King living at the time of United Monarchyand Divided Monarchy
Rehoboam was the son of Solomon and the first king of Judah after the division of the kingdom.
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Also known as Roboam
Rehoboam was the son of King Solomon and Naamah, an Ammonite woman (1Ki.14.21, 31). He became king of Judah after Solomon's death (1Ki.11.43). When Rehoboam went to Shechem to be crowned, the people, led by Jeroboam, asked him to lighten the heavy yoke that Solomon had placed on them (1Ki.12.1-4). Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father, but he rejected their advice to be a servant to the people (1Ki.12.6-8). Instead, he followed the counsel of the young men who had grown up with him and threatened to make the people's yoke even heavier (1Ki.12.9-14). As a result, the ten northern tribes rebelled against Rehoboam and made Jeroboam their king, leaving only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin loyal to Rehoboam (1Ki.12.16-20). Rehoboam intended to fight against the northern tribes, but God sent a prophet to stop him (1Ki.12.21-24). During Rehoboam's reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the temple and the royal palace (1Ki.14.25-28; 2Ch.12.1-12). Rehoboam did evil in the eyes of the Lord and allowed idol worship to spread in Judah (1Ki.14.22-24). He reigned for 17 years and was succeeded by his son Abijah (1Ki.14.21, 31; 2Ch.12.16). Rehoboam's story is a cautionary tale about the consequences of foolish decisions and disobedience to God.
Part of: Kings, prophets and the house of David · The royal line: Judah to David to Jesus
Solomon's forced labour and taxes angered the northern tribes. After his death they asked Rehoboam to lighten the burden; Rehoboam followed the advice of his young companions and answered harshly, and ten tribes left.
Sources: 1 Kgs 11:26-28 · 1 Kgs 12:1-15 · 1 Kgs 12:16-19
Jeroboam, an Ephraimite overseer, was told by the prophet Ahijah that he would rule ten tribes; Solomon tried to kill him and he fled to Shishak of Egypt. After the split Jeroboam set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan. Shishak later invaded Judah in Rehoboam's fifth year.
Sources: 1 Kgs 11:29-40 · 1 Kgs 12:25-33 · 1 Kgs 14:25-26
Rehoboam mustered an army of Judah and Benjamin to recover the north, but the prophet Shemaiah told him not to fight his brothers; they obeyed. Ongoing war between the two kings is reported nevertheless.
Sources: 1 Kgs 12:21-24 · 1 Kgs 14:30
Matthew traces the royal line from David through Solomon and the kings of Judah to Jehoiachin, then through Shealtiel and Zerubbabel to Joseph, husband of Mary. It lists fourteen generations in each of three groups, selectively.
Sources: Matt 1:6-11 · Matt 1:12-16 · Matt 1:17
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He enlarges the people, 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; 2 Chr. 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 (comp. 2 Sam. 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…
(enlarger of the people), son of Solomon by the Ammonite princess Naamah, (1 Kings 14:21,31) and his successor. (1 Kings 11:43) Rehoboam selected Shechem as the place of his coronation (B.C. 975), probably as an act of concession to the Ephraimites. The people demanded a remission of the severe burdens imposed by Solomon, and Rehoboam, rejecting the advice of his father’s counsellors, followed that of his young courtiers, and returned an insulting answer, which led to an open rebellion among the tribes, and he was compelled to fly to Jerusalem, Judah and Benjamin alone remaining true to him. Jeroboam was made king of the northern tribes. [Jeroboam] An expedition to reconquer Israel was forbidden by the prophet Shemaiah, (1 Kings 12:21) still during Rehoboam’s lifetime peaceful relations between Israel and Judah were never restored. (2 Chronicles 12:15; 1 Kings 14:30) In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign the country was invaded by a host of Egyptians and other African nations under Shishak. Jerusalem itself was taken and Rehoboam had to purchase an ignominious peace by delivering up the treasures with which Solomon had adorned the temple and palace. The rest of Rehoboam’s life was unmarked by any events of importance. He died B.C. 958, after a reign of 17 years, having ascended the throne B.C. 975, at the age of 41. (1 Kings 14:21; 2 Chronicles 12:13) He had 18 wives, 60 concubines, 28 sons and 60 daughters.
