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King Rehoboam photo by Hans Holbein the Younger-

10 Facts about King Rehoboam

According to the Hebrew Bible Rehoboam was the last monarch of the United Kingdom of Israel and also the first monarch of the Kingdom of Judah after the former’s split.

Rehoboam was a son of and successor to Solomon and a grandson of David.

However, in the account of I Kings and II Chronicles he was initially a king of the United Monarchy of Judah in the south following a rebellion by the ten northern tribes of Israel in 931 and 932 BCE.

Which led to the formation of the Independent Kingdom of Israel under the rule of Jeroboam in the north. Here are 10 facts about King Rehoboam.

King Rehoboam photo by Hans Holbein the Younger-

1. King Rehoboam was God’s chosen Instrument to Divide the Nation of Israel

Rehoboam was Solomon’s son and David’s grandson however he was God’s chosen instrument to divide the nation of Israel due to the corruption brought through Solomon’s Idolatry if you take a look at 1 kings 11:11-13.

Furthermore, Rehoboam was the first king of Judah during the divided kingdom period.

King Rehoboam photo by Paul Hardy-

2. His Father brought Israel to its Prosperous Age

Solomon brought Israel to its most prosperous age but it came through the heavy labor of the people.

He built the temple of God and it became the established location of worship for all of Israel.

More so he also constructed a magnificent palace and developed Israel’s military all archived through the hard toil of the people.

Furthermore, when Rehoboam rose to the throne all of Solomon’s work had been done and the people were ready to rest from their hard labor that ascended to a glorious state.

King Rehoboam photo by Hans Holbein the Younger-

3. He listened to the Advice of his Peers instead of the Elder’s Counsel

During the coronation of King Rehoboam, the Israelites requested that he lighten the heavy workload his father Solomon previously imposed on the people.

However, Rehoboam told the people to give him three days to consider their request and during those three days, Rehoboam consulted two distinct groups of people.

The first group comprised the wise and experienced elders who served King Solomon during his reign more so they understood what it took for a king to rule his people successfully.

The elders told Rehoboam to heed the request of the people and lighten their workload since they knew this would cause Rehoboam to win the people’s favor and in turn, the people would welcome their new King’s rule over them.

Rehoboam rejected the elder’s counsel and he consulted his peers and friends to offer valuable counsel.

 4. His Peers gave him a Foolish Advice

Rehoboam’s peers told him to refuse the people’s request and assert his authority over them by threatening worse labor conditions than those they experienced under Solomon.

However, Rehoboam foolishly heeded the advice of his friends.

5. The People of Israel Rejected King Rehoboam’s Rule

On the third day when people returned to hear the king’s verdict, Rehoboam told them “My father made your yoke heavy but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips but I will discipline you with scorpions in 1kings 12:14.

And in response to Rehoboam’s foolish answer, the people rejected his rule.

6. Only Judah and the Tribe of Benjamin were Subjected to his Foolish Rule

Only Judah and the tribe of Benjamin subjected themselves to Rehoboam’s rule.

However, the other ten tribes united under the reign of Jeroboam Whom God had promised to give rule over most of the nation according to 1 kings 12:28-38.

7. God allowed him to Reign over a Portion of the Kingdom because of the Covenant he had with David

God Keeps his word even though God raised up Rehoboam to divide the kingdom and gave the majority to Jeroboam as he promised.

God still allowed Rehoboam to reign over a portion of the kingdom because of the covenant he made with David according to 2 Samuel 7:8-16.

And by the covenant, that God had with David he promised to establish an everlasting kingdom through David’s descendants, and due to this Rehoboam was not stripped of his crown but God allowed him to carry the lineage of David.

8. King Rehoboam went to War against the New kingdom of Israel

Rehoboam went to war against the new kingdom of Israel with a force of 180,00 soldiers.

However, he was advised against his brethren and so he returned to Jerusalem. Furthermore, the narrative reports that Israel and Judah were in a state of war throughout his 17-year reign.

9. Rehoboam had 18 Wives and 60 Concubines

Interestingly Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines who bore him 28 sons and 60 daughters.

His wives included Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse and his sons with Mahlath were Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

In addition, after Mahath Rehoboam married his cousin Maacah daughter of Absalom David’s son and his sons with her were Abijam, ziza, Attai, and Shelomith. The names of his other wives, daughters, and sons are not given.

10. Judah became the Vassal State of Egypt during the Fifth year of Rehoboam’s Reign

During the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt brought a huge army and took many cities.

However, the account Chronicles it states that Shishak marched with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and troops who came with him from Egypt. Shishak’s armies captured all of the fortified towns leading to Jerusalem between Gezer and Gibeon.

When they laid siege to Jerusalem Rehoboam gave Shishak all of the treasures out of the temple as a tribute.

Interestingly the Egyptian campaign cut off trade with South Arabia via Elath and the Negev that had been established during Solomon’s Reign. And due to this Judah became a vassal state of Egypt.