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Rehoboam

Both TestamentsUnited MonarchyMaleKingSon

Rehoboam was the son of Solomon and the first king of Judah after the division of the kingdom.

Rehoboam illustration
Rehoboam

Biography

Rehoboam was born to Solomon and his Ammonite wife Naamah (1 Kings 14:21), making him heir to the most expansive Israelite empire in history. When Solomon died, Rehoboam traveled to Shechem to be confirmed as king over all Israel. There the people, led by Jeroboam, petitioned him to lighten the forced labor imposed under his father. Against the counsel of the elder advisors, Rehoboam followed the reckless advice of his younger companions and threatened to increase the burden. This catastrophic decision triggered the secession of the ten northern tribes and the permanent division of the united kingdom (1 Kings 12). Rehoboam ruled Judah for seventeen years, a reign marked by apostasy, military incursion by Pharaoh Shishak, and continued spiritual decline (2 Chronicles 12).

Significance

Rehoboam stands as one of Scripture's most instructive cautionary figures. His rejection of wisdom and embrace of pride directly shattered the united monarchy that David and Solomon had built. Theologically, his reign is presented in both Kings and Chronicles as a divine judgment upon Solomon's idolatry, demonstrating that the consequences of a leader's sin extend across generations. Yet even in judgment, God's mercy is evident: the kingdom was not destroyed outright, and the Davidic line continued in Judah. Rehoboam is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:7, placing him within the messianic lineage, a reminder that God's redemptive purposes persevere through deeply flawed human instruments.

Verse Appearances (23)

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
  3. Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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