OT Characters: Jeroboam & Rehoboam

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' website.

Hebrew words:

• Rekhav'am (Rehoboam) -- "The people are enlarged." 51x in the O.T.
• Yarav'am (Jeroboam) -- "The people contend." About 100x. (Note: Jeroboam II is another king. Usually in Scripture Jeroboam refers to Jeroaboam son of Nebat, the earlier Jeroboam.)

Further study:

• Passages covered in this podcast:
  • 1 Kings 11:26-40, 12:1-33
  • 2 Chronicles 13:6-7
  • Also: 1 Kings 14:1ff; Matthew 11:28-30.
• In addition:
  • 1 Kings 11-15
  • 2 Chronicles 9-13
  • To learn about the monument at Karnak, click here.
  • Trivia: To learn about Jeroboams and Rehoboams (sizes of wine bottles), click here.

Some things we learn about God:

• God knows what will happen – he knows all things. J’s rebellion, R’s immaturity and harshness, even the civil war that would follow. This foreknowledge in no way takes away our responsibility.
• As with Isaac & Ishmael, Jacob & Esau, so with R and J—Judah and Israel—God was still sovereign and worked his mysterious will. That God is working through events never vindicates evil nor even condones compromise.
• There are extremes to be avoided in leadership. God’s word often shows us the fruits of ungodly leadership philosophies.

For kids: For a children's lesson with some great ideas, please click here. As this lesson is from the Mormons, please skip the “scriptures” from Moroni 7.

Key verses:

1 Kings 11:31 – The Lord intends to work through the division of Israel & Judah.

1 Kings 12:13 – Rehoboam takes bad advice, embracing a heavy-handed leadership style.

1 Kings 12:28 – Jeroboam makes golden calves.

2 Chronicles 13:6-7 – Jeroboam rebels, taking advantage of Rehoboam's lack of leadership experience.

Next lesson: Ahab & Jezebel