Rehoboam

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Solomon's son by the Ammonite Naamah ( 1 Kings 14:21;  1 Kings 14:13;  1 Kings 11:43;  2 Chronicles 12:13). Succeeded his father in his 41st year. In  2 Chronicles 13:7 "young and tender hearted" means inexperienced (For He Was Not Young In Years Then) and faint-hearted, not energetic in making a stand against those who insolently rose against him. In his reign Ephraim's gathering jealousy of a rival ( Judges 8:1;  Judges 12:1) came to a crisis, the steps to which were the severance of Israel under Ishbosheth (2 Samuel 2) from Judah under David; the removal of the political capital from Shechem, and the seat of national worship from Shiloh to Jerusalem; and finally Solomon's heavy taxation for great national and monarchical buildings, and Rehoboam's injudicious reply to the petition for lightening the burden. The maschil (Psalm 78) of Asaph is a warning to Ephraim not to incur a fresh judgment by rebelling against God's appointment which transferred Ephraim's prerogative, for its sins, to Judah; he delicately avoids wounding Ephraim's sensitiveness by not naming revolt as likely (compare  2 Samuel 20:2).

He leaves the application to themselves. Rehoboam selected Shechem as his place of coronation, probably to conciliate Ephraim. But Ephraim's reason for desiring Shechem for the place of coronation was their intention to rebel; so they made Jeroboam the spokesman of their complaints. (See Jeroboam .) It would have saved Rehoboam the loss of the majority of his kingdom, had he heeded his father's wise old counselors ( Proverbs 27:10), and shown the same conciliatory spirit in reply to Israel's embassy; but he forgot his father's proverb ( Proverbs 15:1). In the three days' interval between their mission and his reply he preferred the counsel of the inexperienced young men, his compeers, who had been reared in the time of Solomon's degeneracy, "my father chastised you with whips, I will chastise you with scorpions," i.e. scourges armed with sharp points. Solomon in  Ecclesiastes 2:19 expresses his misgiving as to Rehoboam, "who knoweth whether the man after me shall be a wise man or a fool?" His folly was overruled by Jehovah to perform His prophecy by Ahijar unto Jeroboam. (See Ahijar; Jeroboam )

With the same watchword of revolt as under Sheba ( 2 Samuel 19:43;  2 Samuel 20:1), Israel forsook Rehoboam ( 1 Kings 12:16), "what portion have we in David? To your tents, O Israel." They then stoned Adoram who was over the tribute, Rehoboam retained, besides Judah, Levi, Simeon, Dan, and parts of Benjamin. (See Adoram ; ISRAEL.) Rehoboam with 180,000 sought to regain Israel; but Jehovah by Shemaiah forbade it ( 1 Kings 12:21-24). Still a state of war between the two kingdoms lasted all his reign ( 1 Kings 14:30). Rehoboam built fortresses round on the S. side of Jerusalem, apprehending most danger from the quarter of Egypt ( 2 Chronicles 11:1;  2 Chronicles 11:12-13;  2 Chronicles 11:16-17). Moreover, the calf worship in northern Israel drove the Levites and many pious Israelites to the southern kingdom where Jehovah's pure worship was maintained.

Thus, Rehoboam became strengthened in his kingdom, but after three years' faithfulness and consequent prosperity from God the tendency to apostasy inherited from his mother Naamah the Ammonitess, and her bad early training, led him to connive at, and like Solomon join in, the abominations of idolatry, the "high places, standing images, and groves on every high hill and under every green tree" ( 1 Kings 14:22-24). Rehoboam "forsook the law of Jehovah, and all Israel with him." So God sent Shishak, Jeroboam's ally, with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen, to punish him, in the fifth year of his reign ( 1 Kings 11:40;  1 Kings 14:25-28;  2 Chronicles 12:2-4, etc.). (See Jeroboam .) Shemaiah explained the cause from Jehovah; "ye have forsaken Me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak" (Shishak Was First Of The 22Nd Or Bubastite Dynasty; Whereas His Predecessor, The Pharaoh Whose Daughter Solomon Married, Was The Last Of The 22Nd Or Tanite Dynasty) . Rehoboam and the princes thereupon humbly accepted their punishment, and justified Jehovah ( James 4:10;  Exodus 9:27;  Psalms 51:4;  Leviticus 26:41-42).

