1 Kings 12:15 kjv
Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
1 Kings 12:15 nkjv
So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the LORD, that He might fulfill His word, which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
1 Kings 12:15 niv
So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.
1 Kings 12:15 esv
So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by the LORD that he might fulfill his word, which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
1 Kings 12:15 nlt
So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of the LORD, for it fulfilled the LORD's message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.
1 Kings 12 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| God's Sovereignty & Plan | ||
| Prov 21:1 | "The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD..." | God directs rulers' hearts. |
| Dan 2:21 | "...He removes kings and sets up kings..." | God is the ultimate authority over kingdoms. |
| Dan 4:17 | "...that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men..." | Divine rule over human kingdoms. |
| Isa 46:10 | "I make known the end from the beginning...My purpose will stand..." | God declares and fulfills His plans. |
| Job 12:23-24 | "He makes nations great, and He destroys them..." | God's control over national destiny. |
| Lam 3:37-38 | "Who can speak and have it happen, if the Lord has not decreed it?" | Nothing happens outside God's decree. |
| Acts 2:23 | "This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan..." | Divine plan even in human wicked acts. |
| Rom 8:28 | "...all things work together for good for those who love God..." | God works all things for His purposes. |
| Exod 9:12 | "But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart..." | God's sovereign hardening of hearts. |
| Rom 9:18 | "Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens..." | God's sovereign choice in hardening hearts. |
| Fulfillment of Prophecy | ||
| 1 Ki 11:29-39 | Ahijah’s prophecy to Jeroboam, tearing of the garment. | Direct antecedent prophecy. |
| Deut 18:22 | "...If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place..." | Test of a true prophet is fulfillment. |
| Josh 23:14 | "...not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave has failed." | God is faithful to His promises. |
| Isa 55:11 | "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty..." | God's word is effective and fulfills purpose. |
| Matt 1:22 | "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet..." | Prophecy fulfillment in Jesus' birth. |
| Jn 19:24 | "...that the Scripture might be fulfilled: 'They divided my garments'..." | Prophecy fulfillment in crucifixion details. |
| Acts 3:18 | "...God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets..." | God fulfills His prophetic word concerning Christ. |
| Rom 9:28 | "For the Lord will carry out His sentence on earth with speed and finality." | God swiftly executes His decree. |
| Gal 4:4 | "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son..." | God fulfills His plan at the appointed time. |
| Consequences of Disobedience | ||
| 1 Ki 11:11-13 | "Therefore, this is what the LORD says: 'I will most certainly tear...'." | God's stated reason for dividing the kingdom. |
| Deut 28:15 | "However, if you do not obey the LORD your God..." | Consequences of covenant disobedience. |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | "...Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you..." | Divine judgment for rebellion. |
| Judg 2:20-23 | God allowing nations to remain to test Israel's obedience. | God using circumstances as judgment. |
1 Kings 12 verses
1 Kings 12 15 Meaning
1 Kings 12:15 reveals that King Rehoboam's stubborn refusal to heed the counsel of the older men and the people, leading to the division of the united kingdom of Israel, was not merely a consequence of his human folly. Rather, it was a divinely orchestrated turn of events, a precise fulfillment of the prophecy God had earlier declared through the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. This verse asserts God's ultimate sovereignty and active involvement in historical outcomes, ensuring the execution of His divine word.
1 Kings 12 15 Context
The immediate context of 1 Kings 12:15 lies in the events following King Solomon's death. His son, Rehoboam, came to Shechem to be crowned king over all Israel (1 Ki 12:1). The people, represented by Jeroboam (who had returned from Egypt, 1 Ki 12:2), appealed to Rehoboam to lighten the heavy yoke and burdens that Solomon had placed upon them (1 Ki 12:4). Rehoboam consulted with both the old counselors who had served his father and the young men with whom he had grown up (1 Ki 12:6-8). The old men advised a compassionate approach, suggesting that if Rehoboam served the people and spoke good words to them, they would be his servants forever (1 Ki 12:7). However, Rehoboam rejected this wise counsel and instead chose to follow the harsh, arrogant advice of the young men, declaring that he would make their yoke even heavier (1 Ki 12:10-14). It is Rehoboam's ultimate decision to speak "harsher words" (1 Ki 12:14) and his failure to listen to the people's pleas that leads directly to the fulfillment stated in verse 15, resulting in the ten northern tribes seceding to follow Jeroboam, forming the kingdom of Israel, while Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to Rehoboam, forming the kingdom of Judah. This political division is presented not as an unforeseen accident, but as a deliberate act of divine sovereignty.
