Study Desk

So the Lord said to Solomon, "Because you have done this and have not kept My agreement and My Laws which I told you, for sure I will tear the nation from you and will give it to your servant.

Then the Lord sent Hadad the Edomite to make trouble for Solomon. He was of the king's family in Edom.

For when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the army had gone up to bury the dead, he killed every male in Edom.

(For Joab and all Israel stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom.)

When Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the man who spoke for God Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Ahijah had dressed himself with a new coat, and both of them were alone in the field.

And he said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces for yourself. For the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘See, I will tear the nation out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten family groups.

I will give one family group to his son, that My servant David will have a lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen for Myself to put My name.

Listen to all I tell you to do. Walk in My ways. Do what is right in My eyes by keeping My Word and My Laws, as My servant David did. If you do, then I will be with you and build you a house that will last, as I built for David. And I will give Israel to you.

I will bring trouble to the children of David for this, but not forever.'"

Rehoboam went to Shechem. For all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

They sent for him. Then Jeroboam and all the people of Israel came and said to Rehoboam,

Rehoboam said to them, "Leave for three days. Then return to me." So the people left.

King Rehoboam spoke with the leaders who had worked for his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked them, "What answer do you think I should give to these people?"

And the king was hard in his answer to them. For he turned away from the wise words the leaders had given him.

But as for the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam ruled over them.

When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent for him to meet with the people and made him king of all Israel. Only the family of Judah followed the family of David.

'This is what the Lord says. "You must not go up and fight against your brothers the sons of Israel. Every man return to his house. For I have let this thing happen."'" So they listened to the word of the Lord, and returned, as the Lord told them.

So the king asked the leaders what he should do. And he made two calves of gold. Then he said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt."

Now this thing became a sin. For the people went to worship in front of them, even as far as Dan.

Then he went up to the altar he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day he chose in his own heart. He made a special supper for the people of Israel, and went up to the altar to burn special perfume.