Therefore, the Lord "granted them some deliverance," at the same time that He gave them up to Shishak's service, who took the Jews' fenced cities and came to Jerusalem, that they might know to their sorrow its contrast to "His service" ( Deuteronomy 28:47-48;  Isaiah 47:13;  1 John 5:3;  Hosea 2:7). So Shishak took away the temple and the palace treasures, and the golden shields (200 Larger And 300 Smaller,  1 Kings 10:16-17 ) , for which Rehoboam substituted brazen shields, to be borne by the bodyguard before him in state processions, characteristic of his vanity which comforted itself with a sham after losing the reality; but the Lord did not let Shishak destroy Rehoboam altogether, for He saw, amidst abounding evil, with His tender compassion, some "good things in Judah."

Shishak's success against the kingdom of Judah ( Malchi Judah ) is found commemorated outside of the Karnak temple, the very features of the Jews being characteristically represented. Rehoboam reigned for 17 years; his acts were recorded in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies. His doing evil is traced to his "not preparing (Fixing) his heart to seek Jehovah." His polygamy ("Desiring Many Wives,"  2 Chronicles 11:23 ) is another blot on his character. Besides Mahalath and Maacbah, granddaughters of David, and Abihail descended from Jesse, he had 18 wives and 60 concubines; his sons, with worldly wisdom, he dispersed through the fenced cities as their governors, and made Abijah, son of his favorite wife Maachah, his successor on the throne.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Kings 14:21 2 Chronicles 12:13 1 Kings 12:4 2 Samuel 20:1

"What portion have we in David? Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: To your tents, O Israel: Now see to thine own house, David" ( 1 Kings 12:16 ).

And now at once the kingdom was rent in twain. Rehoboam was appalled, and tried concessions, but it was too late (18). The tribe of Judah, Rehoboam's own tribe, alone remained faithful to him. Benjamin was reckoned along with Judah, and these two tribes formed the southern kingdom, with Jerusalem as its capital; while the northern ten tribes formed themselves into a separate kingdom, choosing Jeroboam as their king. Rehoboam tried to win back the revolted ten tribes by making war against them, but he was prevented by the prophet Shemaiah (21-24;  2 Chronicles 11:1-4 ) from fulfilling his purpose. (See Jeroboam .)

In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, Shishak (q.v.), one of the kings of Egypt of the Assyrian dynasty, stirred up, no doubt, by Jeroboam his son-in-law, made war against him. Jerusalem submitted to the invader, who plundered the temple and virtually reduced the kingdom to the position of a vassal of Egypt (  1 Kings 14:25,26;  2 Chronicles 12:5-9 ). A remarkable memorial of this invasion has been discovered at Karnac, in Upper Egypt, in certain sculptures on the walls of a small temple there. These sculptures represent the king, Shishak, holding in his hand a train of prisoners and other figures, with the names of the captured towns of Judah, the towns which Rehoboam had fortified ( 2 Chronicles 11:5-12 ).

The kingdom of Judah, under Rehoboam, sank more and more in moral and spiritual decay. "There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days." At length, in the fifty-eighth year of his age, Rehoboam "slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David" ( 1 Kings 14:31 ). He was succeeded by his son Abijah. (See Egypt .)

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Upon the death of Solomon, Rehoboam his son became king of Israel (930 BC). He inherited the judgment that God had previously prepared for the throne of Solomon ( 1 Kings 11:11-13).

Aware that the northern tribes were dissatisfied with the Jerusalem government, Rehoboam tried to hold their allegiance by going north to Shechem for his coronation ceremony ( 1 Kings 12:1). He also decided to take a firm stand against any tendency to weaken Jerusalem’s control of the north. But his efforts were in vain, with the result that the ten northern tribes broke away from David’s dynasty and formed their own kingdom under Jeroboam ( 1 Kings 12:2-20). The Davidic kingdom, though still centred on Jerusalem, was reduced to the tribe of Judah and one neighbouring tribe.

Though Rehoboam thought of sending his army to force his rule upon the north, he changed his mind when a prophet told him that the division was a judgment sent by God ( 1 Kings 12:21-24). For three years Rehoboam followed the way of God faithfully. This was partly because of the good influence of a large number of priests and Levites who had fled from the north to Jerusalem rather than cooperate with Jeroboam’s idolatry ( 2 Chronicles 11:13-17). During this time he ruled well, improving the nation’s defences and training his sons to be administrators ( 2 Chronicles 11:5-12;  2 Chronicles 11:23).

