1 Kings 12 17

1 Kings 12:17 kjv

But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

1 Kings 12:17 nkjv

But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

1 Kings 12:17 niv

But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

1 Kings 12:17 esv

But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah.

1 Kings 12:17 nlt

But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.

1 Kings 12 verses

1 Kings 12 17 Meaning

Following the northern tribes' secession and their coronation of Jeroboam, this verse clarifies the remaining extent of King Rehoboam's dominion. It specifies that Rehoboam continued to rule over those people of Israel who resided within the tribal territories associated with Judah, forming the foundational core of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

1 Kings 12 17 Context

1 Kings chapter 12 details the tragic division of the united kingdom of Israel under King Rehoboam, Solomon's son. After Solomon's death, the people, particularly the northern tribes, sought relief from the heavy burden of forced labor and taxation imposed by Solomon. Rehoboam, foolishly rejecting the counsel of the elders and following the advice of his young companions, vowed to increase their burdens even further (1 Kgs 12:1-14). This provoked a widespread rebellion among the ten northern tribes, who declared their independence from the house of David, chanting, "What portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse! To your tents, O Israel!" (1 Kgs 12:16). They then stoned Rehoboam's chief tax collector, Adoram, to death and crowned Jeroboam as their king (1 Kgs 12:18-20). In light of this sweeping secession, verse 17 defines the reduced scope of Rehoboam's kingdom, limiting his reign only to the southern loyalists.

1 Kings 12 17 Word analysis

• But as for the: This conjunction (וְכָל־ (və·kōl-)) serves as a strong adversative, setting up a contrast with the widespread revolt and the loss of the northern tribes detailed immediately prior. It pivots from the narrative of rejection to specify the exception and remaining allegiance.
• children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, bene Yisrael): While this phrase typically refers to the entire nation descending from Jacob (Israel), its usage here is crucial. Following the division, "Israel" effectively splits into two distinct entities: the Northern Kingdom retaining the name "Israel" and the Southern Kingdom primarily associated with "Judah." This specific phrase in this context refers to those individuals from the tribes traditionally identified as Israel (including Levites and some from other tribes) who chose to remain loyal to the Davidic dynasty and were located within the defined territory. It underscores a political fracture within the broader ethnic identity.
• who lived in the cities of Judah: This precise geographical and political qualification is vital. It limits the "children of Israel" mentioned, excluding the ten northern tribes who revolted. "Cities of Judah" (בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָה, b'arey Yehudah) clearly delineates the territorial domain still under Rehoboam's control, essentially establishing the independent Southern Kingdom of Judah. This realm primarily consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (as clarified in 1 Kgs 12:21 and 2 Chr 11:1). It highlights the new, diminished boundaries of the Davidic kingdom.
• Rehoboam reigned (רְחַבְעָם מָלַךְ, R'ḥavʿam mālaḵ): This phrase directly states the continuation of Rehoboam's kingship. "Reigned" (מָלַךְ, malakh) denotes established, formal authority. The significance is not that he began to reign, but that his reign persisted, albeit over a severely reduced and newly defined portion of the former united monarchy.
• over them: The pronoun refers specifically to the "children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah," reinforcing that Rehoboam's sovereignty was now limited exclusively to this loyal remnant.

Word-group analysis

• "But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah": This entire phrase forms the subject of Rehoboam's continued reign. It meticulously identifies the segment of the original Israelite population that remained under the Davidic throne. This defines the emergent Kingdom of Judah as the loyalists, distinguishing them from the breakaway Northern Kingdom that now called itself "Israel." This specificity is critical for understanding the subsequent biblical narrative of two distinct Hebrew kingdoms.

1 Kings 12 17 Bonus section

The verse underscores God's meticulous sovereignty even in judgment and the failures of human leaders. While Rehoboam's folly was the immediate cause of the split, the text indicates this division was divinely orchestrated (1 Kgs 12:15) to fulfill the prophecy against Solomon's idolatry (1 Kgs 11:11-13, 29-39). The preservation of a portion of Israel, specifically those living "in the cities of Judah," was not accidental but divinely purposed to maintain the promised lineage of David for the coming Messiah. This remnant in Judah held onto the sacred institutions like the Jerusalem Temple, which distinguished it culturally and religiously from the Northern Kingdom, which quickly descended into idolatry under Jeroboam.

1 Kings 12 17 Commentary

1 Kings 12:17 serves as a concise yet profoundly significant summary of the immediate political outcome of the kingdom's division. It articulates the precise scope of King Rehoboam's reign following the rebellion of the northern ten tribes, delineating the beginning of the separate Southern Kingdom of Judah. Despite the catastrophic loss of the majority of the land and people, God's promise to David (2 Sam 7) was preserved through the remaining loyal territory centered around Jerusalem, providing continuity for the Davidic dynasty. This verse establishes the fundamental reality of the divided monarchy for the centuries that followed, setting the stage for the distinct histories of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah), ultimately crucial for the lineage of the Messiah through Judah.