Changes

'''Rehoboam''' (Hebrew:'''רחבעם''' ''Rehav'am'', he who enlarges the people) (1016-r.975-958 BC by [[James Ussher|Ussher]]<ref name=Ussher>[[James Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World]]'', [[Larry Pierce]], ed., Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003 (ISBN 0890513600), pghh. 477-486</ref> or 971-r.930-913 BC by [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]]<ref name=Wood>Leon J. Wood, ''A Survey of Israel's History'', rev. ed. David O'Brien, Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1986 (ISBN 031034770X), pp. 285-289</ref>) was the immediate successor of [[Solomon]]. He inherited his throne at the age of forty-one.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=12|verses=13}}</ref><ref name=Konig>Konig, George. [http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/p63.htm Rehoboam, or Roboam, King of Israel]. ''AboutBibleProphecy.com,'' 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2007.</ref> He is best known as the king under whom the [[United Kingdom]] of [[Israel]] split into its [[Northern Kingdom|Northern]] and [[Southern Kingdom|Southern]] halves; he continued as king of the Southern for seventeen years. The authors of the Books [[II Kings]]<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=11-14}}</ref> and [[II Chronicles]]<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=10-13}}</ref> both refer to him as an "evil-doing" king.

'''Rehoboam''' (Hebrew:'''רחבעם''' ''Rehav'am'', he who enlarges the people) (1016-r.975-958 BC by [[James Ussher|Ussher]]<ref name=Ussher>[[James Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World]]'', [[Larry Pierce]], ed., Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003 (ISBN 0890513600), pghh. 477-486</ref> or 971-r.930-913 BC by [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]]<ref name=Wood>Leon J. Wood, ''A Survey of Israel's History'', rev. ed. David O'Brien, Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1986 (ISBN 031034770X), pp. 285-289</ref>) was the immediate successor of [[Solomon]]. He inherited his throne at the age of forty-one.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=12|verses=13}}</ref><ref name=Konig>Konig, George. [http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/p63.htm Rehoboam, or Roboam, King of Israel]. ''AboutBibleProphecy.com,'' 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2007.</ref> He is best known as the king under whom the [[United Kingdom of Israel|United Kingdom]] of [[Israel]] split into its [[Northern Kingdom|Northern]] and [[Southern Kingdom|Southern]] halves; he continued as king of the Southern for seventeen years. The authors of the Books [[II Kings]]<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=11-14}}</ref> and [[II Chronicles]]<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=10-13}}</ref> both refer to him as an "evil-doing" king.

== Family ==

== Family ==

== A Disastrous Coronation ==

== A Disastrous Coronation ==

Rehoboam assumed office at a critical time in the history of the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name=Konig/><ref name=CCM>David Holt Boshert, Jr., and David Ettinger, [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/kings/rehoboam.htm Rehoboam King of Judah], Christ-Centered Mall. Retrieved June 22, 2007</ref><ref name=GeoCities>Authors unknown. "[http://www.geocities.com/thekingsofisrael/biography_Rehoboam.html King Rehoboam - Biography]." ''The Kings of Israel'', hosted at http://www.geocities.com/ Retrieved June 22, 2007.</ref><ref name=Blank>[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/roadsign.htm Blank, Wayne]. "[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2000/20000507.htm Entry for Rehoboam]." ''Church of God Daily Bible Study'', 1998. Retrieved June 22, 2007.</ref> Solomon had imposed a severe tax and forced-labor burden upon the people, to pay for his massive building program. Now that he was dead, the people wanted relief from these burdens.

Rehoboam assumed office at a critical time in the history of the [[United Kingdom of Israel|United Kingdom]].<ref name=Konig/><ref name=CCM>David Holt Boshert, Jr., and David Ettinger, [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/kings/rehoboam.htm Rehoboam King of Judah], Christ-Centered Mall. Retrieved June 22, 2007</ref><ref name=GeoCities>Authors unknown. "[http://www.geocities.com/thekingsofisrael/biography_Rehoboam.html King Rehoboam - Biography]." ''The Kings of Israel'', hosted at http://www.geocities.com/ Retrieved June 22, 2007.</ref><ref name=Blank>[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/roadsign.htm Blank, Wayne]. "[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2000/20000507.htm Entry for Rehoboam]." ''Church of God Daily Bible Study'', 1998. Retrieved June 22, 2007.</ref> Solomon had imposed a severe tax and forced-labor burden upon the people, to pay for his massive building program. Now that he was dead, the people wanted relief from these burdens.

