The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 128

ledged David's sovereignty (2 S11.m. v. 1) they came to Hebron, at that time the capital of Judah. Besides, Rehoboa.m bad already been crowned at Jerusalem and in that act the northern tribes should have taken part, That they stood u.l~of and claimed for themselves a right of either acquiescing in or repudiating the sovereignty of Rehoboam shows, if not that they still had a right of free election to the crown at least, that their fusion with Judah was not so complete as, after seventy-three year; it might have been. Their intention, probably, was to acknowledge Rehoboam as ki~g but at the same time t-0 assert their freedom by insisting on his compliance with certain demands and conditions. Hence they abstained from the national gathering at Jerusalem, and summoned Rehoboam to a new assembly at Shechem to receive their fealty as if they were a separate empire. "It was a significant hint to Rehoboam if he had properly understood it" (Ewald). ' III. 'l'HE GIVERS OF THE OROWN. All Israel. The ten tribes as distinguished from ,Judah and Benjamin, which had already taken the oath of allegiance to the son of Solomon (eh. ix. 31). The northern tribes, from the time of David's accession to the throne of Saul (2 Sam. ii. 4), when they adhered to the sceptre of Ishboshetb, Saul's son (2 Sam. ii. 10), had asserted a semi-national independence; this again, after having lain in abeyance for the greater pa.rt of a century, suddenly flamed up, and gave ominous outlook of trouble to the young prince. LESSONS. 1. Kings' cro~ oftentimes conceal thorns. 2. Those thrones are stablest which rest on the free choice and affection of subjects. 3, Those pPoples are best ruled whose sovereigns by their lives show they have been enthroned by God.-W. Ver. 2.-The recall ef an erdle. L THE EXILE'S STORY, 1. His name. Jeroboam, "whose people are many;" the son of Nebat. His father was an Ephrathite of Zareda, in Ephraim; his mother a widow (1 Kings xi. 26)-which may mean either that he had been born in unlawful wedlock (LX.X.), or that his father had died while he was young, leaving him to be brought up by his widowed mother (Josephus). 2. His character. Courageous and industrious, "a mighty man of valour" (J udg. vi. 12; xi. 1), and a man that did work (Prov. :xxi.i. 29)-two qualities befitting youth, and almost certain to bring temporal success in their train; two qualities that should never be absent from Christians, who are specially commanded to "add to their faith virtue, or courage" (2 Pet. i. 5), and to "be not slothful in business" (Rom. xii. 10). 3. His promotion. Just when Jeroboam came to manhood, Solomon was engaged iu building Millo, and closing up the breach in the city of David (1 Kings ix. 15). For these purposes Solomon raised a levy of workmen, not of the Hittites, Amorites, etc. (eh. viii. 7), but of Israelites, who worked by courses of ten thousand a month (1 Kings v. 13; ix. 15); or imposed certain burdens in connection with those works which required to be borne by the Israelites. Discerning Jeroboam to be a capable youth, of spirit and energy, Solomon appointed him overseer or governor of all those Israelites employed in or about the works who.belonged to the house of Joseph, i.e. who were Ephraimites. 4. His incipient rebellion. Serving in this office, he began to commune with his own thoughts about raising a revolt. Either as an Ephraimite he felt humiliated at being obliged t-0 work in the capital of Judah, or being a youth of aspiring mind he was not content with the elevation suddenly thrust upon him, and wished to climb higher; but in e.ny case, when the "mood" was on him, an incident occurred which, chiming in as it did with bis own aspirations, pricked the sides of hie intent, and bore him onwardB in his dangerous career of ambition. That incident was his meeting with Ahijah the Shilonite, who told him that Jehovah intended to wrest ten tribes from the Davidic kingdom and give them to him, Jeroboam (1 Kings xi. 29). A perilous communication for a youth like Jeroboam to carry about with him I Josephus states that it prompted him "to persuade the people to for8ake Solomon, to make a disturb- ance, and to bring the government over .to himself"(' Ant.,' viii. 7. 8). 5. His precipi- tate flight. His treason having come to the king's knowledge, be was obliged to save hi=ielf from well-merited execution by suddenly withdrawing from the land, and seek- ing refuge in Egypt under the sceptre of Shishak (see on eh. xii. 2). II. THE EXILE'S RETURN. 1. Jt, date. When Solomon was dead. A king's life is sometimes a kingdom's best bulwark against revolution. So long as Solomon lived, insurrection under Jerobo:un was impracticable. Yet a king's life may be the greatest  cm. x. 1-19.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 129