The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 129

barrier to the progress of a good work. Moses could not return to E;:('ypt to resume his emancipation work until Rameses H. was dead (Exod. ii. 23). Joseph could not return from Egypt with Mary and Jesus until IIerod was dead (Matt. ii. 19). 2. Its occasion. The invitation of the northern tribes (ver. 3). This, addressed to Jeroboam while at the court of Shishak (1 Kings xii. 2; Josephus,' Ant.,' viii. 8. 1), was probably the medium through which he learnt of Solomon's decease. Not necessary to hold that it was only despatched to Jeroboam after the tribes had assembled at Shechem (Bii.hr), since it may easily have been sent immediately on Solomon's death, between which event and the gathering at Shechem twelve months intervened. Jeroboam, however, is commonly supposed (Bertheau, Bii.hr) to have returned from Egypt ex pro- prio motu, and to have been residing with his wife and child at Zareda or Sarira, when summoned to Shechem. The suggestion (Keil) is probably correct that two invitations were addressed to Jeroboam-the first while he was yet in Egypt, to return to his native land; the second while he lingered at Zareda, to come to Shechem. 3. Its object. Whether of his own accord, or in obedience to the summons of the tribes, Jeroboam returned from Egypt; his ulterior aim, there can be little question, was to further his own ambitious projects. LESSONS. 1. The value to a young man of energy and talent. 2. The danger as well as sin of harbouring ambitious thoughts. 3. The hatefulness of treachery. 4. The possibility of a wicked man's schemes furthering God's designs.-W. Vers. 3-19.-The loss of a kingdom. I. A REASONABLE REQUEST PREFERRED. (Vers. 3, 4.) 1. .A public grievance stated. The northern tribes, through Jeroboam, com- plained to Rehohoam that Solomon had made their yoke grievous. Whether this was t1ue or not has been much debated. (1) That it was largely used as a pretext to justify their subsequent behaviour is not without support. In the first place, it was put forward by tribes already disaffected, and through the medium of one who had formerly shown himself a traitor. Then, that Solomon, in making a levy of his subjects for carrying on his numerous buildings, was only acting in accordance with the custom of Oriental monarchs generally from Egypt to Babylon, must be conceded. Besides, it may be assumed that no more oppressive tasks were laid on the northern than on the southern tribes, from none of which complaint was heard. Further, if heavier burdens than before were placed upon the people by Solomon, that was largely inevit- able from the magnificence of his court and the extensive building operations demanded by the safety as well as glory of the kingdom. And finally, if the people were heavily burdened under Solomon, they still enjoyed considerable advantages of peace and prosperity. (2) In support of the assertion made by the tribes, attention may be called to the facts that neither Rehoboam nor his counsellors denied, but rather both undisguisedly admitted, its truth (ver. 11); that the complaint was not that of the house of Joseph alone, but of "all Israel;" and that the circumstance of Judah and Benjamin refusing to back it up is not sufficient to demonstrate its falsehood. 2. A. measure of relief demanded. "Make the heavy yoke of thy father lighter." Not only was this reasonable, but it should have been a point in their favour, that they sought redress for their grievance by the peaceful method of conference rather than by immediately resorting to the sword. Instead, however, of granting their request, Rehoboam temporized, put them off, asked for three days to consider the matter, promising at the end of that time to give them a definite and final answer. Never before had there been in Israel's history such a critical "three days," unless, perhaps. "the three days'" start on leaving Egypt (Exod. viii. 27, 28), or the three days• preparation for the conquest (Josh. i. 11). The issue of this" three days'" deliberation on the part of Rehoboem was momentous. According as it should be should likewise he the after-course of history, not for Israel alone, but for the world. Almost always dangerous, delay was in this case disastrous. II. A GOOD COUNSEL REJECTED. (Vera. 6-8.) 1. The 1'ing's aged advisers. It argued some sense on the part of Rehoboam that he first solicited ~dvice from the experienced statesmen of the kingdom, and the privy councillors of his late f~ther- perhaps for a moment he was of opinion that "days should speak, an_d multitude of years sboul~ teach wisdom" (Job xxxii. 7); it proved him po~~-essed of !1t!le se_ns~ that he closed his ears against their prudent suggeat101ls (Prov. n1u. 9), 2. :.U!e kings best ll. OHilONlOLEB, :S:  130 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [en. x.1-19.