1 Kings 12:15

Contextual Overview

¹Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. ¹ Rechav`am went to Shekhem: for all Yisra'el were come to Shekhem to make him king. ¹ And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. ¹ Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. ¹ Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all the Israelites had gone to make him king. ¹ Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, for all Israel had gathered in Shechem to make Rehoboam king. ¹Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. ¹ Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. ¹ And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for al Israel were come to Sheche, to make him king ¹Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

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. For an elucidation of a similar passage, see note on 2 Samuel 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." 1 Kings 12:24, 1 Kings 22:23, Deuteronomy 2:30, Judges 14:4, 2 Chronicles 10:15, 2 Chronicles 22:7, 2 Chronicles 25:16, 2 Chronicles 25:20, Psalms 5:10, Amos 3:6, Acts 2:23, Acts 4:28

that he might: 1 Kings 11:11, 1 Kings 11:29-38, 1 Samuel 15:29, 2 Samuel 17:14, 2 Kings 9:36, 2 Kings 10:10, Isaiah 14:13-17, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 46:11, Daniel 4:35, John 19:23, John 19:24, John 19:28, John 19:29, John 19:32-37, Acts 3:17, Acts 13:27-29

Reciprocal: Joshua 11:20 - it was Judges 9:23 - God 1 Kings 11:14 - the Lord 1 Kings 11:35 - will give Job 1:21 - taken away Hosea 13:11 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you, and make your name great. You will be a blessing.

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Genesis 12:2
And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great. And you will be a blessing.

Genesis 12:2
I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.

Genesis 12:2
Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing.

Genesis 12:2
And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others];

Genesis 12:2
And I will make you into a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing;

Genesis 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and will blesse thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing.

Genesis 12:2
And I will make you a great nation,And I will bless you,And make your name great;And so you shall be a blessing;

Genesis 12:2
I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people,.... To lessen their taxes, and ease them of their burdens, as they desired:

for the cause was from the Lord; it was according to his will and appointment; the defection of the people was willed by the Lord, and various things in Providence turned up to alienate their minds from Rehoboam, and dispose them to a revolt from him in favour of Jeroboam; and the Lord suffered the counsellors of Rehoboam to give him the advice they did, and gave him up to the folly of his own heart to take it:

that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake to Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat; see 1 Kings 11:29.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The cause was from the Lord - i. e., “the turn of events was from the Lord.” Human passions, anger, pride, and insolence, worked out the accomplishment of the divine designs. Without interfering with man’s free will, God guides the course of events, and accomplishes His purposes.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 12:15. The cause was from the Lord — God left him to himself, and did not incline his heart to follow the counsel of the wise men. This is making the best of our present version; but if we come to inquire into the meaning of the CAUSE of all this confusion and anarchy, we shall find it was Rehoboam's folly, cruelty, and despotic tyranny: and was this from the Lord? But does the text speak this bad doctrine? No: it says סבה sibbah, the REVOLUTION, was from the Lord. This is consistent with all the declarations which went before. God stirred up the people to revolt from a man who had neither skill nor humanity to govern them. We had such a סבה revolution in these nations in 1688; and, thank God, we have never since needed another. None of our ancient translations understood the word as our present version does: they have it either the TURNING AWAY was from the Lord, or it was the Lord's ORDINANCE; viz., that they should turn away from this foolish king.