2 Chronicles 10 1

2 Chronicles 10:1 kjv

And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.

2 Chronicles 10:1 nkjv

And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.

2 Chronicles 10:1 niv

Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.

2 Chronicles 10:1 esv

Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

2 Chronicles 10:1 nlt

Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king.

2 Chronicles 10 verses

2 Chronicles 10 1 Meaning

2 Chronicles 10:1 describes Rehoboam's journey to Shechem for his coronation, a pivotal moment marking the intended transfer of royal authority from his deceased father Solomon. It emphasizes that "all Israel" had assembled at Shechem, signifying a broader tribal assembly beyond Judah, ready to formally accept him as their king. The verse sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation between the new king and the northern tribes that led to the division of the united monarchy.

2 Chronicles 10 1 Context

The verse marks the immediate transition from Solomon's 40-year reign, characterized by immense wealth, ambitious building projects (including the Temple), and also heavy taxation and forced labor that created significant public discontent, especially among the northern tribes. Solomon's increasing idolatry (1 Ki 11) had also alienated segments of the population and incurred God's judgment, foretelling the tearing away of most of the kingdom from his son.

Chapter 10 follows this judgment narrative. Rehoboam, Solomon's son and successor, has come to Shechem because "all Israel"—representing the united northern tribes along with Judah—has assembled there. This was not the typical place for a Judean king's coronation; Jerusalem, the city of David, was expected. The choice of Shechem is highly significant: it was a historically neutral site, an ancient tribal center for covenant renewal (e.g., Josh 24), and importantly, a strong traditional center for the northern tribes, away from the consolidated power in Jerusalem. This implied an expectation of negotiation and affirmation, not mere inheritance. It also points to the rising influence of Jeroboam, who had been exiled but was recalled by the assembly, signifying a movement prepared to challenge the Solomonic dynasty. The entire gathering points to the underlying tensions brewing since the later years of Solomon's rule, about to erupt into national schism.

2 Chronicles 10 1 Word analysis

• Rehoboam (רְחַבְעָם, Rechav'am): "Enlarger of the people" or "the people have broadened" (though ironically his reign saw division). He was Solomon's son, likely in his early forties at the time (1 Ki 14:21). His character and subsequent choices were central to the nation's split. His lineage connects him directly to David's dynasty and the promise of a perpetual kingdom for Judah.
• went (וַיֵּלֶךְ, vayelekh): Simple past tense of "to go." It signifies a purposeful journey, a deliberate action taken by Rehoboam to secure his throne. It was not a casual trip but an undertaking with high stakes.
• to Shechem (שְׁכֶמָה, Shechemah): The name Shechem (שְׁכֶם) means "shoulder" or "back," perhaps referring to its position on a mountain saddle. It was a strategically important city in Ephraim, located between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Its choice for the assembly, rather than Jerusalem (the seat of David's kingdom and the Temple), underscored the desire of the northern tribes for a more independent validation of Rehoboam's rule and signaled the latent tension with the Davidic dynasty. It held ancient historical significance as a place of covenant and tribal gatherings.
• for (כִּי, ki): A conjunction indicating cause or reason. It directly links Rehoboam's journey to the preceding gathering of Israel.
• all Israel (כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, kol Yisrael): This phrase typically refers to the twelve tribes collectively. Here, it specifically indicates the tribes apart from Judah (and Benjamin, which would eventually align with Judah). Their unified presence underscores the widespread expectation among the northern tribes that Rehoboam's claim to kingship needed their formal acceptance and possibly new terms.
• had come (בָּאוּ, ba'u): Perfect tense, indicating an action already completed before Rehoboam's arrival. The assembly was ready and waiting. This highlights the proactive role of the people in the transfer of power.
• to Shechem (שְׁכֶם): Repetition emphasizes the destination's critical importance.
• to make him king (לְהַמְלִיךְ אֹתוֹ, lehamlikh oto): "To cause to reign him." This infinitival clause states the explicit purpose of the assembly. Kingship in Israel, while sometimes hereditary, often involved popular acclamation or covenant, especially when transitioning to a new dynasty or when previous agreements were deemed broken. This highlights that the process was not automatic or unilateral for Rehoboam.

Words-group analysis:

• "Rehoboam went to Shechem": This immediately positions Rehoboam as an actor on the stage where the future of the nation will be decided. His journey indicates his readiness to claim the throne and engage with the people.
• "for all Israel had come to Shechem": This provides the critical motivation and context. The presence of "all Israel" at Shechem, a traditional gathering place for the northern tribes, signifies that the issue of succession was not just a Judahite concern but a national one, particularly sensitive for the majority of the tribes outside Jerusalem. Their initiative to convene highlights their power in the upcoming negotiation.
• "to make him king": This final phrase clarifies the objective of the assembly. It wasn't merely a meeting, but a formal occasion for the recognition and establishment of Rehoboam's reign, underscoring the conditional nature of the monarchy from the people's perspective. It hints at the idea of a social covenant, where the people confer the kingship.

2 Chronicles 10 1 Bonus section

• The Chronicler's account here, while parallel to 1 Kings 12:1, subtly emphasizes the initiative of "all Israel" assembling, hinting at a communal role in covenant and national identity that the Chronicler often highlights.
• The use of Shechem as the gathering point is a powerful symbolic move by the northern tribes. It bypassed Jerusalem, the Davidic capital, and drew upon the historical memory of Shechem as a place of assembly (Joshua 24) where the tribes reaffirmed their covenant with God and each other. This underscores their desire for a return to earlier covenantal traditions or a renegotiation of the monarchical terms established by David and Solomon.
• This verse represents a political maneuver where the populace seeks to leverage the transition of power to address grievances, an ancient form of democratic-like protest against what they perceived as an overly oppressive centralized government under Solomon.

2 Chronicles 10 1 Commentary

2 Chronicles 10:1 concisely sets the historical scene for the tragic division of Israel. Rehoboam's journey to Shechem was a deliberate act of seeking confirmation for his kingship from all tribes, acknowledging that Solomon's reign, despite its glory, had created deep-seated grievances regarding forced labor and heavy taxation. The people's gathering at Shechem, a neutral ground rich in historical and covenantal significance rather than Jerusalem, signals their desire for negotiation and the establishment of the monarchy on renewed terms, rather than an unquestioning hereditary succession. This moment was a test for Rehoboam, a crucial juncture demanding wisdom and discernment, and his ultimate failure would result in the rending of the united kingdom, a direct consequence of both divine judgment (as prophesied by Ahijah to Jeroboam) and human folly.