2 Chronicles 10:12

We may learn here, 1. That when public affairs are in a ferment violent proceedings do but make bad worse. Rough answers (such as Rehoboam here gave) do but stir up anger and bring oil to the flames. The pilot has need to steer steadily in a storm. Many have been driven to the mischief they did not intend by being too severely dealt with for what they did intend. 2. That, whatever the devices and designs of men are, God is, by all, doing his own work, and fulfilling the word which he has spoken, no iota or tittle of which shall fall to the ground. The cause of the king's obstinacy and thoughtlessness was of God, that he might perform the word which he spoke by Ahijah, Ch2 10:15. This does not at all excuse Rehoboam's folly, nor lessen the guilt of his haughtiness and passion, that God was pleased to serve his own ends by them. 3. That worldly wealth, honour, and dominion, are very uncertain things. Solomon reigned over all Israel, and, one would think, had done enough to secure the monarchy entire to his family for many ages; and yet he is scarcely cold in his grave before ten of the twelve tribes finally revolt from his son. All the good services he had done for Israel were now forgotten: What portion have we in David? Thus is the government of Christ cast off by many, notwithstanding all he has done to bind the children of men for ever to himself; they say, We will not have this man to reign over us. But this rebellion will certainly be their ruin. 4. That God often visits the iniquities of the fathers upon the children. Solomon forsakes God, and therefore not he, but his son after him, is forsaken by the greatest part of his people. Thus God, by making the penal consequences of sin to last long and visibly to continue after the sinner's death, would give an indication of its malignity, and perhaps some intimation of the perpetuity of its punishment. He that sins against God not only wrongs his soul, but perhaps wrongs his seed more than he thinks of. 5. That, when God is fulfilling his threatenings, he will take care of that, at the same time, promises do not fall to the ground. When Solomon's iniquity is remembered, and for it his son loses ten tribes, David's piety is not forgotten, nor the promise made to him; but for the sake of that his grandson had two tribes preserved to him. The failings of the saints shall not frustrate any promise made to Christ their Head. They shall be chastised, but the covenant not broken, Psa 89:31-34.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(12) So Jeroboam.—Literatim as Kings.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

It may be worth observing that the history is silent of what of hope and fear or other thought and feeling transpired with Jeroboam and his party these three critical days of suspense, as also it was so silent as to what transpired with them during the three days, three weeks, three months, before the first interview with Rehoboam at Shechem.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The Revolt of Israel

v. 12. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.

v. 13. And the king answered them roughly, in a violent and haughty manner; and King Rehoboam, headstrong as he was, forsook the counsel of the old men,

v. 14. and answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

v. 15. So the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was of God, He it was that arranged matters in this manner, that the Lord might perform His word which He spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, 1Ki 11:29. The weakness and inexperience of Rehoboam, his utter want of common sense, and his judicial blindness was made use of by the Lord in bringing upon the house of Solomon the punishment for the latter’s idolatry.

v. 16. And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, stubbornly refusing to listen to their appeal, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David, the dynasty of Judah? And we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel! And now, David, that is, the house of David, the reigning family of Judah, see to thine own house! It was a quiet, but determined declaration of withdrawal, showing the scorn and derision which the people of the northern tribes felt for the foolishness of Rehoboam. So all Israel went to their tents, thus accomplishing the rebellion with all quietness.

v. 17. But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, including the Simeonites and the tribe of Benjamin, Rehoboam reigned over them.

v. 18. Then King Rehoboam, apparently unaware of the seriousness of the situation and of the accomplished revolt, sent Hadoram, that was over the tribute, his chief tax-gatherer; and the children of Israel, to show that they were in dead earnest, stoned him with stones that he died. This occurred while Rehoboam was still staying in Shechem. But King Rehoboam made speed, he used all energy, to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem, since the seriousness of the situation now finally dawned upon him.

v. 19. And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day, to the time that the account was written from which our author took his information. Note: Tyranny is usually followed by disintegration. Mark also: The sins of men are acts of their perverted will, yet God often makes use of the situations due to men’s perversions, in the natural course of events, to carry out His plans.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

on the third day

"after three days" (See: Ordinal Numbers)

made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it

A heavy yoke is a metaphor for very difficult labor and cruel treatment. AT: "treated you cruelly, but I will be more cruel" or "forced you to work very hard, but I will make you work harder" (See: Metaphor)

I will punish you with scorpions

Possible meanings are that 1) "scorpions" is a metaphor for any kind of painful punishment. AT: "I will punish you much more harshly" or 2) "scorpions" is a metaphor for whips with sharp metal barbs at the end. See how you translated this in 2 Chronicles 10:11. AT: "I will punish you with whips that have sharp pieces of metal at the ends" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

Jeroboam

day

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.