2 Chronicles 10:1–19 (September 27, 2025)

The Revolt Against Rehoboam

10:1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” 5 He said to them, “Come to me again in three days.” So the people went away.

6 Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men,[a] who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” 7 And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” 8 But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. 9 And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” 10 And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us’; thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's thighs. 11 And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, “Come to me again the third day.” 13 And the king answered them harshly; and forsaking the counsel of the old men, 14 King Rehoboam spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the Lord might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each of you to your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So all Israel went to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram,[b] who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and the people of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam quickly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Footnotes

2 Chronicles 10:6 Or the elders; also verses 8, 13

2 Chronicles 10:18 Spelled Adoram in 1 Kings 12:18

The Folly of Rehoboam and the Division of the Kingdom

Summary

After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam went to Shechem* to be made king, and all Israel assembled to confirm him (v. 1). Jeroboam, who had returned from Egypt, led the people in requesting lighter burdens. This was reasonable considering how much the people had to labor to build the Temple and the palaces.

Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served Solomon, and they advised him to be kind and speak good words to the people, and they would serve him forever (vv. 6–7). But he rejected their counsel and listened instead to the young men he had grown up with, who told him to increase the burden and assert his power:

When Rehoboam answered the people harshly, they rebelled, crying out:

Thus Israel departed, leaving Rehoboam with rule only over Judah. The Chronicler concludes:

Who is God?

The people’s request for lighter burdens was reasonable, and the elders’ counsel was wise. Yet Rehoboam was arrogant, but even that was fulfilling God’s word through Ahijah the prophet, who had spoken that the kingdom would be torn from Solomon’s son (v. 15; cf. 1 Kings 11:29–39).

Our arrogance cannot thwart God's sovereignty. God chastises unfaithful leaders and humbles proud hearts. However, even in division, God preserves a remnant in Judah through whom His covenant promises will stand.

What is our guilt?

Our guilt mirrors both Rehoboam and Israel.

Like Rehoboam, we often reject wise counsel and prefer voices that flatter our pride. We equate harshness with strength and gentleness with weakness. Like Israel, we are quick to rebel when disappointed, abandoning God’s order rather than seeking His mercy. Both arrogance and rebellion reveal our deep mistrust of God’s wisdom. The tragedy of this passage confronts us with our tendency to fracture the body of Christ through pride, selfish ambition, and impatience. How may we be guilty of this today?

How does grace shine?

Christ, the true Son of David, builds a kingdom not by heavy burdens but by bearing our burdens Himself. Where Rehoboam threatened scorpions, Jesus declared:

He is the gentle and humble King whose rule unites rather than divides. The church, gathered from every tribe and nation, displays the wisdom of God that Rehoboam lacked and the mercy Israel rejected. In Him, the divided kingdom finds its healing, and the people of God find true rest.

Prayer

O Lord, you are sovereign in judgment and faithful in mercy. We confess that we often reject wise counsel and follow voices that feed our pride. Forgive us for fracturing your church through arrogance, selfishness, and mistrust.

Thank you for Jesus Christ, the true Son of David, who carries our burdens and gives us rest.

Teach us to walk in humility, to seek your wisdom, and to live in unity as citizens of your eternal kingdom.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Footnote: * Rehoboam went to Shechem because it was a historically sacred city and a political center for the northern tribes. He needed their recognition to secure his kingship over the entire Israelite nation. But God’s sovereign plan turned this gathering into the stage for Israel’s tragic division.