Rehoboam

Rehoboam was the son of King Solomon and Naamah, an Ammonite woman (1 Kings 14:21, 31). He became king of Judah after Solomon's death (1 Kings 11:43). When Rehoboam went to Shechem to be crowned, the people, led by Jeroboam, asked him to lighten the heavy yoke that Solomon had placed on them (1 Kings 12:1-4). Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father, but he rejected their advice to be a servant to the people (1 Kings 12:6-8). Instead, he followed the counsel of the young men who had grown up with him and threatened to make the people's yoke even heavier (1 Kings 12:9-14). As a result, the ten northern tribes rebelled against Rehoboam and made Jeroboam their king, leaving only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin loyal to Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:16-20). Rehoboam intended to fight against the northern tribes, but God sent a prophet to stop him (1 Kings 12:21-24). During Rehoboam's reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the temple and the royal palace (1 Kings 14:25-28; 2 Chronicles 12:1-12). Rehoboam did evil in the eyes of the Lord and allowed idol worship to spread in Judah (1 Kings 14:22-24). He reigned for 17 years and was succeeded by his son Abijah (1 Kings 14:21, 31; 2 Chronicles 12:16). Rehoboam's story is a cautionary tale about the consequences of foolish decisions and disobedience to God.