As Rehoboam’s strength increased, so did his pride. Soon he tried to show himself independent of God by copying the Canaanite religions ( 1 Kings 14:21-24;  2 Chronicles 12:1;  2 Chronicles 12:14). God punished him by allowing Egypt to invade and plunder the land. Only a last minute confession of sin from Rehoboam and his governors saved Judah from destruction ( 2 Chronicles 12:2-13).

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

REHOBOAM , son of Solomon, is said to have reigned seventeen years. The statement that his mother was Naamah, the Ammonitess (  1 Kings 14:21 ), has nothing improbable about it. The LXX [Note: Septuagint.] may even be right in calling her a daughter of Nahash, the Ammonite king. In the history of Rehoboam the chief point is his indiscreet treatment of the tribes at his accession treatment which resulted in the revolt of the best part of the nation and the establishment of a rival kingdom (  1 Kings 12:1-33 ). The coherence of the tribes was evidently imperfect under Solomon. Ephraim, which had always been conscious of its own strength, was not minded to recognize the young king without some concessions on his part. For this reason Rehoboam went to Shechem to be crowned. Here the hereditary chiefs demanded that he should lighten the yoke. In this they had reference particularly to the forced labour exacted by Solomon. Rehoboam’s arrogant answer is well known, and the result.

It was natural that an effort should be made to reduce the rebel tribes to subjection. But Rehoboam seems not to have had either adequate resources or military capacity. The brief notice that there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually is all that we are told. Besides this, the Biblical author describes the religious condition of the people in this reign in dark colours. This condition, however, is no more than prevailed under Solomon. The chief event in the secular history of the time was the invasion of the country by Shishak, king of Egypt. This monarch claims to have reduced the whole country to subjection, probably reviving ancient claims to suzerainty. The author of our Books of Kings is chiefly concerned at the Egyptian’s plundering the Temple ( 1 Kings 14:26 ), while the Chronicler (  2 Chronicles 12:1-16 ) as usual is ready to make an edifying story out of the incident. It would interest us to know whether Egypt maintained its claims on the successors of Rehoboam, but on this point we are left in the dark.

H. P. Smith.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Son of Solomon and Naamah an Ammonitess: he succeeded his father. On the tribes seeking relief from some of the burdens laid upon them by Solomon, Rehoboam unwisely turned from the counsellors of his father, and followed the advice of his young companions. He proudly boasted that he would augment their burdens and treat them with increased rigour. The ten tribes then revolted from Rehoboam and chose Jeroboam as their king. This had been prophesied of, and the folly of Rehoboam brought it thus to pass. He raised an army to punish the rebels, but was forbidden by the prophet Shemaiah to fight against them, and he had to hear that the separation of the ten tribes was of God. It was because of the sin of Solomon. Though a civil war was at that time averted, there were continual conflicts between the two nations, as they must now be called.

The outward worship of Jehovah was maintained in Judah, but Rehoboam did not check the introduction of heathen abominations into the land, and the wickedness of the people became very great. Shemaiah rebuked them, and said the Lord would deliver them into the hand of Shishak, king of Egypt. The king and the princes humbled themselves, and God granted them some deliverance; nevertheless they were made tributary to the king of Egypt. Shishak took away the treasures of the temple and of the king's house, and the shields of gold that Solomon had made. Rehoboam replaced the latter with shields of brass. Thus the glory of Solomon soon passed away! Rehoboam reigned over Judah and Benjamin, under the title of Judah seventeen years, from B.C. 975 to 958.  1 Kings 11:43;  1 Kings 12:1-27;  1 Kings 14:21-31;  1 Kings 15:6;  2 Chronicles 10:1-18;  2 Chronicles 11:1-22;  2 Chronicles 12:1-16;  2 Chronicles 13:7 . He is called Roboam in  Matthew 1:7 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Rehobo'am. (Enlarger Of The People). Son of Solomon, by the Ammonite princess, Naamah,  1 Kings 14:21;  1 Kings 14:31, and his successor.  1 Kings 11:43. Rehoboam selected Shechem as the place of his coronation, (B.C. 975), probably as an act of concession to the Ephraimites. The people demanded a remission of the severe burdens imposed by Solomon, and Rehoboam, rejecting the advice of his father's counsellors, followed that of his young courtiers, and returned an insulting answer, which led to an open rebellion among the tribes, and he was compelled to fly to Jerusalem, Judah and Benjamin alone remaining true to him.

