2 CHRONICLES 10

REHOBOAM’S MERCILESS DECISION

After Solomon’s death, Rehoboam reigns and Jeroboam returns to Israel after hiding from Solomon in Egypt.

Jeroboam confronts Rehoboam about the heavy burden of forced labor that was created under Solomon’s reign. Rehoboam takes three days to decide what to do and during that time seeks advice from two groups of people, his elders and his peers.

The older men encourage Rehoboam to have mercy and lighten the workload for the laborers, but the younger men encourage Rehoboam to increase their burdens and overwork them. Rehoboam makes the cruel decision to increase the labor of the workers, who compares his leadership to the sting of a scorpion.

Because of Rehoboam’s poor leadership and unrighteousness, the Israelites rebel against him, and he flees to Jerusalem.