Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-06-30
TIE KINGDOM DIVIDED.
sunday school Les On in the inter
national Series for July s.
IS9S-I kings I2,I6-:5.

Based upon Peioubets Select Notesl
GOLDEN TExT.-A soft answer turn
eth away wrath: but grevous words stir
up aager.-Prov. ISL
THE SECTION includes Kings. chaps.
I2-l5; the whole story OF the division OF
the kingdom and It's results under the first
two kings
TIME-B c. 955-s54. Jeroboam's reign,
according 10 the usual chronology; b. G.
9S7-9l5. according to the corrected chronol-
ogy tProf. Kent's arrangemenO
PLACE.-The coronation assembly was
held at Shechem. between Mounts Ebal
and Gerizim. then the metropolis of the
tribe of Ephraim, The capital OF Reho-
boam was at Jerusalem. The political cap
ital of Jeroboam was for brief time at
Shechem. and then for many years at
Tirzah. among the hills not far from
Shechem and Samaria; while his religious
capitals were at Bethel and Dan.
LESSON EXPOSITION.
/. The Popular Demand for Reform.
When Rehoboam found himself the
successor of his father. solomon, one of
his first moves was 10 ATTEND an assem-
bly, of the leaders of the nation at
Shechem, the central meeting place of
the northern tribes which had the deep
est interest in the movement. This as
sembly was 10 confirm Rehoboam in his
kingdom, bun was determined 10 exact
certain reforms as the condition of their
allegiance. They first sent 10 Egypt for
Jeroboam, of The tribe of Ephraim, who
had been banished thither by Solomon.
He became their leader and spokesman.
Their grievances were (1) the burden
of taxation was very great and bore
especially hard upon the northern tribes
at a distance from the capital, who
therefore could not partake of the
uhe 1hrone; and (2) especially repug-
nant and burde nsome was the levy of
forced labor for Solomon's great work.
1t was against this policy and oppres-
sion that The northern tribes rebelled.
And they asked of the new king a char
ter of rights that would relieve them of
these heavy burdens, agreeing that if
he would grant 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 grant the request of the people.
Rehoboam next consulted the young
men, his associates, 1.-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. And now whereas my
father did lade you with heavy yoke,
! will add to your yoke: my father hath
chastised you with whips, but will
chastise you with scorpions" Il Kings
1910, IL. The scorpions were whips
which stung and panied like absorption.
This last advice fell in Rehoboam's de-
sires, and he announced it to the people
as his decision.
III. The Kingdom Divided.-Vs. 1925.
10. What 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. S:66; and CT. . Sam. 1s:17; 1873;
2O:D. and prepare for war. This cry
was an old war cry of Ephraim.
Now see 10 thine own house, David"
Take care of yourselves, and let US
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, andthe
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 art Shechem, that Jero-
boam was come again" out Of Egypt.
Called 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,
SO that the larger part of.the tribe be-
longed 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.