Study Desk

Some time earlier, when David conquered the nation of Edom, Joab his army commander went there to bury those who had died in battle. Joab and his soldiers stayed in Edom six months, and during that time they killed every man and boy who lived there.

Hadad was a boy at the time, but he escaped to Midian with some of his father's officials. At Paran some other men joined them, and they went to the king of Egypt. The king liked Hadad and gave him food, some land, and a house, and even let him marry the sister of Queen Tahpenes.

Hadad and his wife had a son named Genubath, and the queen let the boy grow up in the palace with her own children.

Here is how God made Rezon son of Eliada an enemy of Solomon: Rezon had run away from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah.

He formed his own small army and became its leader after David had defeated Hadadezer's troops. Then Rezon and his army went to Damascus, where he became the ruler of Syria and an enemy of Israel. Both Hadad and Rezon were enemies of Israel while Solomon was king, and they caused him a lot of trouble.

Jeroboam was from the town of Zeredah in Ephraim. His father Nebat had died, but his mother Zeruah was still alive. Jeroboam was one of Solomon's officials, but even he rebelled against Solomon.

One day when Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, he met Ahijah, a prophet from Shiloh. No one else was anywhere around. Suddenly, Ahijah took off his new coat and ripped it into twelve pieces.

Everything else Solomon did while he was king is written in the book about him and his wisdom.

he died and was buried there in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam then became king.

Rehoboam went to some leaders who had been his father's senior officials, and he asked them, "What should I tell these people?"

But Rehoboam refused their advice and went to the younger men who had grown up with him and were now his officials.

His younger advisors said: Here's what we think you should say to them: "Compared to me, my father was weak.

He spoke bluntly and told them exactly what his own advisors had suggested: "My father made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"

When the people realized that Rehoboam would not listen to them, they shouted: "We don't have to be loyal to David's family. We can do what we want. Come on, people of Israel, let's go home! Rehoboam can rule his own people." Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor, and Rehoboam sent him to talk to the people. But they stoned him to death. Then Rehoboam ran to his chariot and hurried back to Jerusalem. So the people from the northern tribes of Israel went home, leaving Rehoboam to rule only the people from the towns in Judah. Ever since that day, the people of Israel have opposed David's family in Judah. All of this happened just as the Lord 's prophet Ahijah had told Jeroboam.

"Don't go to war against the people from Israel—they are your relatives. Go home! I am the Lord , and I made these things happen." Rehoboam and his army obeyed the Lord and went home.

At that time an old prophet lived in Bethel, and one of his sons told him what the prophet from Judah had said and done.

"Show me which way he went," the old prophet said, and his sons pointed out the road.

and the prophet from Judah left. Along the way, a lion attacked and killed him, and the donkey and the lion stood there beside his dead body.

The old prophet told his sons to saddle his donkey, and when it was ready,

The old prophet picked up the body, put it on his own donkey, and took it back to Bethel, so he could bury it and mourn for the prophet from Judah.