BOOK 14 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

2 Chronicles 10

2 Chronicles book home•Chapter 10 of 36•19 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

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2 Chronicles 10 Overview

Rehoboam goes to Shechem to be made king, where the people ask for relief from Solomon’s heavy service. He rejects the older counselors’ advice to answer kindly and follows his younger companions, threatening even harsher burdens. The northern tribes revolt, leaving Rehoboam with Judah and Benjamin. The narrator explains that the turn of events fulfills God’s word through Ahijah concerning the division of Solomon’s kingdom.

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Before you read 2 Chronicles 10

Coming from

Chapter 9 ended Solomon’s glorious reign and named Rehoboam as his successor.

In this chapter

A leadership decision made with arrogance accelerates the kingdom’s division into northern Israel and the Davidic kingdom centered in Judah.

Leads into

Chapter 11 shows Rehoboam preparing for war but being stopped by God, then strengthening Judah as priests and Levites from the north migrate south.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The division is both humanly caused and divinely foretold. Rehoboam is genuinely responsible for rejecting wise counsel, while God also uses the event to fulfill the judgment announced because of Solomon’s apostasy. Biblical sovereignty does not erase human responsibility.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Harsh leadership can turn legitimate grievances into lasting division.

Truth 2

Wise counsel may be rejected when a leader values image and domination over service.

Truth 3

God’s prior word is fulfilled through decisions for which human rulers remain accountable.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

First Kings 11:26-40 records Ahijah’s prophecy to Jeroboam about the kingdom being torn from Solomon’s house.

Connection 2

First Kings 12 gives the parallel account and adds Jeroboam’s later establishment of counterfeit worship.

Connection 3

Mark 10:42-45 contrasts domineering rule with servant leadership among Christ’s disciples.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not blame the entire division on one rude speech; Solomon’s apostasy and accumulated burdens already stand behind the crisis.

Keep this clear 2

Divine foreknowledge and purpose do not excuse Rehoboam’s folly.

Keep this clear 3

The split kingdom is a historical judgment within Israel and not a direct pattern for every church or political division.

Read 2 Chronicles 10 watching for…

The people’s request.

The contrasting advice of older and younger counselors.

Rehoboam’s final answer.

The northern tribes’ response.

The narrator’s statement about God’s word being fulfilled.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-5Israel asks Rehoboam to lighten Solomon’s heavy yoke 6-11Rehoboam rejects the counsel of the old men and follows the young men 12-15Rehoboam answers the people roughly according to the young men’s advice 16-19Israel rebels against the house of David, leaving Rehoboam over Judah

And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.

And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.

And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?

And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.

But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.

And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?

And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.

For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.

And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,

And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.

But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.