1 Kings 12:3 kjv
That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
1 Kings 12:3 nkjv
that they sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
1 Kings 12:3 niv
So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him:
1 Kings 12:3 esv
And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam,
1 Kings 12:3 nlt
The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel went to speak with Rehoboam.
1 Kings 12 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 11:26-28 | Jeroboam ... was Solomon’s servant; and he lifted his hand against the king... Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam... | Jeroboam's initial rise and conflict with Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 11:29-39 | Ahijah ... said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am tearing the kingdom from the hand of Solomon... but to him I will give one tribe...’” | Prophetic background for Jeroboam's role and the coming division. |
| Deut 17:14-20 | When you come to the land ... and say, “I will set a king over me”... he shall not acquire many horses... nor shall he acquire much silver and gold... that his heart may not turn aside... | Describes righteous kingship, which Solomon failed and Rehoboam would follow. |
| Deut 28:15, 47-48 | If you do not obey... all these curses shall come upon you... because you did not serve the Lord... with joy... Therefore you shall serve your enemies... | Highlights the consequences of disobeying God's statutes, indirectly connecting to the oppressive rule. |
| 1 Sam 8:11-18 | He will take your sons... for himself... your daughters... your fields... your grain... your male and female servants... and you yourselves shall be his servants... | Samuel's warning about the burdens of kingship that later came to pass. |
| Prov 15:1 | A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. | Contrasts the wisdom Rehoboam should have used with his actual folly. |
| Prov 25:5 | Take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. | Good counsel makes a king's reign stable, applicable to Rehoboam's need for wise advisors. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | When your days are fulfilled ... I will raise up your offspring ... and I will establish his kingdom... Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever. | Davidic Covenant's promise of an enduring house, ensuring at least one tribe remained. |
| Psa 89:3-4 | “I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’” | Reiteration of the eternal nature of the Davidic line. |
| Psa 132:11-12 | The Lord has sworn to David a truth ... “A son of your body I will set on your throne... If your sons keep My covenant... their sons also shall sit on your throne forever.” | Emphasizes both the promise and the conditionality related to obedience for future generations. |
| 1 Kgs 12:4 | "Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke upon us, and we will serve you." | The immediate context, showing the very request Jeroboam and the assembly made. |
| 1 Kgs 12:5-15 | Rehoboam’s consultation with elders and young men, and his decision. | The king's folly that directly leads to the division described in the subsequent verses. |
| 2 Chr 10:1-19 | Account of Rehoboam’s accession, the people’s demands, and the division. | Parallel account of these events from Chronicles, emphasizing God's role. |
| Judg 20:1 | Then all the sons of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man. | Example of "all the assembly" gathering for collective action in Israel. |
| Josh 22:12 | When the sons of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the sons of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go up to war against them. | Example of "all the assembly" uniting for significant national decisions/actions. |
| Exod 3:7-9 | “I have surely seen the affliction of My people... I have heard their cry... I have come down to deliver them...” | God's awareness of and response to the oppression of His people, a precedent for this grievance. |
| Isa 1:17 | Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. | Principle of seeking justice and correcting oppression relevant to the people's plea. |
| Ezra 10:1 | While Ezra was praying ... a very large assembly of men, women, and children ... gathered to him from Israel. | "Assembly of Israel" as a representative body, showing its communal aspect. |
| Mt 20:25-28 | “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them ... but among you it shall not be so. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” | Jesus' teaching on servant leadership, contrasting with Rehoboam's tyrannical approach. |
| 1 Pet 5:2-3 | Shepherd the flock of God... not under compulsion, but willingly... not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. | New Testament principles of pastoral leadership relevant to Rehoboam's failure as a ruler. |
| Hos 8:4 | They make kings, but not through Me; they set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols... | Later prophetic commentary on Israel's self-appointed kings and rebellion, hinting at how such choices go wrong without divine alignment. |
| Psa 78:59-60 | When God heard, He was full of wrath and utterly rejected Israel. He forsook His dwelling at Shiloh... | Recalls divine judgment and consequences of rejection/rebellion against God's plan or will. |
| Jer 3:8-9 | For all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce... yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear... | Prophetic indictment of the divided kingdoms, pointing to the long-term spiritual consequences. |
1 Kings 12 verses
1 Kings 12 3 Meaning
This verse describes a pivotal moment in Israel's history, immediately following Solomon's death and Rehoboam's ascension. The northern tribes, representing "all the assembly of Israel," formally summoned Jeroboam, who had previously fled from Solomon, to lead their representation before Rehoboam. They came to present their grievances concerning the heavy burdens imposed by Solomon's reign, setting the stage for the potential negotiation of relief and the ultimate division of the united kingdom.
