The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 275

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 25-27.-Jeroboam's Despondency. "Uneasy lies the hea.d. that wears a crown." Jeroboam's ambition was to be a king, and God ge.ve him his desire. This was to punish Solomon and his house for their apostasy, and the men of Israel who had been led away in it. The sequel proved that the ambition of Jeroboam e.lso brought its punishment, for he soon found his throne the reverse of e. comfortable seat. I. Hrs FAITH m HIB PEOPLE WAB BHAXEN. 1. They seem to haive become reatfo~ under his rule. (1) This was likely to be the case. Their complaint ago.inst tha house of David was the pressure of their burdens. But these could not be lightened when two kings had to be maintained instead of one; when a court had to be supported by a greatly diminished constituency. (2) They had to create a capital worthy of the kingdom. So Jeroboam set about building Shechem, which was o. ruin; for, two centuries before, it had been demolished by Abimelech (Judg. ix. 45). The cost of this, including that of the palace there, appears to have been so dis- agree'able, that Jeroboam, for his tranquillity, shifted his court to Penuel, on tho east of the Jordan. (8) Penuel now stood in need of improvements. It had suffered at the hands of Gideon nearly three centuries before, when the tower wa.a destroyed (Judg. viii. 17). A second palace here was not likely to ease their bur- ~ens. (4) Then their ability to pay taxes was reduced; for their commerce, created m the days of Solomon, seems to have declined. This would not improve their temper. 2. Be therefore became gloomily Ql[)prehensive. (1) He feared that, having now discovered that their burdens were no lighter, they might reflect \hat they had done wrong in throwing off allegiance to their legitimate sovereign, and that the "kingdom would return to the house of David." (2) Further, that this disposition must be encouraged by their visits to J ernsalem for religious purposes (Deut. xvi. 16, 17). They would then see that neither Shechem nor Penuel, as c:i,pitals, coulcl compare with J erusalern. (8) And he feared that a connter revolu- tion must iw11oril his life, for Rehoboam would demand this as a condition of their reconciliation. But the true cause of his despondency was that- 11. HE HAD FORGOTTEN TO TSVST IN Gon. 1. Had he no assurance in tit~ words of Ahijah ! (1) Did not Ahijah giv,1 him ten pieces of the rent ge.rment 'I Did he no, accompany the sign with assurinE,' words? (Chron. xi. 87.) Has not this pa.rt of the prophecy been fulfilled ? (2) Is it not, therefore, in the power of Jeroboam to perpetuate his throne by faithfully serving God? (Chron. xi. 88.) The fulfilment of !he for1;11~r pa.rt of the prophecy su_ri,ly ple~ges the latter. (8) Ah, but this promise lB cond1t1onal I So are all God's • miscs. If we comply not with the couditioWI  278 TRE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS, [on. xn. 23-88,