II Chronicles Chapter 10
Please read: II Chronicles 10 –
After the passing of Solomon his son Rehoboam was made king. This son was a fool and made a mess of the kingdom right from the start. The people had been under a great king, but he had taken a lot from the people by way of heavy taxation and forced service. They were hoping that his son might handle things with a lighter hand. But Rehoboam was a young man thirsty for power and instead of listening to wise counsel he listened to the counsel of foolish young men he had grown up with. And when it came time for Rehoboam’s harsh labor to be carried out, the people revolted. Rehoboam had lost the respect of the people.
Let's Reflect
1. In verse 1 there is mention of the future king of Israel that would be the king who would split the kingdom into two kingdoms. What was his name?
2. Why had this man been in Egypt?
3. The older men who had been counselors to Solomon gave wise counsel and gave good reasoning why Rehoboam should follow their advice. What did they say would be the result of following their advice?
4. Verse 15 may seem like a peculiar verse in that God ordained what happened in that moment, but we know that God knows the heart of every man, and He knew the heart of Rehoboam. Things would not be easy for Israel from this point forward because they had begun to sway from Him in the last years of Solomon’s rule. God had already set in motion that Jeroboam would be made king of the northern kingdom. And God allowed Rehoboam to make his own foolish mistakes. What did the people think of Rehoboam’s decision to make things even more difficult for the people?
5. What happened when King Rehoboam sent out his task master Hadoram?
6. Rehoboam was no longer as tough as he had proclaimed. What was his reaction to Hadoram’s death?