Jeroboam was made king of the northern tribes. See Jeroboam . An expedition to reconquer Israel was forbidden by the prophet, Shemaiah,  1 Kings 12:21, still, during Rehoboam's lifetime, peaceful relations between Israel and Judah were never restored.  2 Chronicles 12:15;  1 Kings 14:30. In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, the country was invaded by a host of Egyptians, and other African nations, under Shishak. Jerusalem itself was taken and Rehoboam had to purchase an ignominious peace, by delivering up the treasures, with which Solomon had adorned the Temple and palace.

The rest of Rehoboam's life was unmarked by any events of importance. He died B.C. 958, after a reign of 17 years, having ascended the throne B.C. 975, at the age of 4.  1 Kings 14:21;  2 Chronicles 12:13. He had 18 wives, 60 concubines, 28 sons and 60 daughters.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The son and successor of Solomon, by Naamah, an Ammonitess,  1 Kings 12:1-33   14:21-31   2 Chronicles 10:1-12:16 . He was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and was therefore born at the beginning of his father's reign.

He ascended the throne about 975 B.C., and reigned seventeen years at Jerusalem. Under his reign the ten tribes revolted, and formed the kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam. The immediate cause of this schism was Rehoboam's headstrong folly in rejecting experienced counselors, and claiming tyrannical power. He at once sought to recover the revolted tribes by force; and though directed by God not to make war, he did not long delay hostilities, and these continued during his whole reign. The people also fell into idolatry, and were punished in the fifth year of Rehoboam by an Egyptian army, which subjected them to a heavy tribute. See Shishak .

Scripture leads us to trace the sins and misfortunes of Rehoboam in part to the influence of his heathen mother,  2 Chronicles 12:13 . The latter portion of his reign seems to have passed more quietly.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

the son and successor of Solomon; his mother was Naamah, an Ammonitish woman, whom Solomon had married,  1 Kings 14:20-21 . He was forty-one years of age when he began to reign, and, consequently, was born in the first year of his father's reign, A.M. 2990, or the year before. This prince reigned seventeen years at Jerusalem, and died A.M. 3046. After the death of Solomon, Rehoboam came to Shechem, because all Israel was there assembled to make him king, 1 Kings 12. Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who had headed a sedition against Solomon, and had been compelled, toward the close of his reign, to take refuge in Egypt, as soon as he heard that this prince was dead, returned into Judea, and came to the assembly of the people of Shechem. The Israelites would have made terms with Rehoboam; but, being a poor politician, and following the advice of some junior counsellors, he managed his business so imprudently that he lost the whole house of Israel, save the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Rehoboam ( Rç-Ho-Bô'Am ), Enlarges The People. The son and successor of Solomon. He reigned 17 years, b.c. 975-958. His insolent conduct hastened the political crisis which resulted in the division of the Hebrew kingdom into the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel.  1 Kings 12:21-24;  1 Kings 14:21;  1 Kings 14:31;  2 Chronicles 10:1-14. Within five years of Rehoboam's accession to the throne, the kingdom of Judah was invaded by Shishak, king of Egypt, who desolated the country, and made it tributary to Egypt, and Shishak's victory is noted in the great temple at Karnak.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

Son of Solomon, and successor to his kingdom. His name seems to be a compound of Rehob and Am, the people—probably derived from Rachab, and if so, it will be the enlargement of the people. We have his history at large from  1 Kings 11:43, where it begins, to the rebellion against him by Jeroboam, where it ends in his death,  1 Kings 14:31.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Kings 11:43 1 Kings 12:1 1 Kings 14:21-24

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

REHOBOAM. —Son of Solomon, mentioned as a link in our Lord’s genealogy ( Matthew 1:7).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

rē - hṓ - bō´am ( רחבעם , reḥabh‛ām , "the people is enlarged," or perhaps "Am is wide" Ῥοβοάμ , Rhoboám  ; "Roboam,"   Matthew 1:7 the King James Version):

1. The Disruption of the Kingdom

2. Underlying Causes of Disruption

3. Shemaiah Forbids Civil War

4. Rehoboam's Prosperity

5. Shishak's Invasion

6. His Death

The son and successor of Solomon, the last king to claim the throne of old Israel and the first king of Judah after the division of the kingdom. He was born circa 978 BC. His mother was Naamah, an Ammonitess. The account of his reign is contained in  1 Kings 14:21-31; 2 Ch 10 through 12. The incidents leading to the disruption of the kingdom are told in 1 Ki 11:43 through 12:24; 2 Ch 9:31 through 11:4.