who sets the people at liberty
REHOBO'AM (enlarger of the people), a son of Solomon by the Ammonite princess Naamah, 1 Kgs 14:21; ascended the throne after the death of his father, at the age of forty-one, and reigned seventeen years, b.c. 975-957. It appears that the taxes which Solomon had laid on the people had become an onerous burden; and when Rehoboam went down to Shechem to be anointed and crowned, the representatives of the ten tribes met him with a unanimous demand for relief in the taxation. It is also probable that this proceeding of the ten tribes was influenced by the strong jealousy which reigned between Ephraim and Judah. The accession of David to the throne, and the transference of the ark and the royal residence to Jerusalem, had given the tribes of Judah and Benjamin a decided prominence, and Ephraim felt very sore. The situation was critical, and Rehoboam showed himself utterly incapable of managing it. Following the advice of his younger courtiers, he gave a most insolent answer, the effect of which was that the ten tribes revolted, leaving Judah and Benjamin alone in their allegiance to him. He at once proposed to employ force for the purpose of reducing the rebels, but was admonished Rehoboam. (From Sculptures at Karnak.) The inscription has been read, "Kingdom of Judah." by the prophet Shemaiah to forbear. 1 Kgs 12:24. Continual wars, however, prevailed between the two parties, and a still greater calamity soon fell on the head of the unhappy king. Allured by the enormous riches which Solomon had accumulated in Jerusalem, and probably also instigated by Jeroboam, the Egyptian king Shishak, the founder of the twenty-second dynasty, invaded Judah. Jerusalem was taken, and Rehoboam had to buy an ignominious peace by surrendering all the royal treasures. This victory of Shishak is…
REHOBO'AM (enlarger of the people), a son of Solomon by the Ammonite princess Naamah, 1 Kgs 14:21; ascended the throne after the death of his father, at the age of forty-one, and reigned seventeen years, b.c. 975-957. It appears that the taxes which Solomon had laid on the people had become an onerous burden; and when Rehoboam went down to Shechem to be anointed and crowned, the representatives of the ten tribes met him with a unanimous demand for relief in the taxation. It is also probable that this proceeding of the ten tribes was influenced by the strong jealousy which reigned between Ephraim and Judah. The accession of David to the throne, and the transference of the ark and the royal residence to Jerusalem, had given the tribes of Judah and Benjamin a decided prominence, and Ephraim felt very sore. The situation was critical, and Rehoboam showed himself utterly incapable of managing it. Following the advice of his younger courtiers, he gave a most insolent answer, the effect of which was that the ten tribes revolted, leaving Judah and Benjamin alone in their allegiance to him. He at once proposed to employ force for the purpose of reducing the rebels, but was admonished Rehoboam. (From Sculptures at Karnak.) The inscription has been read, "Kingdom of Judah." by the prophet Shemaiah to forbear. 1 Kgs 12:24. Continual wars, however, prevailed between the two parties, and a still greater calamity soon fell on the head of the unhappy king. Allured by the enormous riches which Solomon had accumulated in Jerusalem, and probably also instigated by Jeroboam, the Egyptian king Shishak, the founder of the twenty-second dynasty, invaded Judah. Jerusalem was taken, and Rehoboam had to buy an ignominious peace by surrendering all the royal treasures. This victory of Shishak is…
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
42 verses in 4 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H7346
And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.
Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam and said,
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.
After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”
but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.
Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.
And when Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against the house of Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.
“Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the rest of the people
If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, their hearts will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah; then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
Meanwhile, Rehoboam son of Solomon reigned in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name. His motherʼs name was Naamah the Ammonite.
In the fifth year of Rehoboamʼs reign, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem.
Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and committed them to the care of the captains of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace.
As for the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, along with all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their days.
And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David; his motherʼs name was Naamah the Ammonite. And his son Abijam reigned in his place.
And there was war between the houses of Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of Abijamʼs life.
Solomonʼs son was Rehoboam: Abijah was his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.
Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel came to Rehoboam and said,
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.
After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”
And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders
but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.
Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.
When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
“Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin
Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.
And Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of Davidʼs son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesseʼs son Eliab.
Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.
After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israel with him forsook the Law of the LORD.
In the fifth year of Rehoboamʼs reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem
Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have forsaken Me; therefore, I have forsaken you into the hand of Shishak.’”
Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and committed them to the care of the captains of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace.
Thus King Rehoboam established himself in Jerusalem and reigned. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name. His motherʼs name was Naamah the Ammonite.
Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer concerning the genealogies? There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their days.
And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Abijah reigned in his place.
Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young, inexperienced, and unable to resist them.
Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.