1 Kings 12:16-20

1 Kings 12:16-20

[16] So  when all Israel  saw  that the king  hearkened  not unto them, the people  answered  the king,  saying,  What portion  have we in David?  neither have we inheritance  in the son  of Jesse:  to your tents,  O Israel:  now see  to thine own house,  David.  So Israel  unto their tents.  [17] But as for the children  of Israel  which dwelt  in the cities  of Judah,  Rehoboam  reigned  over them. [18] Then king  Rehoboam  sent  Adoram,  who was over the tribute;  and all Israel  stoned  him with stones,  that he died.  Therefore king  Rehoboam  made speed  to get him up  to his chariot,  to flee  to Jerusalem.  [19] So Israel  rebelled  against the house  of David  unto this day.  [20] And it came to pass, when all Israel  heard  that Jeroboam  was come again,  that they sent  and called  him unto the congregation,  and made him king  over all Israel:  there was none that followed  the house  of David,  but  the tribe  of Judah 

What does 1 Kings 12:16-20 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The dissatisfaction with the rule of David"s house that had been brewing for years (cf. 2 Samuel 20:1) finally boiled over. Perhaps Rehoboam sent Adoram to pacify the angry mob ( 1 Kings 12:18). Whatever his reason, this proved to be "the straw that broke the camel"s back."
Rehoboam lacked wisdom because he did not give God the place He deserved in his life. Because he revolted against God, the people revolted against him. In rebelling against Rehoboam, however, the Israelites were rebelling against God"s anointed king. That action could only bring divine discipline on them, and it did. This rebellion continued throughout the history of the divided kingdom and accounts for much of the misery that the nation experienced. [1] Rehoboam"s coronation turned into a bloody lynching and inspired the coronation of his rival ( 1 Kings 12:20).