1 Kings 12 20

1 Kings 12:20 kjv

And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

1 Kings 12:20 nkjv

Now it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent for him and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

1 Kings 12:20 niv

When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the house of David.

1 Kings 12:20 esv

And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only.

1 Kings 12:20 nlt

When the people of Israel learned of Jeroboam's return from Egypt, they called an assembly and made him king over all Israel. So only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the family of David.

1 Kings 12 verses

1 Kings 12 20 Meaning

1 Kings 12:20 details the immediate aftermath of Rehoboam's rejection by the northern tribes of Israel. It states that upon hearing of Jeroboam's return from Egypt, all the tribes except Judah convened, recalled Jeroboam, and crowned him king over the new northern kingdom. This act definitively sealed the division of the United Monarchy, leaving only the tribe of Judah loyal to the Davidic dynasty and Rehoboam's rule.

1 Kings 12 20 Context

This verse is the decisive moment following the death of King Solomon and the succession crisis with his son Rehoboam. Earlier, the prophet Ahijah had foretold to Jeroboam that he would rule ten tribes (1 Ki 11:29-39) as a divine judgment against Solomon's idolatry (1 Ki 11:11). After Solomon's death, all Israel gathered at Shechem to make Rehoboam king. When Rehoboam responded harshly to their pleas for lighter burdens, the ten northern tribes rebelled (1 Ki 12:1-19). This verse marks the consummation of that rebellion: they formally reject the house of David, recall Jeroboam from his exile in Egypt, and elevate him to kingship over them, establishing the divided monarchy. The separation into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah became permanent.

1 Kings 12 20 Word analysis

• Now when all Israel heard:

  • "Now when": Introduces the logical next step in the narrative following the rebellion at Shechem.
  • "all Israel": Refers specifically to the ten northern tribes (Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin partially, Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Gad, Reuben, Issachar, Zebulun), who had just rebelled against Rehoboam. This highlights their unity in action, distinct from "Judah only."
  • "heard": Implies active reception of news, leading to their subsequent collective action.

• that Jeroboam had returned:

  • "Jeroboam" (יָרָבְעָם, Yarov‘am): A man from the tribe of Ephraim, an administrator under Solomon, divinely chosen by the prophet Ahijah to lead the ten tribes. His return from exile in Egypt (1 Ki 11:40) signaled a charismatic figure around whom the disillusioned tribes could rally.
  • "had returned": Emphasizes his strategic presence, having fled from Solomon's wrath. His return aligns with God's prophetic timing.

• they sent and called him to the assembly:

  • "they sent and called him": Denotes a deliberate and unified invitation from the tribes. This wasn't Jeroboam imposing himself, but the people actively seeking him out.
  • "to the assembly" (קָהָל, qahal): A formal, solemn gathering or congregation of the people, usually for significant national decisions (like the one at Shechem where Rehoboam was rejected). It conveys legitimacy to their actions from their perspective.

• and made him king over all Israel:

  • "made him king": The formal act of coronation or acceptance by the people, sealing their allegiance to Jeroboam and their rejection of Rehoboam.
  • "over all Israel": Reinforces that this new kingship encompassed the entirety of the ten rebellious tribes, forming a distinct political entity from the house of David.

• There was none that followed the house of David:

  • "There was none that followed": An emphatic statement, stressing the complete break of the ten tribes from the Davidic line. This highlights the radical nature of the division.
  • "the house of David" (בֵּית דָּוִד, beit David): Refers to the royal dynasty founded by King David, and specifically in this context, King Rehoboam and his successors. It represents the covenant God made with David for an enduring kingship.

• but the tribe of Judah only:

  • "but the tribe of Judah only": Specifies the sole tribe that remained loyal to Rehoboam and the Davidic dynasty. This indicates that while ten tribes departed, God preserved His promise to David by ensuring a tribe remained faithful, ensuring the line for the Messiah would continue through Judah. While Benjamin later becomes associated with Judah (1 Ki 12:21; 2 Chr 11:1), the primary loyalty stated here is Judah's.

1 Kings 12 20 Bonus section

While Benjamin is later associated with Judah in the Southern Kingdom (1 Ki 12:21; 2 Chr 11:1), 1 Kings 12:20 makes the strong and immediate theological statement that the vast majority of Israel rejected the Davidic dynasty, leaving only Judah upholding that divine promise. This phrasing emphasizes the severity of the division and highlights God's particular grace in preserving Judah for the line of David. The Shechem assembly represented a covenant renewal attempt, but Rehoboam's pride fractured it, leading to a new national identity for the north under Jeroboam, built on rejecting Jerusalem's centralized authority and worship.

1 Kings 12 20 Commentary

1 Kings 12:20 is the critical hinge-point establishing the divided monarchy, a pivotal event in Israelite history. The verse vividly portrays the unanimous resolve of the ten northern tribes to separate from the Davidic monarchy. This popular uprising was, however, not merely human rebellion; it was divinely orchestrated as a judgment upon Solomon's widespread idolatry and unfaithfulness, as prophesied by Ahijah (1 Ki 11:11-13, 29-39). Jeroboam, initially a runaway, becomes king by popular consent, fulfilling God's word. The distinction of "all Israel" vs. "Judah only" is crucial: "all Israel" denotes the now separate northern kingdom, marking the end of the united kingdom envisioned by David and Solomon. Judah's unwavering, solitary loyalty ensures the preservation of the Messianic lineage (Gen 49:10; Luke 1:32-33), even amidst the political turmoil and division. This historical event serves as a powerful reminder of both God's righteous judgment against sin and His unfailing faithfulness to His covenants, specifically the one with David (2 Sam 7). The consequences of this division ripple through centuries of Israelite history, shaping their religious practices, political interactions, and the focus of prophetic ministry, until the northern kingdom's eventual destruction.