**The Division of the Kingdom and Rehoboam’s Faithfulness in Judah**
In the days following the death of King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel stood at a crossroads. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, had ascended to the throne, but his reign began with turmoil. The people of Israel, burdened by the heavy yoke of labor and taxation imposed during Solomon’s reign, came to Rehoboam with a plea for relief. They begged him to lighten their load, promising their loyalty in return. But Rehoboam, influenced by the counsel of his young and arrogant advisors, rejected their request and instead threatened to increase their burdens. This harsh response shattered the unity of the nation, and ten tribes of Israel rebelled, forming their own kingdom in the north under the leadership of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to Rehoboam, and thus the kingdom was divided.
Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, his heart heavy with the weight of the fractured kingdom. He gathered an army of 180,000 skilled warriors from Judah and Benjamin, determined to wage war against the northern tribes and restore the unity of Israel. But as he prepared to march, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, a man of God, saying, “Thus says the Lord: You shall not go up or fight against your brothers. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from Me.” Rehoboam, though a flawed king, heeded the word of the Lord and commanded his army to stand down. The soldiers obeyed, and the nation was spared the bloodshed of civil war.
In the years that followed, Rehoboam turned his attention to fortifying the cities of Judah and Benjamin. He strengthened the defenses of Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These cities became strongholds, surrounded by high walls, gates, and bars. Rehoboam stationed commanders in each city, along with supplies of food, oil, and wine. He also placed shields and spears in every city, ensuring that they were well-prepared for any threat.
The people of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to Rehoboam, not only because he was the son of Solomon but also because they recognized the hand of God upon him. The priests and Levites, who had been scattered throughout the northern tribes, abandoned their homes and came to Judah and Jerusalem when Jeroboam and his successors rejected them. Jeroboam had appointed his own priests to serve at the high places and before the golden calves he had set up in Bethel and Dan, turning the people away from the true worship of the Lord. The Levites, however, remained faithful to the God of Israel and joined Rehoboam in Jerusalem, where they could serve in the house of the Lord according to the Law of Moses.
Rehoboam’s kingdom grew stronger as people from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts to seek the Lord came to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the temple. For three years, they walked in the way of David and Solomon, strengthening the kingdom of Judah and supporting Rehoboam’s reign. During this time, Rehoboam took many wives and concubines, following the example of his father Solomon. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and they bore him twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. Among his sons, he appointed Abijah as the chief prince, designating him as the heir to the throne. Rehoboam wisely distributed his other sons throughout the territories of Judah and Benjamin, placing them in the fortified cities and providing for them abundantly.
Despite the division of the kingdom, Rehoboam’s reign in Judah was marked by a season of faithfulness to the Lord. The people of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites, continued to worship at the temple in Jerusalem, offering sacrifices and keeping the feasts as prescribed by the Law. The presence of the Lord was with them, and the kingdom prospered.
However, as time passed, Rehoboam’s heart grew proud, and he began to rely on his own strength rather than the Lord. He abandoned the law of the Lord, and the people followed his example, turning to idolatry and forsaking the covenant. Because of this, the Lord allowed Shishak, the king of Egypt, to invade Judah with a vast army. Shishak captured the fortified cities and marched on Jerusalem, plundering the treasures of the temple and the royal palace. Rehoboam humbled himself before the Lord, and the Lord showed him mercy, sparing Jerusalem from complete destruction. Nevertheless, the invasion served as a stern reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.
In the end, Rehoboam’s reign was a mixture of faithfulness and failure. He began well, obeying the word of the Lord and strengthening the kingdom of Judah. But his pride and disobedience led to hardship and loss. His story serves as a warning to all who would seek to lead God’s people: true strength and prosperity come only through humble obedience to the Lord.
