The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-06-30
rHE KlNsDoM DIVIDED.
esndss scheos Leasos - she inter.
1sts"nat series sor Jasy y.
shsss-i kIses i9stO-YS.

Gtl.iDE:N TExT.-A soft answer turn
| eth away wrath but grievous words stir
up anger Prov ISL
| TtiE SECTION includes Kings, chaps
| l2-ih. the whole story of the division Of
the Kingdom aud IT'S results under the first
two kings
TIME. m c. a75-asA. Jeroboam's reign,
| according to the usual chronology: b. c.
| aa7 via according to the corrected chronol-
/ 0gS tfrof Rents arrangemenD
Pl.ACE.--Ths coronation assembly was
| held III Shechcm. between Mounts Ebal
| ami tier,zim. then tho metrop oils Of the
tribe OF Ephraim The capital OF Reho-
| boa III was al Jerusalem The political cap
| uui OF Jeroboam was for II brief time at
| Shechen. aud then for many years at
| Tirzah. among the hills not far from
Shechern and Samari while his religious
capitals were AT Bethel and Dan
LESSON EXPOSITION
| l. The Popular Demand for Reform.
| When Rehoboam found himself the
successor Of his father. Solomon. one of
bis iir~: moves was TO aitcnd an assem-
bly, Of The leaders Of the alton ut
Shechpm. The central meeting place of
the northern tribes which had he deep
| est interest in the movement. This as
seinhly was 10 confirm Rehoboam In his
| Kingdom. Nih was determined 10 exact
1
allegiance They first sent 10 Egypt for
Jeroboam. Of the tribe Of lIphrnim. who
had been banished ,hither by Solomon.
He became their leader and spokesman.
| Their grievances were (l) the burden
of taxation was very great and bore
| espesrally hard upon the northern tribes
al u distance from the capital. who
therefore could no, pnr,ake of the
| wealth hat enriched the leaders near
| the throne: and t2) especially repug-
nart and burtlensOme was the levy of
forced labor for Solomon's great work.
II Was agains, this policy and oppres-
sion 'hat rhe northern tribes rebelled.
| And they asked of the new king char
ter Of rights that would relieve them of
these heavy burdens. agreeing that II
be would gran, this. they would ac-
knowledge him as king.
II. The Kings Foolish Decision
Rehoboam asked for a delay OF three
days. TO give him time to consult with
the leaders before he returned an an
swer 10 their demands. The king first
| consulted the elders. These were the
| older and wiser leaders who had learned
| Of Solomon his wise teachings and
watched The effects Of his sometimes
foolish actions. These advised Reho-
boam to grantthe request of the people.
Rehoboam next consulted the young
men. his associates, ''the Feunesse
doree. the gilded youth, the aristocratic
idlers." who. by the fact OF their hav-
ing led the same kind Of life as himself,
were doubtless quite as inexperienced
in state affairs. Their advice was:
"Thus shalt thou say unto them, my
little finger shall be thicker than my
fathers loins. rAnd now whereas my
father did lade you with a heavy yoke.
will add to your yoke: my father hath
chastised you with whips, but l win
ohastise you with scorpions" 4 Kings
1910. 11). The scorpions were whips
which stung and panied like a scorpion.
This last advice fell in Rehoboam's de-
sires. and he announced ii to the people
as his decision.
III. The Kingdom Divided.-vs. 1926.
16. What portion have we in Dav!d?"
Since we have no fairness or kindness
from the heir of David, he shall have no
homage or service from US. ITO your
,ents:" Disperse to your homes (see
chap. $500; and CT. 2 Sam. 1877; 1898;
2O:l). and prepare for war. This cry
was an old war cry of Ephra:m.
"Now see to thine own house, DAVID"
Take care OF yourselves, and let us
alone.
II. "As for the children of Iseal
which dwelt in the cities of Judah"
The members of the northern tribes
who had homes in the cities of Judah
did not go with their brethren, but re-
mained under Rehoboam.
10. "Rehoboam" attempted to ssop
the revolt. ignorant as to its extent, by
sending "Adoram. who was over the
tribute" the chief tax collector, and the
most obnoxious man in the nation, to
pacify them. and by persuasion and
threats to bring them back. But the
indignant people "stoned him" TO death.
20. when all Israel heard" what the
leaders knew at Shechem. "that Jero-
boam was come again" out of Egypt.
"Called him unto the congregation"
The general assembly of Israel, and
made him king. But the tribe of
Judah only:" The dividing line was
through the southern part of Benjamin,
70 that the larger part of the tribe be-
longed to the northern kingdom, and
the rest was absorbed into the tribe of
Judah.
21. "Rehoboam assembled all
the house of JUDAH" His next move
was to subdue the rebellion by force of
arms. But be was forbidden by
prophet named Shemaiah. OF whom we
know nothing further.
"a. For this thing is from mes" en-
der the circumstances. and with such
leaders and people. II was better that
the kingdom should be divided.
IS "Jeroboam built Shechem In
mount" The mountainous country OF
"Ephraim:" He built up the Old town