The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 130

course. "The accumulated wisdom of the Solomonic era recommended concession, The old councillors gave just such advice as might have been found in the Dook of Proverbs" (St.anley). They advised acquiescence in the popular demand. They urged the king to win the people by kindness. 'l'he beautiful antithesis of the Book of Kings, "If thou wilt be a servant unto this people, and wilt eave them . . . then they will be thy servants for ever" (1 Kings xii. 7), is here awanting, but the sentiment is the same. The aged senators believed that kindness held the key to the human heart, and that "a soft answer turnetb away wrath" (Prov. xv.1; xxv. 15) as much in nations as in individuals; they knew that one must often stoop to conquer, and that he who would be served by others should ever exhibit a readiness to serve others (Matt. vii. 12); nay, that the true function of a king is to serve his people-a thought happily expressed by the Ich dien of the Prince of Wales's crest. 3. The king's consummate folly. "He forsook the counsel of the old men... Had he not been a fool, for whom wisdom is too high (Prov. xxiv. 7), in whose eyes his own way is always right (Prov. xii. 15), and who, as a consequence, walketb in darkness (Eccles. ii. 14), he might have discemed that the situation was critical, that rebellion was in the air, and that the old experienced statesmen of the last reign were the only pilots competent to steer the ship of state through the breakers. Unlike the men of Issachar, who were men that had" under- standing of the times to know what Israel ought to do" (1 Chron. xii. 32), Rehoboam was "a strong ass" (Gen. xlix. 14), impatient of control and incapable of guiding either himself or others. Some men never see the right thing to do until it is too late. III. AN EVIL POLICY ADOPTED. (Vers. 9-11.) 1. lts proposeTs. "'l'he young men that were grown up with him "-either the statesmen of the new reign whom Rehoboam had appointed from among his own companions, or young courtiers who had danced attendance on bis person while heir-apparent to the crown, and now clung to the steps of the throne in the hope of preferment. Though afterwards spoken of as young (eh. xiii. 7), Reboboam was at this time over forty years of age. 2. Its proposals. Not concession, but coercion, should be the order of the day. Their complaints should be silenced, not removed. Their appeal for lighter service should be answered by a heavier yoke. For Solomon's whips they should have Reholioam's scorpions. Other rulers besides Rehoboam have tried to still the complaints of their subjects by more and heavier oppression; e.g. Pharaoh (Exod. v. 15-19), and the Stuarts of England, not to mention others. 3. Its pursuance. Rehoboam hearkened to the counsel of the young men, and at the close of the stipulated three days answered Jeroboam and bis co-deputies "roughly," in the terms put into his mouth by his hot-headed advisers . .. It was the speech of a despotic tyrant, not of a shepherd and ruler appointed by God over his people" (Keil). It undid in a moment the work of centuries. It shattered the kingdom which David's sword and Solomon's wisdom had built. IV. A DIVTh'E COUNSEL FULFILLED. (Ver. 15.) 1. The IJivine purposs. The division of the kingdom. Foretold by Ahijah (1 Kings xi. 31), the hour bad struck for its accomplishment. Jehovah doeth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth (Dan. iv. 35). Yet all the free actions of men have their places in his world-embracing plan. Man's actions may seem contingent; God's purposes are not. What he determines he can effect. 2. The JJivine instru- ffi,ffltality. The foolishness of Rehoboam. Not that Rehoboam was under any internal or supernatural compulsion to act as he did any more than were Pharaoh (Exod. xiv. 4:; Rom. ix. 17) and Judas (Matt. xxvi. 25) to act as they did. Simply, Jehovah decreed to permit Behoboam's folly as a means of furthering bis own designs. Divine 10vereignty and human freedom not contradictory, though mysterious. V. A NATIONAL REVOLT CONSUMMATED. (Vere. 16, 17.) 1. With popular enthu- 6ia6m. "All Israel," with the exception of those members of the northern kingdom who dwelt in Juruean cities, joined in the cry, "What portion have we in David," etc.? The unanimity of the movement showed that it was not without ground, 2. With fterc,e indignation. The cry which had once before been heard in Israel (2 Sam. xx. 1) expressed the people's sense of wrong in being cast off by Rehoboam, treated no longer as free subjects, but as conquered slaves. It proclaimed the deep-seated contempt they now cherished for the son of Jesse, as they now designate the dynasty of David. 3. With implacable resentment. "Struck by the king's words as by an iron hammer, and grieved at them," the people rejected his friendly overtures for reconciliation con- 011. xr. 1-23.) THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 131