1Ki 12:1-19, Pro 15:22, 16:22, 24:6, Isa 19:11-14, Act 15:6-21 | TSK | STEP | The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam, by Jeroboam make a suit of relaxation unto him. Rehoboam, refusing the old men's counsel, answers them roughly. Ten tribes revolting, kill Adoram, and make Rehoboam flee. Rehoboam, raising an army, is forbidden by Shemaiah. Jeroboam strengthens himself by cities; and by the idolatry of the two calves. Rehoboam. Shechem. Sichem. Sychem.

My little finger.A proverbial mode of expression: "My little finger is thicker than my father's thigh." As much as the thigh surpasses the little finger in thickness, so much does my power exceed that of my father; and the use I shall make of it to oppress and tax you shall be in proportion.

2Ch 10:10,11; Pr 10:14; 18:6,7; 28:25; 29:23; Isa 47:6

I will add.

Ex 1:13,14; 5:5-9,18; 1Sa 8:18; 2Ch 16:10; Isa 58:6; Jer 27:11

Jer 28:13,14

but I will chastise.Should you rebel or become disaffected, my father's whip shall be a scorpion in my hand. His was chastisement, mine shall be punishment. Celsius and Hiller conjecture that {âkrabbim} denotes a thorny kind of shrub, whose prickles are of a venomous nature, called by the Arabs scorpion thorns, from the exquisite pain which they inflict. But the Chaldee renders it {margenin,} and the Syriac {moragyai,} i.e., [maragnai,] scourges; and in the parallel place of Chronicles the Arabic has {saut,} a scourge. Isidore, and after him Calmet and others, assert that the scorpion was a sort of severe whip, the lashes of which were armed with knots or points that sunk into and tore the flesh.

scorpions.

14; Eze 2:6; Re 9:3-10

Come to me again.

5; 2Ch 10:12-14

answered.

20:6-11; Ge 42:7,30; Ex 5:2; 10:28; Jud 12:1-6; 1Sa 20:10,30,31

1Sa 25:10,11; 2Sa 19:43; Pr 10:11,32; 15:1; 18:23; Ec 10:12

Jas 3:17

roughly. Heb. hardly.

Ge 16:6

forsook.

Pr 13:20

the counsel.

2Ch 22:4,5; Es 1:16-21; 2:2-4; Pr 12:5; Isa 19:11-13; Da 6:7

My father made.

10,11; Pr 13:10; 16:18; 17:14; Ec 7:8; Jas 3:14-18; 4:1,2

the cause.The cause of all this confusion and anarchy was Rehoboam's folly, cruelty, and despotic tyranny, and this was certainly not "from the Lord," nor does the original text speak this doctrine. See an elucidation of a similar passage at 2 Sa 24:1. It says, {sibbah,} (from {savav,} to turn, change,) "the change or Revolution was from the Lord;" which is consistent with all the preceding declarations. God stirred up the people to revolt from a man who had neither skill nor humanity to govern them. God serves his own wise and righteous purpose by the imprudences and iniquities of men, and snares sinners in the work of their own hands. "He maketh the wrath of man to praise him."

24; 22:23; De 2:30; Jud 14:4; 2Ch 10:15; 22:7; 25:16,20; Ps 5:10

Am 3:6; Ac 2:23; 4:28

that he might.

11:11,29-38; 1Sa 15:29; 2Sa 17:14; 2Ki 9:36; 10:10; Isa 14:13-17

Isa 46:10,11; Da 4:35; Joh 19:23,24,28,29,32-37; Ac 3:17

Ac 13:27-29

What portion.

2Sa 20:1; 2Ch 10:16

to your tents.

22:17,36

now see.

11:13,34,36,39; 2Sa 7:15,16; Ps 2:1-6; 76:10; 89:29-37; 132:17