Judah, it alone.”
21 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from all of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin#tn Heb “he summoned all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, accomplished in war.” to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon. 22 But God told Shemaiah the prophet,#tn Heb “and the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying.” 23 “Say this to King Rehoboam son of Solomon of Judah, and to all Judah and Benjamin, as well as the rest of the people, 24 ‘The Lord says this: “Do not attack and make war with your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you go home, for I have caused this to happen.”’”#tn Heb “for this thing is from me.” They obeyed the Lord and went home as the Lord had ordered them to do.#tn Heb “and they heard the word of the Lord and returned to go according to the word of the Lord.”
Jeroboam Makes Golden Calves
25#tc The Old Greek translation has here a lengthy section consisting of twenty-three verses that are not found in the MT. Jeroboam built up Shechem in the Ephraimite hill country and lived there. From there he went out and built up Penuel. 26 Jeroboam then thought to himself:#tn Heb “said in his heart.” “Now the Davidic dynasty could regain the kingdom.#tn Heb “Now the kingdom could return to the house of David.” The imperfect verbal form translated “could return” is understood as having a potential force here. Perhaps this is not strong enough; another option is “will return.” 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem,#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. their loyalty could shift to their former master,#tn Heb “the heart of these people could return to their master.” King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.” 28 After the king had consulted with his advisers,#tn The words “with his advisers” are supplied in the translation for clarification. he made two golden calves. Then he said to the people,#tn Heb “to them,” although this may be a corruption of “to the people.” Cf. the Old Greek translation. “It is too much trouble for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look, Israel, here are your gods who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 29 He put one in Bethel#map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3. and the other in Dan. 30 This caused Israel to sin;#tn Heb “and this thing became a sin.” the people went to Bethel and Dan to worship the calves.#tc The MT reads “and the people went before the one to Dan.” It is likely that some words have been accidentally omitted and that the text originally said, “and the people went before the one at Bethel and before the one at Dan.”
31 He built temples#tn The Hebrew text has the singular, but the plural is preferable here (see 1 Kgs 13:32). The Old Greek translation and the Vulgate have the plural. on the high places and appointed as priests people who were not Levites. 32 Jeroboam inaugurated a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month,#sn The eighth month would correspond to October-November in modern reckoning. like the festival celebrated in Judah.#sn The festival he celebrated in Judah probably refers to the Feast of Tabernacles (i.e., Booths or Temporary Shelters), held in the seventh month (September-October). See also 1 Kgs 8:2. On the altar in Bethel he offered sacrifices to the calves he had made.#tn Heb “and he offered up [sacrifices] on the altar; he did this in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made.” In Bethel he also appointed priests for the high places he had made.
A Prophet from Judah Visits Bethel
33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month (a date he had arbitrarily chosen)#tn Heb “which he had chosen by himself.” Jeroboam#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jeroboam) has been specified in the translation for clarity. offered sacrifices on the altar he had made in Bethel.#map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3. He inaugurated a festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to offer sacrifices.
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1 Kings 12
12
1And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for al Israel were come to Sheche, to make him king 2And whe Ieroboam ye sonne of Nebat heard of it (who was yet in Egypt, whither Ieroboam had fled from king Salomon, and dwelt in Egypt) 3Then they sent and called him: and Ieroboam and all the Congregation of Israel came, and spake vnto Rehoboam, saying, 4Thy father made our yoke grieuous: now therefore make thou the grieuous seruitude of thy father, and his sore yoke which he put vpon vs, lighter, and we will serue thee. 5And he said vnto them, Depart yet for three dayes, then come againe to me. And the people departed. 6And King Rehoboam tooke counsell with the olde men that had stande before Salomon his father, while he yet liued, and sayde, What counsell giue ye, that I may make an answere to this people? 7And they spake vnto him, saying, If thou be a seruant vnto this people this day, and serue them, and answere them, and speake kinde wordes to them, they will be thy seruants for euer. 8But he forsooke the counsell that the olde men had giuen him, and asked counsell of the yong men that had bene brought vp with him, and waited on him. 9And he said vnto them, What counsell giue ye, that we may answere this people, which haue spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke, which thy father did put vpon vs, lighter? 10Then the yong men that were brought vp with him, spake vnto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say vnto this people, that haue spoken vnto thee, and said, Thy father hath made our yoke heauie, but make thou it lighter vnto vs: euen thus shalt thou say vnto them, My least part shalbe bigger then my fathers loynes. 11Now where as my father did burden you with a grieuous yoke, I will yet make your yoke heauier: my father hath chastised you with rods, but I will correct you with scourges. 12Then Ieroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me againe ye thirde day. 13And the king answered the people sharpely, and left the old mens counsell that they gaue him, 14And spake to them after the counsell of the yong men, saying, My father made your yoke grieuous, and I will make your yoke more grieuous: my father hath chastised you with rods, but I will correct you with scourges. 15And the King hearkened not vnto the people: for it was the ordinance of the Lord, that he might perfourme his saying, which the Lord had spoken by Ahiiah the Shilonite vnto Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat. 16So when all Israel sawe that the King regarded them not, the people answered the King thus, saying, What portion haue we in Dauid? we haue none inheritance in the sonne of Ishai. To your tents, O Israel: nowe see to thine owne house, Dauid. So Israel departed vnto their tents. 17Howbeit ouer the children of Israel, which dwelt in the cities of Iudah, did Rehoboam reigne still. 18Nowe the King Rehoboam sent Adoram the receiuer of the tribute, and all Israel stoned him to death: then King Rehoboam made speede to get him vp to his charet, to flee to Ierusalem. 19And Israel rebelled against the house of Dauid vnto this day. 20And when all Israel had heard that Ieroboam was come againe, they sent and called him vnto the assemblie, and made him King ouer all Israel: none followed the house of Dauid, but the tribe of Iudah onely. 21And when Rehoboam was come to Ierusalem, he gathered all the house of Iudah with the tribe of Beniamin an hundreth and foure score thousand of chosen men (which were good warriours) to fight against the house of Israel, and to bring the kingdome againe to Rehoboam the sonne of Salomon. 22But the worde of God came vnto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23Speake vnto Rehoboam the sonne of Salomon King of Iudah, and vnto all the house of Iudah and Beniamin, and the remnant of the people, saying, 24Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go vp, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: returne euery man to his house: for this thing is done by me. They obeyed therefore the worde of the Lord and returned, and departed, according to the worde of the Lord. 25Then Ieroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein, and went from thence, and built Penuel. 26And Ieroboam thought in his heart, Nowe shall the kingdome returne to the house of Dauid. 27If this people goe vp and doe sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Ierusalem, then shall the heart of this people turne againe vnto their lorde, euen to Rehoboam King of Iudah: so shall they kill me and goe againe to Rehoboam King of Iudah. 28Whereupon the King tooke counsell, and made two calues of golde, and saide vnto them, It is too much for you to goe vp to Ierusalem: beholde, O Israel, thy gods, which brought thee vp out of the lande of Egypt. 29And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other set he in Dan. 30And this thing turned to sinne: for the people went (because of the one) euen to Dan. 31Also he made an house of hie places, and made Priestes of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sonnes of Leui. 32And Ieroboam made a feast the fifteenth day of the eight moneth, like vnto the feast that is in Iudah, and offred on the altar. So did he in Beth-el and offered vnto the calues that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the Priestes of the hie places, which he had made. 33And he offered vpon the altar, which he had made in Beth-el, the fifteenth day of the eight moneth, (euen in the moneth which he had forged of his owne heart) and made a solemne feast vnto the children of Israel: and he went vp to the altar, to burne incense.
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