CHAPTER 10
. REHOBOAM
REFUSING THE OLD
MEN'S GOOD
COUNSEL.
1. Rehoboam went to Shechem—(See
on ). This chapter is, with
a few verbal alterations, the same as in .
3. And they sent—rather, "for
they had sent," &c. This is stated as the reason of
Jeroboam's return from Egypt.
7. If thou be kind to this people,
and please them, and speak good words to them—In the Book of
Kings [1 Kings 12:7], the words
are, "If thou wilt be a servant unto this people, and wilt serve
them." The meaning in both is the same, namely, If thou wilt
make some reasonable concessions, redress their grievances, and
restore their abridged liberties, thou wilt secure their strong and
lasting attachment to thy person and government.
15-17. the king hearkened not unto
the people, for the cause was of God—Rehoboam, in following an
evil counsel, and the Hebrew people, in making a revolutionary
movement, each acted as free agents, obeying their own will and
passions. But God, who permitted the revolt of the northern tribes,
intended it as a punishment of the house of David for Solomon's
apostasy. That event demonstrates the immediate superintendence of
His providence over the revolutions of kingdoms; and thus it affords
an instance, similar to many other striking instances that are found
in Scripture, of divine predictions, uttered long before, being
accomplished by the operation of human passions, and in the natural
course of events.
CHAPTER 10
. REHOBOAM REFUSING THE OLD MEN'S GOOD COUNSEL.
1. Rehoboam went to Shechem—(See on ). This chapter is, with a few verbal alterations, the same as in .
3. And they sent—rather, "for they had sent," &c. This is stated as the reason of Jeroboam's return from Egypt.
7. If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them—In the Book of Kings [1 Kings 12:7], the words are, "If thou wilt be a servant unto this people, and wilt serve them." The meaning in both is the same, namely, If thou wilt make some reasonable concessions, redress their grievances, and restore their abridged liberties, thou wilt secure their strong and lasting attachment to thy person and government.
15-17. the king hearkened not unto the people, for the cause was of God—Rehoboam, in following an evil counsel, and the Hebrew people, in making a revolutionary movement, each acted as free agents, obeying their own will and passions. But God, who permitted the revolt of the northern tribes, intended it as a punishment of the house of David for Solomon's apostasy. That event demonstrates the immediate superintendence of His providence over the revolutions of kingdoms; and thus it affords an instance, similar to many other striking instances that are found in Scripture, of divine predictions, uttered long before, being accomplished by the operation of human passions, and in the natural course of events.