1 Kings 12 15 Word analysis
So the king did not listen to the people:
- "king": Rehoboam, newly ascending to the throne. His immediate act of not listening sets a tone for his rule and is depicted as a direct defiance of the collective voice of the nation, signaling a lack of wisdom and true leadership.
- "did not listen" (Hebrew: lo' shama'): This phrase emphasizes Rehoboam's wilful rejection of the people's legitimate grievances and the wise counsel he received. It's a profound statement of his heart's inclination towards harshness rather than compassion.
- "to the people": Signifies the collective voice of Israel, demanding relief from oppressive policies. Their appeal was valid and righteous.
for it was a turn of affairs brought about by the LORD:
- "turn of affairs" (Hebrew: sibbah): This term conveys the idea of a cause, a reason, a divinely initiated turn or change of events. It is not accidental or coincidental but a purposeful redirection. It highlights a pivot point in history directed by God.
- "brought about by the LORD" (Hebrew: me'et Yahweh haytah): This is the core theological statement of the verse. It asserts God's direct causality and intentionality behind Rehoboam's obstinacy and the resulting division. The covenant name YHWH (the LORD) underscores His active, personal involvement as the sovereign God of Israel. It portrays Him as the prime mover in this national catastrophe, not merely an observer. This challenges human-centric interpretations of history, establishing divine sovereignty over human decisions.
that he might fulfill his word:
- "that he might fulfill" (Hebrew: lema'an hakim): This introduces the divine purpose. The outcome (Rehoboam's folly leading to kingdom division) was not an arbitrary event but meticulously designed to bring about the confirmation or establishment of God's previously declared word. God's faithfulness to His pronouncements, whether of blessing or judgment, is absolute.
- "his word": Refers specifically to a prophetic utterance given by God, highlighting the authority and certainty of God's declarations.
which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat:
- "by Ahijah the Shilonite": Identifies the specific prophet, from Shiloh, who served as God's instrument to deliver this significant prophecy (referenced in 1 Ki 11:29-39). This provides direct linkage to the earlier revelation. Ahijah tore a new garment into twelve pieces, giving ten to Jeroboam as a sign of the kingdom's division.
- "to Jeroboam the son of Nebat": Specifies the recipient and the future leader of the ten northern tribes. This part of the prophecy gave Jeroboam specific promises conditional on his obedience. This ensures the reader immediately connects the unfolding events with God's pre-existing plan for the division and Jeroboam's rise.
1 Kings 12 15 Bonus section
The seemingly paradoxical interplay between human free will and divine sovereignty is a deep theological theme highlighted in 1 Kings 12:15. Rehoboam's arrogance and poor judgment were genuinely his own choices, reflecting his character flaws and leadership shortcomings. He was fully responsible and accountable for his decisions. However, these human choices, perceived from an earthly vantage point as solely political or personal blunders, were simultaneously and divinely orchestrated. God "caused" Rehoboam not to listen, not by forcing him against his will, but by guiding circumstances and perhaps by allowing Rehoboam's innate disposition to run its course in a way that perfectly aligned with the divine decree. This does not excuse Rehoboam's sin, but rather reveals God's absolute control, able to use even the sinful decisions of humanity to bring about His perfect will and fulfill His unwavering promises. The prophetic word delivered by Ahijah in 1 Kings 11:29-39, often viewed as simply a foretelling, is here shown as a divine declaration that God Himself ensures comes to pass. This serves as a powerful testament to the reliability and ultimate authority of God's Word over all earthly powers and events.
1 Kings 12 15 Commentary
1 Kings 12:15 serves as a crucial theological interpretive key to the pivotal event of the division of the united kingdom of Israel. It clarifies that Rehoboam's politically disastrous decision was not merely human folly, though it certainly was that, but also a sovereign act of God to fulfill His word. This illustrates a profound biblical truth: God is in control of history, even influencing human choices to achieve His purposes, without negating human responsibility. Rehoboam acted out of pride and a lack of wisdom, for which he was accountable; yet, his actions aligned perfectly with God's foreordained plan of judgment against Solomon's idolatry (1 Ki 11:11-13) and the elevation of Jeroboam as part of that divine scheme. This verse powerfully underlines God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises and threats. The "turn of affairs brought about by the LORD" emphasizes a divine turning point, where God's active intervention shapes historical trajectory. It reminds us that behind the visible political and social dynamics, the invisible hand of the Almighty is consistently working to accomplish His will and confirm His prophetic word.