2 Chronicles 10

2Ch 10:1-15.

REHOBOAM

REFUSING THE

OLD

MEN'S

GOOD

COUNSEL.

1. Rehoboam went to Shechem--(See on

1Ki 12:1).

This chapter is, with a few verbal alterations, the same as in

1Ki 12:1-19.

3. And they sent--rather, "for they had sent," &c. This is

stated as the reason of Jeroboam's return from Egypt.

7. If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good

words to them--In the Book of Kings

[1Ki 12:7],

the words are, "If thou wilt be a servant unto this people, and wilt

serve them." The meaning in both is the same, namely, If thou wilt make

some reasonable concessions, redress their grievances, and restore

their abridged liberties, thou wilt secure their strong and lasting

attachment to thy person and government.

15-17. the king hearkened not unto the people, for the cause was of

God--Rehoboam, in following an evil counsel, and the Hebrew people,

in making a revolutionary movement, each acted as free agents, obeying

their own will and passions. But God, who permitted the revolt of the

northern tribes, intended it as a punishment of the house of David for

Solomon's apostasy. That event demonstrates the immediate

superintendence of His providence over the revolutions of kingdoms; and

thus it affords an instance, similar to many other striking instances

that are found in Scripture, of divine predictions, uttered long

before, being accomplished by the operation of human passions, and in

the natural course of events.