1. The Disruption of the Kingdom:

Rehoboam was 41 years old ( 2 Chronicles 12:13 ) when he began to reign Septuagint  1 Kings 12:24 says 16 years). He ascended the throne at Jerusalem immediately upon his father's death with apparently no opposition. North Israel, however, was dissatisfied, and the people demanded that the king meet them in popular assembly at Shechem, the leading city of Northern Israel. True, Israel was no longer, if ever, an elective monarchy. Nevertheless, the people claimed a constitutional privilege, based perhaps on the transaction of Samuel in the election of Saul (  1 Samuel 10:25 ), to be a party to the conditions under which they would serve a new king and he become their ruler: David, in making Solomon his successor, had ignored this wise provision, and the people, having lost such a privilege by default, naturally deemed their negligence the cause of Solomon's burdensome taxes and forced labor. Consequently, they would be more jealous of their rights for the future, and Rehoboam accordingly would have to accede to their demand. Having come together at Shechem, the people agreed to accept Rehoboam as their king on condition that he would lighten the grievous service and burdensome taxes of his father. Rehoboam asked for three days' time in which to consider the request. Against the advice of men of riper judgment, who assured him that he might win the people by becoming their servant, he chose the counsel of the younger men, who were of his own age, to rule by sternness rather than by kindness, and returned the people a rough answer, saying: "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions" ( 1 Kings 12:14 ). Rehoboam, however, misjudged the temper of the people, as well as his own ability. The people, led by Jeroboam, a leader more able than himself, were ready for rebellion, and so force lost the day where kindness might have won. The threat of the king was met by the Marseillaise of the people: "What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O I srael: now see to thine own house, David" ( 1 Kings 12:16 ). Thus the ten tribes dethroned Rehoboam, and elected Jeroboam, their champion and spokesman, their king (see Jeroboam ). Rehoboam, believing in his ability to carry out his threat ( 1 Kings 12:14 ), sent Adoram, his taskmaster, who no doubt had quelled other disturbances, to subdue the populace, which, insulted by indignities and enraged by Rehoboam's renewed insolence, stoned his messenger to death. Realizing, for the first time, the seriousness of the revolt, Rehoboam fled ignominiously back to Jerusalem, king only of Judah and of the adjacent territory of the tribe of Benjamin. The mistake of Rehoboam, was the common mistake of despots. He presumed too much on privilege not earned by service, and on power for which he was not willing to render adequate compensation.

2. Underlying Causes of Disruption:

It is a mistake, however, to see in the disruption the shattering of a kingdom that had long been a harmonious whole. From the earliest times the confederation of tribes was imperfectly cemented. They seldom united against their common foe. No mention is made of Judah in the list of tribes who fought with Deborah against Sisera. A chain of cities held by the Canaanites, stretching across the country from East to West, kept the North and the South apart. Different physical characteristics produced different types of life in the two sections. Old jealousies repeatedly fanned into new flame intensified the divisions due to natural and artificial causes. David labored hard to break down the old antagonisms, but even in his reign Israel rebelled twice. Northern Israel had produced many of the strongest leaders of the nation, and it was not easy for them to submit to a ruler from the Judean dynasty. Solomon, following David's policy of unification, drew the tribes closely together through the centralization of worship at Jerusalem and through the general splendor of his reign, but he, more than any other, finally widened the gulf between the North and the South, through his unjust discriminations, his heavy taxes, his forced labor and the general extravagances of his reign. The religion of Yahweh was the only bond capable of holding the nation together. The apostasy of Solomon severed this bond. The prophets, with their profound knowledge of religious and political values, saw less danger to the true worship of Yahweh in a divided kingdom than in a united nation ruled over by Rehoboam, who had neither political sagacity nor an adequate conception of the greatness of the religion of Yahweh. Accordingly, Ahijah openly encouraged the revolution, while Shemaiah gave it passive support.

3. Shemaiah Forbids Civil War:

Immediately upon his return to Jerusalem, Rehoboam collected a large army of 180,000 men (reduced to 120,000 in the Septuagint's Codex Vaticanus), for the purpose of making war against Israel. The expedition, however, was forbidden by Shemaiah the prophet on the ground that they should not fight against their brethren, and that the division of the kingdom was from God. Notwithstanding the prohibition, we are informed that "there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually" ( 1 Kings 14:30;  2 Chronicles 12:15 ).

