2Ch 10 | TNotes | STEP | 10:1 Shechem was in the heart of the territory of the northern tribes; the need for Rehoboam to go there for confirmation reflects either weak national unity or the comparative strength and influence of the northern tribes. • Rehoboam reigned from 931 to 913 BC .

10:1 ^a Shechem was in the heart of the territory of the northern tribes; the need for Rehoboam to go there for confirmation reflects either weak national unity or the comparative strength and influence of the northern tribes.

• Rehoboam reigned from 931 to 913 BC.
10:2 ^b Jeroboam ... had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon: See 1 Kgs 11:26-40 ^c. Jeroboam returned from Egypt at the news of Solomon’s death.
10:4 ^d Rehoboam was not powerful enough to enforce taxation over the northern tribes, so they demanded concessions to remain under his rule.
10:6 ^e The older men of Israel were distinguished from officials, nobles, and guardians (Judg 8:14 ^f; 1 Kgs 21:8 ^g; 2 Kgs 10:5 ^h) who had official government roles. These elders traditionally exercised considerable influence in royal decisions. When Ben-hadad, king of Aram, attacked Samaria, the elders of Samaria were decisive in rejecting his harsh terms of surrender (1 Kgs 20:7-9 ⁱ). Earlier, when Absalom revolted against David, the elders of Israel were influential in critical decisions (2 Sam 17:4 ^j, 15 ^k; 19:11 ^l).
10:8 ^m Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign (12:13 ⁿ), so the young men who had grown up with him were not novices. They might have been royal princes, sons of Solomon’s other wives. It was natural for them to have a role in Rehoboam’s government, as shown by his promotion of his son Abijah (11:22 ^o). Referring to these princes as “young” might have been a comment on the value of their advice, because the young were not viewed as being wise (see Job 12:12 ^p).
Summary for 2Chr 10:10-11: 10:10-11 ^q The words of the younger counselors corresponded with Rehoboam’s disposition. They lacked the experience of the elders, but they shared Rehoboam’s inclinations and preferences. They delivered their answer in metaphors and rhetoric appropriate to a royal court.
10:16 ^r The people responded using words that were the converse of a poetic saying the Chronicler had used earlier (1 Chr 12:18 ^s); there, the people of the southern tribes of Benjamin and Judah (1 Chr 12:16 ^t) showed growing support for David.
10:18 ^u Rehoboam came to Shechem to be anointed king but barely escaped with his life. His poor understanding of the situation was particularly evident when he sent a civilian official, rather than an army commander, to enforce conscription.