| Rehoboam
This article contains a free Bible Study resource on the subject of Rehoboam. It provides facts, a biography and information about this famous Biblical character for bible study. There is also reference to where Rehoboam is mentioned in the Holy Bible. Bible Dictionary Definition - Who was Rehoboam
The definition and outline of Rehoboam is as follows: King of the United Monarchy of Israel and later of the Kingdom of Judah after the ten northern tribes of Israel rebelled to form the independent Kingdom of Israel. Rehoboam Bible Story Biography, Facts and Information about Rehoboam
The following info provides a concise biography with facts and information about Rehoboam: the successor of Solomon on the throne, and apparently his only son. He was the son of Naamah "the Ammonitess," some well-known Ammonitish princess (1 Kings 14:21; 2Chr 12:13). He was forty-one years old when he ascended the throne, and he reigned seventeen years (B.C. 975-958). Although he was acknowledged at once as the rightful heir to the throne, yet there was a strongly-felt desire to modify the character of the government. The burden of taxation to which they had been subjected during Solomon's reign was very oppressive, and therefore the people assembled at Shechem and demanded from the king an alleviation of their burdens. He went to meet them at Shechem, and heard their demands for relief (1 Kings 12:4). After three days, having consulted with a younger generation of courtiers that had grown up around him, instead of following the advice of elders, he answered the people haughtily (6-15). "The king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord" (comp 11:31). This brought matters speedily to a crisis. The terrible cry was heard (Compare 2 Samuel 20:1):
"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" (1 Kings 12:16).
And now at once the kingdom was rent in twain. Rehoboam was appalled, and tried concessions, but it was too late (18). The tribe of Judah, Rehoboam's own tribe, alone remained faithful to him. Benjamin was reckoned along with Judah, and these two tribes formed the southern kingdom, with Jerusalem as its capital; while the northern ten tribes formed themselves into a separate kingdom, choosing Jeroboam as their king. Rehoboam tried to win back the revolted ten tribes by making war against them, but he was prevented by the prophet Shemaiah (21-24; 2 Chronicles 11:1-4) from fulfilling his purpose.
In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, Shishak (q.v.), one of the kings of Egypt of the Assyrian dynasty, stirred up, no doubt, by Jeroboam his son-in-law, made war against him. Jerusalem submitted to the invader, who plundered the temple and virtually reduced the kingdom to the position of a vassal of Egypt (1 Kings 14:25,26; 2Chr 12:5-9). A remarkable memorial of this invasion has been discovered at Karnac, in Upper Egypt, in certain sculptures on the walls of a small temple there. These sculptures represent the king, Shishak, holding in his hand a train of prisoners and other figures, with the names of the captured towns of Judah, the towns which Rehoboam had fortified (2 Chronicles 11:5-12).
The kingdom of Judah, under Rehoboam, sank more and more in moral and spiritual decay. "There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days." At length, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, Rehoboam "slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David" (1 Kings 14:31). He was succeeded by his son Abijah. Rehoboam
We have selected Rehoboam as one of the most important people and character from the Bible and provided a biography and character outline of this famous person. Much of the information is taken from the classic reference books including Matthew George Easton "Easton's Bible Dictionary" and Ashley S Johnson "Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia". Rehoboam - A Free Christian Bible Study Resource
We hope that this Rehoboam article will provide useful information and ideas for those following a Bible Study plan. This article about Rehoboam, together with other tools, activities, aids and materials and are designed to be used by an individual or a Christian Bible study group. This biography of Rehoboam may prove useful as the basis for fun Sunday School lessons for Christian children and kids other topics will prove a useful asset to teens, youth or adults taking a Bible Study course or Biblical degree. All information on this Rehoboam page is free to be used as an educational Christian Bible Study resource. Rehoboam |
