Cornelius a Lapide
Table of Contents
Synopsis of the Chapter
Rehoboam, by what harshness he turned the people away from himself; whence only the tribe of Judah adhered to him, while the other ten tribes made Jeroboam their king.
Vulgate Text: 2 Paralipomenon 10:1-19
1. And Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had assembled there to make him king. 2. And when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt (for he had fled there from Solomon), heard this, he immediately returned. 3. And they called him, and he came with all Israel, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying: 4. Your father oppressed us with a most grievous yoke; command lighter things than your father, who laid upon us a heavy servitude, and lighten somewhat the burden, that we may serve you. 5. And he said: Return to me after three days. And when the people had departed, 6. he took counsel with the elders who had stood before his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying: What counsel do you give me, to answer the people? 7. They said to him: If you please this people, and soothe them with kind words, they will serve you at all times. 8. But he abandoned the counsel of the elders, and began to consult with the young men who had been brought up with him, and were in his retinue. 9. And he said to them: What does it seem to you? Or what should I answer this people, who said to me: Ease the yoke which your father laid upon us? 10. But they answered as young men, who had been raised with him in luxury, and said: Thus you shall speak to the people who said to you: Your father made our yoke heavy, lighten it; and thus you shall answer them: My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father. 11. My father laid upon you a heavy yoke, and I will add a greater weight; my father scourged you with whips, but I will scourge you with scorpions. 12. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as he had commanded them. 13. And the king answered harshly, having abandoned the counsel of the elders; 14. and he spoke according to the will of the young men: My father laid upon you a heavy yoke, which I will make heavier; my father scourged you with whips, but I will scourge you with scorpions. 15. And he did not consent to the people's entreaties; for it was the will of God, that His word might be fulfilled, which He had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16. But all the people, when the king spoke more harshly, said to him: We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Jesse. Return to your tents, O Israel; and you, David, feed your own house. And Israel departed to their tents. 17. But over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned. 18. And King Rehoboam sent Aduram, who was over the tributes, and the children of Israel stoned him, and he died; but King Rehoboam hastened to mount his chariot and fled to Jerusalem. 19. And Israel revolted from the house of David, even to this day.
We have heard this chapter in 3 Kings chapter XII. See what was said there.
Verse 15: It Was the Will of God
15. FOR IT WAS THE WILL OF GOD. — In Hebrew, it was caused by God. God willed to divide Israel and to take away ten tribes from Solomon, to punish his idolatry, and to give them to Jeroboam; and therefore He permitted Rehoboam to answer the people so harshly and foolishly; whence He knew it would come about that the people would withdraw from Rehoboam and flee to Jeroboam, which He Himself intended.