4. Rehoboam's Prosperity:

Rehoboam next occupied himself in strengthening the territory which still remained to him by fortifying a number of cities ( 2 Chronicles 11:5-12 ). These cities were on the roads to Egypt, or on the western hills of the Judean Shephelah, and were doubtless fortifled as a protection against Egypt. According to  2 Chronicles 11:13-17 , Rehoboam's prosperity was augmented by an immigration of priests and Levites from Israel, who came to Jerusalem because of their opposition to the idolatrous worship instituted by Jeroboam. All who were loyal to Yahweh in the Northern Kingdom are represented as following the example of the priests and Levites in going to Jerusalem, not simply to sacrifice, but to reside there permanently, thus strengthening Rehoboam's kingdom. In view of the fact that Rehoboam added to the innovations of his father, erected pillars of Baal in Jerusalem long before they were common in Northern Israel, and that he permitted other heathen abominations and immoralities, it seems that the true worship of Yahweh received little encouragement from the king himself. As a further evidence of his prosperity, Chronicles gives an account of Rehoboam's family. Evidently he was of luxurious habit and followed his father in the possession of a considerable harem ( 2 Chronicles 11:18-23 ). He is said to have had 18 wives and 60 concubines, ( 2 Chronicles 11:21; the Septuagint's Codex Vaticanus and Josephus, Ant. , VIII, x, 1 give "30 concubines").

5. Shishak's Invasion:

One of the direct results of the disruption of the kingdom was the invasion of Palestine by Shishak, king of Egypt, in the 5th year of Rehoboam. Shishak is Sheshonk. I, the first king of the Xxii d or Bubastite Dynasty. He is the same ruler who granted hospitality to Jeroboam when he was obliged to flee from Solomon ( 1 Kings 11:40 ). The Septuagint ( 1 Kings 12:24 ) informs us that Jeroboam married Ano, the sister of Shishak's wife, thus becoming brother-in-law to the king of Egypt. It is therefore easy to suppose that Jeroboam, finding himself in straits in holding his own against his rival, Rehoboam, called in the aid of his former protector. The results of this invasion, however, are inscribed on the temple at Karnak in Upper Egypt, where a list of some 180 (Curtis, "Chronicles," ICC ) towns captured by Shishak is given. These belong to Northern Israel as well as Judah, showing that Shishak exacted tribute there as well as in Judah, which seems scarcely reconcilable with the view that he invaded Palestine as Jeroboam's ally. However, the king of Israel, imploring the aid of Shishak against his rival, thereby made himself vassal to Egypt. This would suffice to make his towns figure at Karnak among the cities subjected in the course of the campaign. The Chronicler saw in Shishak an instrument in the hand of God for the punishment of R. and the people for the national apostasy. According to  2 Chronicles 12:3 , Shishak had a force of 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen to which Josephus adds 400,000 foot-soldiers, composed of Lubim, Sukkum and Ethiopians. No resistance appears to have been offered to the advance of the invading army. Not even Jerusalem seems to have stood a siege. The palace and the temple were robbed of all their treasures, including the shields of gold which Solomon had made. For these Rehoboam later substituted shields of brass ( 2 Chronicles 12:9 ,  2 Chronicles 12:10 ).

6. His Death:

Rehoboam died at the age of fifty-eight, after having reigned in Jerusalem for 17 years. His son Abijah became his successor. He was buried in Jerusalem. Josephus says that in disposition he was a proud and foolish man, and that he "despised the worship of God, till the people themselves imitated his wicked actions" ( Ant. , VIII, x, 2).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Rehoboam (he enlarges the people), only son of Solomon, born of an Ammonitess, called Naamah . His reign commenced B.C. 975, when he was at the age of forty-one, and lasted seventeen years. This reign was chiefly remarkable for the political crisis which gave rise to it, and which resulted in the separation of the previously single monarchy into two kingdoms, of which the smaller, which took the name of Judah, adhered to the house of David. All the points involved in this important event, and its immediate results, have been considered in the articles Israel, Jeroboam, Judah.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Rehoboam'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/r/rehoboam.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

The king of the Jews on whose accession at the death of Solomon, in 976 B.C., the ten tribes of Israel seceded from the kingdom of Judah.