John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And Rehoboam went to Shechem , etc.] After the death and internment of his father: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king : as was pretended, though in reality it was to seek occasion against him, and make Jeroboam king; it is very probable they knew of the prophecy of Ahijah, and therefore would not go to Jerusalem, but to Shechem, a city in the tribe of Ephraim, of which Jeroboam was, and where he had sowed the seeds of sedition when ruler there; and this place they chose, partly because they could more freely speak what they had in their minds, and partly for the safety of Jeroboam they had sent for on this occasion; so that Rehoboam went thither not of choice, but of necessity. The Jews observe that this place was very ominous; here Dinah was ravished, Joseph was sold, Abimelech exercised tyranny, and here now the kingdom was divided.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-15 - The tribes complained not to Rehoboam of his father's idolatry, an revolt from God. That which was the greatest grievance, was none to them; so careless were they in matters of religion, if they might liv at case, and pay no taxes. Factious spirits will never want somethin to complain of. And when we see the Scripture account of Solomon' reign; the peace, wealth, and prosperity Israel then enjoyed; we cannot doubt but that their charges were false, or far beyond the truth Rehoboam answered the people according to the counsel of the young men Never was man more blinded by pride, and desire of arbitrary power than which nothing is more fatal. God's counsels were hereby fulfilled He left Rehoboam to his own folly, and hid from his eyes the thing which belonged to his peace, that the kingdom might be rent from him God serves his own wise and righteous purposes by the imprudences an sins of men. Those that lose the kingdom of heaven, throw it away, a Rehoboam, by wilfulness and folly.
Original Hebrew וילך1980 רחבעם7346 שׁכם7927 כי3588 שׁכם7927 בא935 כל3605 ישׂראל3478 להמליך4427 אתו׃853
