In brief
Rehoboam is the son of Solomon and his successor on the throne in Jerusalem. At Shechem, the people ask him to lighten the heavy yoke of his father. He sets aside the counsel of the elders, follows that of the young men and answers harshly. Ten tribes then break away and choose Jeroboam. Rehoboam reigns over Judah, suffers the invasion of Pharaoh Shishak, humbles himself for a time, then does not seek the Lord with all his heart.
What does the name Rehoboam mean?
His name is generally linked to the idea of a people who grow or spread out. The Bible gives no direct explanation of this name. His mother was Naamah, an Ammonite (1 Kings 14:21).
The story of Rehoboam
The people ask for a lighter yoke
1 Kings 12:1-5Rehoboam goes to Shechem, where all Israel has gathered to make him king. Jeroboam and the people ask him to lighten the harsh service and the heavy yoke that Solomon placed on them, promising to serve him in return. Rehoboam asks for three days to think before answering.
Two opposing counsels
1 Kings 12:6-11Rehoboam first consults the elders who served Solomon: they advise him to yield and to answer gently. He then asks the opinion of the young men who grew up with him. They tell him to answer harshly and to make the yoke heavier, even heavier than his father's.
The division of the kingdom
1 Kings 12:12-24Rehoboam answers harshly and rejects the counsel of the elders. Israel cries out that it has no share in the house of David and goes back to its tents. Ten tribes follow Jeroboam. Rehoboam wants to fight, but the prophet Shemaiah brings the word of God: do not go up against your brothers.
The invasion of Shishak
1 Kings 14:21-28Rehoboam reigns seventeen years in Jerusalem. Judah does what displeases the Lord and turns to the high places. In the fifth year, Shishak, king of Egypt, comes up against Jerusalem and takes the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the palace. Rehoboam has bronze shields made to replace the gold ones.
Humiliation and the judgment of the heart
2 Chronicles 12:1-14Shemaiah explains to Rehoboam and the leaders that God has given them over to Shishak because they abandoned him. They humble themselves, and God grants them a partial deliverance. The text concludes that Rehoboam did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.
What Rehoboam teaches us
- Rejected good counsel is costly: Rehoboam ignored the wisdom of the elders and paid the price of his harshness.
- Authority that listens and serves strengthens its people, while pride divides.
- Our circle matters: the voices we listen to steer our decisions and their consequences.
- God responds to sincere humility, but he expects a heart that truly seeks to know him.
- A good inherited position does not replace a heart turned toward God.
Key verses
Rehoboam answers the people harshly and rejects the counsel of the elders. This verse sums up the turning point that leads to the division of the kingdom, through pride and a refusal to listen.
Through the prophet Shemaiah, God forbids them to go up and fight their brothers of Israel, and all return home. This shows that God keeps control of history despite the king's mistake.
The chronicler judges the reign of Rehoboam: he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord. The judgment falls on his heart, not only on his actions.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Rehoboam in the Bible?
Rehoboam is the son of Solomon, who succeeds him as king in Jerusalem. By his harsh answer to the people at Shechem, he causes the division of the kingdom: ten tribes join Jeroboam, and he reigns only over Judah and Benjamin.
What does the name Rehoboam mean?
His name is generally linked to the idea of a people who spread out or grow. The Bible itself does not comment on this meaning. It does state that his mother was named Naamah, an Ammonite, according to 1 Kings 14:21.
Where can I find the story of Rehoboam in the Bible?
It is told in 1 Kings 12 and 14, then in 2 Chronicles 10 to 12. The account of Shechem and the counsel of the young men is read in 1 Kings 12 and 2 Chronicles 10, the invasion of Shishak in 1 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 12.