Two Styles of Leadership (1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Do you drive people, or do you serve them?

In 1 Kings 12:1-11, Rehoboam, Solomon's son, becomes king and travels to Shechem, where the Israelites have gathered to make him king. The people, led by Jeroboam, request that Rehoboam lighten the harsh labor and heavy yoke that his father had placed on them.

Keep in mind that Solomon had imposed a heavy burden on the people of Israel through intense labor and high taxes. His extensive building projects, including the construction of the Temple and his own palace, required significant manpower and resources. This led to widespread discontent among his subjects, as they were required to contribute both labor and financial support, pushing them to their limits and causing significant hardship across the kingdom.

Rehoboam first seeks advice from the elders, who suggest he become a servant to the people to gain their loyalty. However, Rehoboam then consults with the young men he grew up with, who advise him to respond harshly. Robert Alter notes, “The word for ‘young men,” yeladim, usually means ‘child’ or even ‘infant.’” He goes on to explain that “The term may have been chosen to underscore their puerile behavior.”^[1]

They tell Rehoboam to tell the people, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! Although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.”[2] This derogatory, potentially even sexually explicit, statement lets the people know exactly where they stand. As a result, 2 Chronicles 10:16 says the people echo the words of 2 Samuel 20:1 and say,  

What portion do we have in David?
We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
Israel, each to your tent;
David, look after your own house now!

Rehoboam's decision to increase the burden on his people resulted in a significant and immediate backlash. The ten northern tribes of Israel rejected Rehoboam's rule and revolted, leading to the division of the kingdom. They chose Jeroboam as their king, establishing the northern kingdom of Israel, separate from Judah in the south. This division weakened the united Israelite monarchy and set the stage for ongoing conflicts and instability between the two kingdoms.