Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 12

Verse 1

Shechem. A national sanctuary (Joshua 24:1 ). Now Nablous, corruption of Neapolis, the (New town) of Vespasian. The site of Abraham's first altar. Jacob's first home. Here the tribes met. Here Joseph was buried. All this before Jebus became Jerusalem. Hence the envy of Ephraim for Judah (Isaiah 11:13 ). Degraded by new name, Sychar = drunkenness (Isaiah 28:1-7 ). Yet here alone in all the world is the Paschal lamb still slain.

Verse 3

congregation = assembly.

Verse 4

made our yoke grievous. Made by Jeroboam himself owing to the opportunity afforded by Solomon's action (1 Kings 11:28 ).

Verse 7

for ever. Hebrew all the days: i.e. always.

Verse 10

My little finger. Figure of speech Parotmia. App-6 .

Verse 11

whips. The badge of the taskmaster on the Egyptian monuments. Compare Exodus 1:10 , Exodus 1:14 ; Exodus 5:13 , Exodus 5:14 ("beaten").

scorpions. A knotted whip, so called; as we call another kind of whip the "cat".

Verse 12

as = according as.

Verse 13

gave him = counseled him.

Verse 15

the cause = the turning (of events), or overruling.

Verse 16

What portion. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

the son of Jesse. Used in contempt. Compare 1 Samuel 16:18 ; 1 Samuel 20:31 ; 1Sa 22:7 , 1 Samuel 22:8 , 1 Samuel 22:9 ; 1Sa 25:10 . 2 Samuel 20:1 .

to your tents. One of the emendations of the Sopherim. App-33 . The primitive text was "to your gods", because the sin here was apostasy from Jehovah's worship in Jerusalem. Two letters transposed made it read "to your tents". See note on 1 Samuel 20:1 , and compare 2 Chronicles 10:16 .

Verse 17

children = sons.

Israel which dwelt in. Judah. Here was a nucleus of true worshippers constantly increased (1 Kings 12:19 . 1Ch 9:3 . 2 Chronicles 10:17 ; 2 Chronicles 11:3 , 2Ch 11:16 , 2 Chronicles 11:17 ; 2 Chronicles 15:9 ; 2Ch 16:1 ; 2 Chronicles 19:8 ; 2 Chronicles 23:2 ; 2Ch 30:1 , 2 Chronicles 30:5 , 2 Chronicles 30:10 , 2 Chronicles 30:11 ; 2 Chronicles 31:6 ). In Ezra 1:5 ; Ezra 2:2 , Ezra 2:59 , Ezra 2:70 ; Ezra 7:13 ; Ezra 9:1 ; Ezra 10:5 , those returning of Judah's captivity are called "of Israel", and "all Israel", 1 Kings 2:2 , 1Ki 2:70 ; 1Ki 3:1 ; 1 Kings 6:21 ; 1 Kings 7:10 , 1Ki 7:13 ; 1 Kings 8:25 ; 1Ki 9:1 ; 1 Kings 10:1 , 1 Kings 10:2 , 1Ki 10:5 , 1 Kings 10:10 , 1 Kings 10:25 .Nehemiah 2:10 ; Nehemiah 7:7 , Nehemiah 7:61 , Nehemiah 7:73 ; Nehemiah 8:17 ; Nehemiah 10:33 ; Nehemiah 11:3 ; Nehemiah 12:47 . Judah was thus always representative of "all Israel". Hence Acts 4:27 , "the People of Israel", and Acts 2:14 , Acts 2:22 , Acts 2:36 , "of Judah". The two words are used interchangeably, except where otherwise stated. See note on "all the house of Israel", Exodus 16:31 . Also on 1 Chronicles 22:17 ; 1 Chronicles 23:2 . 2 Chronicles 12:6 , "princes of Israel", used of Judah before the division. Also, on the cause of the increase of Judah, see note on 2 Chronicles 13:3 .

Verse 18

stoned him. One of the nine stonings recorded See note on Leviticus 24:14 .

made speed. Hebrew strengthened himself.

to Jerusalem: from Shechem.

Verse 19

unto this day. Compare 1 Kings 8:8 . This was written certainly before the removal of Israel in 2 Kings 17:0 .

Verse 20

Judah only. See note on "one tribe" (1 Kings 11:32 ).

Verse 21

an hundred, &c. 180,000. In David's time there were 470,000. See note on 2 Samuel 24:9 .

Verse 22

Shemaiah. Compare 2 Chronicles 11:2 ; 2 Chronicles 12:5 .

the man of God = prophet. See the first occurrence, Deuteronomy 33:1 , and App-49 .

Verse 24

this thing: i.e. the division of the kingdom. Not the rebellion of Jeroboam. Compare 2 Chronicles 13:4-12 .

Verse 25

built = rebuilt, or repaired. This doubtless included increased fortification (2 Chronicles 11:11 ).

mount = hill-country.

Penuel. On east of Jordan (Genesis 32:30 . Judges 8:8 ),

Verse 27

If this People. His apostasy was willful, designed, and deliberate.

Verse 28

took counsel: "but not of Jehovah" (Isaiah 30:1 ).

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . Compare Exodus 32:4 .Hosea 8:5 , Hosea 8:6 ; Hosea 10:5 .

Verse 29

one in Beth-el: was desecrated by Josiah (2 Kings 23:15 ).

in Dan. See note on Genesis 49:17 . Carried away by Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings 15:29 ). The sons of Jonathan, the grandson of Moses (see note on Judges 18:30 ), were ready to act as priests.

Verse 30

became a sin. See App-44 . Hence the repeated stigma who "made Israel to sin". Compare 1 Kings 13:34 ; 1 Kings 14:16 ; 1Ki 15:26 , 1 Kings 15:30 , 1 Kings 15:34 ; 1Ki 16:2 , 1 Kings 16:19 , 1 Kings 16:26 , &c.

Verse 31

house = a temple. Not merely "high places".

Verse 32

offered = offered up. App-43 .

So did he, &c. Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis . App-6 .

Verse 33

of his own heart. Hebrew text reads "by himself". Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read as Authorized Version Man-made feasts go with man-made priests (1 Kings 12:31 ).