1 Kings 12 3 Context
1 Kings 12:3 is the prelude to the tragic division of the United Monarchy of Israel. The preceding chapter, 1 Kings 11, sets the stage by detailing Solomon's spiritual decline through idolatry and polygamy, which angered the Lord. Consequently, God raised adversaries against Solomon, one of whom was Jeroboam, a highly capable overseer of Solomon's labor force. A prophet named Ahijah foretold to Jeroboam that he would rule over ten tribes of Israel, indicating God's judgment on Solomon's house and the future splitting of the kingdom. Fearing Solomon, Jeroboam had fled to Egypt. Following Solomon's death and Rehoboam's ascent to the throne in Shechem (where a major assembly typically gathered for national decisions), the tribes of Israel, likely recognizing the existing tensions due to Solomon's heavy-handed policies of taxation and forced labor, initiated a demand for reduced burdens. It was logical for them to summon Jeroboam, who was not only divinely appointed but also understood the grievances of the people firsthand due to his administrative role under Solomon. This verse captures the moment when this powerful assembly, led by the designated leader-in-waiting, prepares to confront the new king with their vital request.
1 Kings 12 3 Word analysis
- And they sent: The Hebrew verb is shalach (שָׁלַח), meaning to send, extend, or let go. The plural "they" refers to "all the assembly of Israel" from the preceding verse (1 Kgs 12:1-2), indicating a collective decision of the northern tribes. It signifies a deliberate and formal invitation, not a casual call, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the unified will of the people.
- and called him: The Hebrew verb is qara’ (קָרָא), to call, proclaim, summon. This action formalizes the summoning of Jeroboam, who was in Egypt (1 Kgs 12:2). His recall from exile confirms his significance as a leader to the disgruntled tribes and aligns with God's prophetic word about his future rule. This action implies a prior understanding or expectation that Jeroboam would represent their cause.
- So Jeroboam: Jeroboam was the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite, and an official under Solomon (1 Kgs 11:26). He was prophesied by Ahijah to rule ten tribes of Israel (1 Kgs 11:29-39), making him the divinely chosen alternative to the Davidic line due to Solomon's sin. His presence signifies the emergence of the alternative kingdom.
- and all the assembly: The Hebrew term for "assembly" here is qahal (קָהָל), a formally constituted congregation or community. This term often refers to the assembly of Israel for significant national, religious, or military purposes (e.g., Deut 31:30, Judg 20:2). It indicates a united, authorized body representing the voice and will of the people, emphasizing the widespread nature of their discontent beyond a mere handful of dissenters.
- of Israel: Refers specifically to the northern ten tribes, distinguishing them from the tribe of Judah (and Benjamin, which would eventually align with Judah). This indicates a tribal rather than national unity at this critical juncture, highlighting the regional discontent with Solomon's centralized, Judean-based administration.
- came and spoke: The actions convey direct engagement and presentation of demands. Their coming to Rehoboam, rather than passively accepting his rule, demonstrates their assertiveness and the perceived right to negotiate conditions of allegiance. The formal speech (`wayyedabberu`, וַיְדַבְּרוּ) indicates a structured discourse and not just a protest.
- to Rehoboam: Solomon's son, born to Naamah the Ammonitess (1 Kgs 14:21). As the legitimate heir to the throne, his presence represents the continuity of the Davidic dynasty, yet his youth and future decisions will severely challenge this continuity.
- saying: This word sets the stage for the crucial dialogue to follow (1 Kgs 12:4), where the northern tribes, through Jeroboam, present their demands to Rehoboam.
1 Kings 12 3 Bonus section
The assembly's decision to summon Jeroboam instead of immediately confronting Rehoboam on their own suggests several layers of political and spiritual significance. Firstly, it hints at their knowledge, perhaps even belief in, the prophetic word concerning Jeroboam and the future division. Secondly, it elevates Jeroboam's status as a pre-ordained leader for a significant portion of the nation. This demonstrates how human political machinations, driven by understandable grievances, can align with divine judgment and prophetic fulfillment, even if the human actors are not explicitly aware of every divine intention. The formation of "the assembly of Israel" as a collective bargaining agent shows the early Israelite concept of communal voice and the boundaries of monarchical authority, suggesting that kings were not meant to rule without regard for their people's well-being and justice.
1 Kings 12 3 Commentary
1 Kings 12:3 marks a pivotal moment, shifting the narrative focus from Solomon's past reign to Rehoboam's future. It reveals the strategic summoning of Jeroboam by "all the assembly of Israel"—a formal and powerful representation of the northern tribes. This was no casual gathering; the use of qahal emphasizes a deliberative, united body with legitimate grievances stemming from Solomon's oppressive policies, primarily forced labor and heavy taxation. Jeroboam's recall from Egyptian exile confirmed his pre-eminence as a potential leader, validating Ahijah's prophecy (1 Kgs 11). This meeting in Shechem, a traditional northern center, presented Rehoboam with a critical choice: heed the people's cry for relief or reinforce the heavy hand of his father's reign. The assembly's decision to act collectively and include Jeroboam highlighted the growing disillusionment with the Davidic dynasty and their willingness to seek a different path for governance if their concerns were not addressed.