Rehoboam came to the Northern city of [[Shechem]] to receive his crown. Ten of the twelve tribes chose a spokesman, the future [[Jeroboam I]], to deliver a simple plea for relief. Rehoboam told Jeroboam and his followers to wait three days for his decision.

Rehoboam came to the Northern city of [[Shechem]] to receive his crown. Ten of the twelve tribes chose a spokesman, the future [[Jeroboam I]], to deliver a simple plea for relief. Rehoboam told Jeroboam and his followers to wait three days for his decision.

In the third year of his reign, Rehoboam felt settled in power. At this time he fell away from the way of God, and the way of King David.<ref name=Konig/> (Throughout the history of the Southern Kingdom, King David's example would forever be the "gold standard" of regal behavior in the sight of God.) Specifically, the people of the Southern Kingdom built altars to [[Baal]] and set up [[high place]]s and [[Asherah]] poles throughout the land. They also joined several cults and indulged in the sinful practices of these cults.<ref name=GeoCities/>

In the third year of his reign, Rehoboam felt settled in power. At this time he fell away from the way of God, and the way of King David.<ref name=Konig/> (Throughout the history of the Southern Kingdom, King David's example would forever be the "gold standard" of regal behavior in the sight of God.) Specifically, the people of the Southern Kingdom built altars to [[Baal]] and set up [[high place]]s and [[Asherah]] poles throughout the land. They also joined several cults and indulged in the sinful practices of these cults.<ref name=GeoCities/>

In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, he suffered Divine retribution for this negligence. [[Pharaoh]] [[Shishak]] (of whom the most likely candidate is [[Thutmose III]]), invaded with an army of 1200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and an innumerable coalition force from [[Libya]], [[Ethiopia]], and a third nation called "Sukkiim." As this force was approaching, Shemaiah delivered another dire message to Rehoboam: that the Lord would not defend them, because they had forsaken Him. The leadership of the Southern Kingdom showed contrition and admitted that this invasion was indeed an act of Divine Justice.<ref name=GeoCities/>

In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, he suffered Divine retribution for this negligence. [[Pharaoh]] [[Shishak]] (of whom the most likely candidate is [[Thutmose III]]), invaded with an army of 1200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and an innumerable coalition force from [[Libya]], [[Ethiopia]], and a third nation called "Sukkiim." (The Libyan connection makes Sheshonq I's candidacy stronger, because Sheshonq was the founder of the twenty-second or "Libyan" dynasty in [[Egypt]].) As this force was approaching, Shemaiah delivered another dire message to Rehoboam: that the Lord would not defend them, because they had forsaken Him. The leadership of the Southern Kingdom showed contrition and admitted that this invasion was indeed an act of Divine Justice.<ref name=GeoCities/>

The Lord, seeing this contrition, restrained Shishak from destroying Judah utterly. But Shishak plundered Jerusalem of all the golden shields and other appointments of the palace and the [[Temple of Jerusalem|Temple]].<ref name=Konig/> Rehoboam commissioned brass shields, and had them brought out only on state occasions, and kept under lock and key between such occasions.<ref name=GeoCities/>

The Lord, seeing this contrition, restrained Shishak from destroying Judah utterly. But Shishak plundered Jerusalem of all the golden shields and other appointments of the palace and the [[Temple of Jerusalem|Temple]].<ref name=Konig/> Rehoboam commissioned brass shields, and had them brought out only on state occasions, and kept under lock and key between such occasions.<ref name=GeoCities/>

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== See Also ==

== See Also ==

* [[United Kingdom]]

* [[United Kingdom of Israel|United Kingdom]]

* [[Northern Kingdom]]

* [[Northern Kingdom]]

* [[Southern Kingdom]]

* [[Southern Kingdom]]