1 Kings - Chapters 12-14

The Amazing Bible. Book Club

King Solomon is now dead, and his son Rehoboam was about to become king of all Israel, but the people cried out, "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you." Rehoboam asked for three days to consider, and first he went to Solomon's advisors, and they said, "If you serve them, they will serve you," and then he asked his young advisors, and they said, "If you thought my dad was bad, you haven't seen anything yet." Rehoboam followed his friend's advice and answered harshly to the people, and they rebelled and made Jeroboam their king. Rehoboam tried to gain control, but failed. He was going to wage war, but the Lord, through Shemaiah the prophet told him, "No!"
In the Northern tribes, Jeroboam knew he did not want his people going to Jerusalem to worship three times a year because he feared they would leave him, so he made two golden calves and placed one in the north in Dan, and the other in Bethel, the "House of God." He made up his own festivals for his people to follow. He elected non-Levites to be priests and even allowed anyone who wanted to be priest. He also set up other high places. He was rebuked by an unnamed prophet of the Lord, but Jeroboam did not listen. Due to his sin, his son would die, and the kingdom will be taken from him.
As for Rehoboam, he died, and his son Abijah became the next king. The writer included twice that Rehoboam's mother was Naamah, an Ammonite. He also led the people into deeper idolatry and 14:24 says, "There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land, the people engaged in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites." Due to his sin, Shishak of Egypt invaded Jerusalem, and he allowed it to stand in exchange for the treasury found in the temple.