The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-07-01
THE KINGDOM DIVIDED.
Sunday school Lesson in the Inter.
national Series for July 8,
1881 Kings 12u6-25.


THE SECTION includes Kings, chaps.
l2-15: the whole story Of the division Of
the Kingdom and its results under the first
TWO kings:
T1ME.-B. c. s75-s54, Jeroboam's reign.
according to the usual chronology; B. 9.
DS7-sl5, according to the corrected chronol-
ogy (Prof. Kent's arrangemehD.
PLACE.-The coronation assembly was
held at Shechem, between Mounts Ebal
and Gerizim, then the metropo oils of the
tribe of Ephraim. The capital OF Keno
beam was at Jerusalem. The political cap
ztal of Jeroboam was for brief time at
Ehechem, and then for many years at
TYrzah, among the hills not far from
Ghechem and Samaria; while his religious
capitals were at Bethel and Dan.
LESSON EXPOSITION.
I. The Popular Demand for Reform.
When Rehoboam found himself the
successor of his father. Solomon, one of
his first moves was to attend an assem-
bly, of the leaders of the nation at
Ghechem. the central meeting place of
the northern tribes which had the deep
est interest in the movement. This as
sembly was to confirm Rehoboam in his
kingdom, but was determined to exact
certain reforms as the condition of their
allegiance. They first sent to Egypt for
Jeroboam, of the tribe of Ephraim, who
had been banished thither by Solomon.
he became their leader and spokesman.
Their grievances were ~ the burden
of taxation was very great and bore
especially hard upon the northern tribes
ct a distance from the capital, who
therefore could not partake OF the
wealth that enriched the leaders near
the throne; and ~ especially repug-
nant and burdensOme was the levy of
forced labor for Solomon's great work.
It was against this policy and oppres-
sion that the 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
ne would grant this, they would ac-
knowledge him as king.
II. The Kings Foolish Decision
Rehoboam asked for delay of three
days, to give him time to consult with
the leaders before he returned an an
swer to 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-
beam TO grant the request OF the people.
Rehoboam next consulted the young
men, his associates, ''Hhe 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:
ssThus shalt thou say unto them, my
little finger shall be thicker than my
fathers loins. And now whereas my
father did lade you with a heavy yoke,
4 will add to your yoke: my father hath
chastised you with whips, but I viii
chastise you with scorpions" Il Kings
1910, ~. The scorpions were whips
which stung and panied like scorpion.
This last advice fell in Rehoboam's de-
sires, and he announced it to the people
as his decision.
III. The Kingdom Divided.-Vs. 1928.
Is. ssWhat portion have we in David?"
Since we have no fairness or kindness
from the heir of David, he shall have no
homage or service from us. ITO your
tents:" Dispense to your homes (see
chap. 6:66; and CT. 2 Sam. 1917; 1888;
2o:1), and prepare for war. This cry
was an old war cry of Ephraim.
ssNow see to thine own house, Davidi"
Take care of yourselves, and let rs
alone.
II. "As for the children Of Isreal
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-
manned under Rehoboam.
Is. "Rehoboam" attempted to stop
the revolt, ignorant as to its extent, by
sending "Adoram, who was over the
tribute the chief tax collector, andfhe
most obnoxious man in the nation, to
pacify them, and by persuasion and
threats to bring them back. But tine
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.
SCALED him unto the congregations"
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,
50 that the larger part OF the tribe be-
Ionged to the northern kingdom, and
the rest was absorbed into the tribe Of
Judah.
81. "Rehoboam assembled all
: the house of JUDAH" His next move
was to subdue the rebellion by force of
arms. But he was forbidden by
prophet named Shemaiah. of whom we
know nothing further.
"a. "For this thing is from me:" IN
der the circumstance, and with such
leaders and people. 1t was better that
the kingdom should be divided.
J IS. "Jeroboam built Shechem in
mount" The mountainous country Of
sEphraim: he built up the old town