1Ki 14:28 | KingComments | STEP | Although in this book we mainly have the history of the ten tribes, here and there we also find something about the two tribes. Rehoboam reigns in Jerusalem, the city of God. He is forty-one years old when he becomes king. Solomon has ruled for forty years and has become less than sixty years old. Rehoboam must have been one year old at the accession of Solomon to the throne. In the two tribes realm of Judah things are not much better under Rehoboam than in the ten tribes realm of Israel. Judah does what is evil in the eyes of the LORD. Then there is no power to keep the enemy at a distance. The name of his mother is mentioned. She is an Ammonitess. Her influence as a queen-mother on him as a king will have been great. Twice it is mentioned that his mother is an Ammonitess ( ). Isn’t that significant? Shishak the king of Egypt comes and takes away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king’s house. It is the first attack of a foreign power on Judah after the days of Saul. Rehoboam is not driven out to God by it. He imitates what he has lost. This is also a form of disguise. It is not real. Externally he continues to go faithfully to the temple, but his heart has not changed. The rest of Rehoboam’s history is written “in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah” ( ). These are chronicles kept in the national archives of Judah (cf. ). The ordained chronicler also mentions that Rehoboam was at war with Jeroboam during his entire reign ( ). This will not mean that there is a constant warfare to subdue the other, for Rehoboam was forbidden to go to war against Israel, which he did not do ( ). It may mean that there are regular border conflicts. In any case, they have always taken a hostile attitude toward each other. It is clear that neither king has accepted the tearing as a judgment of God about their unfaithfulness. Both of them wanted to maintain their position and saw the other as a threat to it. It reflects the sad development of the relationships in God’s people. This also happens now in God’s people when the Lord Jesus is no longer central, and the Word of God no longer has authority. Then the death of Rehoboam and the place of his burial are mentioned (cf. ). His successor is his son Abijam who becomes king in his place.

‏ 1 Kings 14:28

Rehoboam King Over Judah

Although in this book we mainly have the history of the ten tribes, here and there we also find something about the two tribes. Rehoboam reigns in Jerusalem, the city of God. He is forty-one years old when he becomes king. Solomon has ruled for forty years and has become less than sixty years old. Rehoboam must have been one year old at the accession of Solomon to the throne.

In the two tribes realm of Judah things are not much better under Rehoboam than in the ten tribes realm of Israel. Judah does what is evil in the eyes of the LORD. Then there is no power to keep the enemy at a distance. The name of his mother is mentioned. She is an Ammonitess. Her influence as a queen-mother on him as a king will have been great. Twice it is mentioned that his mother is an Ammonitess (1Kgs 14:21 ; 31). Isn’t that significant?

Shishak the king of Egypt comes and takes away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king’s house. It is the first attack of a foreign power on Judah after the days of Saul. Rehoboam is not driven out to God by it. He imitates what he has lost. This is also a form of disguise. It is not real. Externally he continues to go faithfully to the temple, but his heart has not changed.

The rest of Rehoboam’s history is written “in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah” (1Kgs 14:29). These are chronicles kept in the national archives of Judah (cf. 1Kgs 14:19).

The ordained chronicler also mentions that Rehoboam was at war with Jeroboam during his entire reign (1Kgs 14:30). This will not mean that there is a constant warfare to subdue the other, for Rehoboam was forbidden to go to war against Israel, which he did not do (1Kgs 12:24). It may mean that there are regular border conflicts. In any case, they have always taken a hostile attitude toward each other.

It is clear that neither king has accepted the tearing as a judgment of God about their unfaithfulness. Both of them wanted to maintain their position and saw the other as a threat to it. It reflects the sad development of the relationships in God’s people. This also happens now in God’s people when the Lord Jesus is no longer central, and the Word of God no longer has authority.

Then the death of Rehoboam and the place of his burial are mentioned (cf. 1Kgs 11:43). His successor is his son Abijam who becomes king in his place.