Rehoboam went to Shechem where all Israel gathered to make him king, and they summoned Jeroboam from Egypt to request relief from Solomon's heavy yoke, promising to serve Rehoboam if he lightened their burden. Rehoboam consulted the elders who advised leniency, but followed the younger advisors who urged him to respond harshly: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.' The northern tribes rebelled at this harsh response, fulfilling the word of the Lord through Ahijah the Shilonite, and when Rehoboam sent Hadoram the taskmaster, Israel stoned him to death, causing Rehoboam to flee to Jerusalem, resulting in the permanent division of the kingdom.
Read 2 Chronicles Chapter 10 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Solomon
Builder of the temple and Israel's most glorious king
Hezekiah
Reforming king who restored temple worship and trusted God against Assyria
Josiah
Young king who led the greatest revival, rediscovered the Law
Jehoshaphat
Godly king known for his prayer and trust in God during battle
Rehoboam
First King of Judah after the Division
David
King of Israel
Judah
Son of Jacob, Ancestor of David and Christ
Places in This Chapter
Shechem
View on MapShechem was an important Canaanite city where Abraham first built an altar after entering the Promised Land. Jacob purchased land here and dug a well. Joseph's bones were buried here after the Exodus. Joshua gathered the tribes at Shechem for a covenant renewal ceremony.
Egypt
View on MapEgypt plays a significant role throughout the Bible, from the time of Abraham to the flight of the Holy Family. Joseph was sold into slavery there and rose to become second to Pharaoh, saving his family during famine. The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years before God delivered them through Moses in the Exodus. Jesus' family fled to Egypt to escape King Herod, fulfilling the prophecy "Out of Egypt I called my son."
Position in Book
Solomon's ReignChapters 1-9
The Kingdom DividedChapters 10-12
Rehoboam's folly causes division; Judah's early kings.
Kings of JudahChapters 13-35
Fall and HopeChapters 36