1 Kings 12 18

1 Kings 12:18 kjv

Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

1 Kings 12:18 nkjv

Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of the revenue; but all Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. Therefore King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste to flee to Jerusalem.

1 Kings 12:18 niv

King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem.

1 Kings 12:18 esv

Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.

1 Kings 12:18 nlt

King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, to restore order, but the people of Israel stoned him to death. When this news reached King Rehoboam, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.

1 Kings 12 verses

1 Kings 12 18 Meaning

King Rehoboam dispatched Adoram, who oversaw the oppressive forced labor, to address the rebellious northern tribes. However, in an act of extreme indignation against the royal policies, the people of Israel stoned Adoram to death. Upon witnessing this violent rejection of his authority, King Rehoboam immediately fled from the rebellious multitude to the safety of Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, thus solidifying the kingdom's division.

1 Kings 12 18 Context

The events in 1 Kings 12:18 are a direct consequence of King Rehoboam's refusal to heed the counsel of the older, experienced advisors. Following Solomon's death, the people, tired of the heavy yoke of forced labor and taxation imposed by Solomon, petitioned Rehoboam for lighter burdens. The elders advised compassion and service, which would secure the people's loyalty. However, Rehoboam, guided by his young and inexperienced peers, responded with an arrogant declaration that he would increase their burdens ("My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions"). This insolent response ignited the immediate and intense rebellion of ten out of the twelve tribes of Israel, leaving only Judah and Benjamin loyal to Rehoboam and the house of David. The dispatch and subsequent stoning of Adoram, the chief of forced labor, symbolizes the people's fury against the oppressive policies and Rehoboam's ultimate loss of control over the northern kingdom. Historically, such mas (forced labor/conscripted workers) was a characteristic of powerful monarchies in the ancient Near East, but it had become an unbearable burden for Israel, leading to profound socio-political upheaval. This narrative also functions as a stark contrast to God's intended leadership for His people, emphasizing the dangers of human pride and reliance on earthly wisdom over divine guidance.

1 Kings 12 18 Word analysis

• Then King Rehoboam: Rehoboam (רְחַבְעָם, Rekhav'am, meaning "he enlarges the people" or "the people are enlarged") was the son and successor of King Solomon. His name, ironically, precedes the division of his kingdom. He represents the culmination of a failing Davidic kingship at this point, marked by pride and poor judgment.
• sent: An act of sovereign authority. However, in this context, it highlights Rehoboam's grave miscalculation and disconnect from his people's mood, sending an emissary representing the very oppression they despised.
• Adoram: (אֲדֹרָם, ’Adoram or ’Adoniram, often shortened). His full name 'Adoniram' (from 1 Ki 4:6) indicates "My Lord is Exalted." He was "in charge of the forced labor" for King David, King Solomon, and now King Rehoboam. His long tenure in this role, overseeing the deeply resented forced labor (mas), made him a tangible symbol of the very oppression the northern tribes sought to be freed from. His dispatch was thus akin to sending a declaration of increased oppression rather than reconciliation.
• who was in charge of the forced labor: The Hebrew term is מַס (mas), which refers to corvée, conscripted laborers, or tribute/levy. This office was deeply resented. It signifies the direct link to the heavy burdens placed on the people, largely implemented by Solomon for his vast building projects. Adoram embodied the system that caused so much popular anguish and rebellion.
• and all Israel: This refers to the united northern tribes, distinct from Judah and Benjamin. Their collective action underscores the broad and unified rejection of Rehoboam's policies and leadership. It signifies a profound loss of national unity under the Davidic throne.
• stoned him to death with stones: Stoning was a prescribed method of capital punishment in ancient Israel for specific offenses, often involving public assembly and condemnation. In this context, it symbolizes the intense anger, violent uprising, and utter rejection of the royal administration and its policies. It was a chaotic act of popular justice (or mob rule) reflecting a complete breakdown of legitimate authority.
• But King Rehoboam: The conjunction "But" emphasizes the immediate, panicked shift from the king's prior display of power (sending Adoram) to his desperate vulnerability and flight.
• mounted his chariot: A symbol of royal dignity, military power, and swift movement. Here, it is used not for majestic entry or battle, but for an ignominious escape, further highlighting his defeat.
• and fled: An act of immediate self-preservation, signaling the king's defeat and the successful secession of the northern tribes. He could not reassert authority through force.
• to Jerusalem: The capital city of Judah, the only remaining stronghold of Rehoboam's kingship. His flight to Jerusalem officially seals the geographical and political division of the kingdom, confining his rule to the two southern tribes.

1 Kings 12 18 Bonus section

• The rapidity of events, from the initial plea to Rehoboam's flight, shows how quickly consequences can follow actions, especially when God's timing is at play for fulfilling prophecy.
• Adoram, also known as Adoniram, likely served for decades under both David and Solomon (1 Ki 4:6), making him a well-known, albeit resented, figure embodying the royal administration's demands. His death underscores the personal cost of oppressive policies.
• The "scorched earth" approach of the northern tribes, choosing complete separation over incremental change, speaks to the depth of their suffering and the perceived insolence of Rehoboam's reply.
• The entire narrative emphasizes the significance of wisdom and counsel in leadership, echoing many proverbs. Rehoboam's story stands as a tragic example of pride preceding a fall.

1 Kings 12 18 Commentary

1 Kings 12:18 succinctly encapsulates the climactic moment of the kingdom's irreversible division. Rehoboam, blinded by arrogance and rejecting wise counsel for foolish, harsh advice, inadvertently triggered a full-scale revolt. His decision to send Adoram, the detested overseer of forced labor, to negotiate with or enforce demands upon the incensed people was not merely a diplomatic blunder but an insult and a gross misjudgment of the popular mood. The stoning of Adoram was a raw, visceral act of rebellion, expressing the deep-seated resentment and rage accumulated over Solomon's reign and exacerbated by Rehoboam's defiant response. This violent act signified the people's absolute rejection of the house of David's authority over them and their burdensome policies. Rehoboam's hasty flight to Jerusalem underscores his immediate loss of power and control, demonstrating that his initial resolve had given way to panic and fear. Ultimately, this verse illustrates the profound consequences of ungodly leadership—leadership characterized by pride, an inability to listen to wise counsel, and oppression. The event, though driven by human folly and rebellion, is understood biblically as being "from the LORD" (1 Ki 12:15), a fulfillment of prophecy due to Solomon's disobedience, thereby serving God's sovereign purpose in establishing two separate kingdoms. It is a timeless lesson on the destructiveness of an iron yoke, whether imposed by rulers or by our own prideful hearts, and the inevitable harvest reaped from seeds of oppression and defiance.