Kindness pays in ev’ry dealing: Harsh words always bring distress, Hatred, and much bitter feeling— They were never known to bless Those in sorrow or in grief. ’Tis kind words that bring relief.
The young Prince Rehoboam grew up in the palace at Jerusalem during the years when the kingdom of Israel was in its greatest glory. He had seen all the wealth and splendor of his father, Solomon, and he had heard his father’s rare wisdom spoken and sung throughout the court. He had lived in sight of the beautiful temple of the Lord, and he had seen people come from every part of the land to worship God at that place.
But Rehoboam had not learned to worship God. His mother, who had been a heathen Princess before she married Solomon, had not taught her son the religion of the Israelites. She had taught him to worship the gods in the idol-temple that Solomon had built for her at Jerusalem. And now Rehoboam was an idol-worshiper like his mother. After Solomon died, Rehoboam was the next one chosen to sit upon David’s throne. But the men of Israel were in no hurry to crown him. First they sent to Egypt and brought back the young man Jeroboam, who had run away after Solomon heard what the prophet Ahijah had told him in the field near Jerusalem. They took Jeroboam for their leader, and met with Rehoboam in the city of Shechem, which was north of Jerusalem and nearer to the center of the land. Then they talked with Rehoboam and told him about their feelings; for they wanted the new King to promise certain things before they would accept him in the place of his father.
But Rehoboam was not ready to give an answer at once. He was not a thoughtful young man like his father had been. He cared more for pleasure and for riches than he did for wisdom. He did not know about the unhappy feelings of his people, for he had never been poor and driven to heavy work. He told the people to wait three days and then come again to hear his answer.
After the people went away, Rehoboam wondered what he should tell them when they should return. He decided to call the old men who used to help his father rule the great kingdom, and ask them what he should say in answer to the people’s request. Now this was a wise thing to do; for these old men understood how restless the Israelites were becoming during the last days of Solomon’s rule, and they told the young prince to speak kindly to thq people and promise to make their work easier.
But Rehoboam was not pleased with the old men’s advice. He was very proud, and he thought it would not become him as a rich young “Prince to speak kindly to servants, so he sent the old men away and called for the idle young princes who had grown up as his companions in Jerusalem. Them he asked what to do, and they urged him to speak roughly to the people and threaten to make their work harder than ever because they had dared to ask for easier services. “Teach them that as a king you will do just what you please,” they said; and Rehoboam thought their advice sounded good, so he accepted it.
At the end of three days the people came again with COUNSEL Jeroboam to hear what Rehoboam would answer them. And he stood up in their presence and spoke harsh words, saying he would deal more severely with them than Solomon had dealt. He thought they would fear him and respect him if he should act like a stem ruler.
But Rehoboam was mistaken about his people. When they heard his answer, they cried, “Then we will not have you to rule over us. We will return to our own homes and we will fight before we will become your servants.” And nearly all of them went away. Only the men of the tribe of Judah stayed to anoint Rehoboam as their king.
Rehoboam believed that the other people would soon become willing to acknowledge him as their king, too, so he sent one of his officers to them to collect money as his father had done. But the angry men took the officer and threw stones at him until he died. Then Rehoboam knew that the people were much displeased with him, and he feared them greatly. He called for his chariot, and rode in haste to Jerusalem to get away from them.
“After he came to Jerusalem, Rehoboam decided to send soldiers from the tribe of Judah to fight against the men of the other tribes and compel them to return to his kingdom. But God sent a prophet to tell him not to send these men to fight against the other men of Israel, for there would never again be one kingdom as there had been under the rule of David and of Solomon. And Rehoboam listened to the prophet’s words and kept the soldiers at home.