The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-12-07
A Foolish King.


conquered, and the tributes which those
nations paid, his monarchy was the grand
est OF any In existence at that time; and
the kings of other countries envied him
the greatness and glory which he had
gained; but Solomon could not transmit
the wisdom, for which he was known
and respected by other nations, to his
son, who became his successor in the
great kingdom. When Solomon died his
son, Rehoboam, was young man, and
he became king. Grand preparations
were made for his coronation at Shechem;
and the people from all tribes of Israel
assembled there to see the magnificent
ceremonies, and to do honor to the new
king. Of course Rehoboam was much
gratified with the brilliant display made
by the gay courtiers and officers of the
army In their splendid attire, mounted
on the finest horses, beautifully capari-
soned, and carrying their bright arms
and war banners. The magnifcence of
everything about a king in those times
was very expensive; and the support of
large army required much money.
The-people were heavily taxed and as
they were not engaged in any great war,
they hoped that the young king might
be induced to diminish the cost of his es-
Enlistment, and lesson their burdens:
they therefore sent some of their chief
men with a petition to the king asking
that he would reduce their taxes.
Rehoboam told them that he would take
three days to consider their request and
at the end of that time they should come,
and he would give them an answer. He
then consulted the old men who had been
his fathers counsellors; and they advised
him to grant the petition of the people,
to treat them kindly, and by this means
to secure their favor, and so to make
them faithful subjects.
But Rehoboam had number of com
panions of his own age, who, like him
self, had an idea that king should only
care for his own, pleasures, having every
luxury and employment which could be
procured; and expecting those around
him to do whatever he ordered without
hesitation. Rehoboam conferred with
these inexperienced persons, and they
advised him to rebuke the people for dar-
ing to ask for mitigation of their bur-
dens. Unfortunately he took their ad-
vice, and when the chief men came again
he spoke haughtily to them; reproYing
them for bringing such a request, and
threatened to punish them for SO doing.
Among those who brought the petition
was man named Jeroboam, who was a
person of courage and resolution: and
when he and the others returned to the
people, he told them that they could not
expect justice and kindness from the
young king and urged them to revolt.
Ten of the twelve tribes determined to
do so: and they made Jeroboam their
king. Rehoboam then ordered lthe gen
erals of his army to raise large force,
and to subdue the rehellious tribes; but
when they had raised great army, the
Lord by prophet warned him that he
must not fight with his brethren. From
that time the ten tribes were separated
from the Hebrew kingdom; and although
the tribe of Judah, which occupied the
country in which Jerusalem is situated
was much stronger than any other tribe,
the loss of the ten tribes so weakened the
monarchy that it could not defend itself
against the powerful nations Egypt at
that time was the greatest of the coun-
tries which were hostile to the Hebrew
kingdom. Its -Shishak-was an
able monarch he had large armies, and
many war ships, and had made many
countries pay tribute to him. When he
heard what had transpired in the Israel
ltish kingdom, he determined to take a
large army and capture Jerusalem, and
rob it of the rich treasures which David
and Solomon had gathered and deposited
in it. This he did and the wealth, the
power, and the glory of the once mi ghty
kingdom of Israel were lost. To deceive
the people, Rehoboam had the golden
ornaments of the temple and those of
the kings palace replaced by brass ones.
In those days most of the people did not
know the difference between gold and
brass but all could see that the power
Of the kingdom was gone. Jeroboam and
Rehoboam engaged in wars, and each de-
stroyed the power of the other so that
both of the divisions Of the great king
dom were deprived of their power and
resources, and were easily conquered by
other nations.
Jeroboam, to prevent the people of the
ten tribes going to Jerusalem to worship
and offer their sacrifices, made two golden
calves, and told the ignorant people that
these were the gods which had brought
their ancestors out Of the land of Egypt
and the peOple became idol 1yorsbIr,a,.