Rehoboam and Jeroboam

From Liberty Jail the Prophet Joseph wrote, “We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion” (D&C 121:39).  One of the places that we see this is 1 Kings 12, the great turning point in the history of the House of Israel.  Both the actions of Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) as well as Jeroboam the first king of Israel showed their corruption as new leaders.  The chapter is surely one of the saddest in the Bible because of the great schism that was created between the ten tribes on one hand and the tribe of Judah on the other. 

              What’s particularly sad to me about the story of Rehoboam is how close he seems to have been to actually making the right choice.  When he was to be made king he went to Shechem and the ten tribes of Israel came to him saying, “Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee” (v4).  Here was Rehoboam’s chance to change things from how his father had governed—and divided—the House of Israel.  He didn’t answer right away but told the people to come back in three days, showing that he hadn’t made up his mind as to what kind of king he would be and how he would treat the people.  He consulted with the “old men” who advised him, “If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever” (v7).  They were of course exactly right, and if he followed their counsel he had the chance to bring a divided people back together.  But in a decision that would alter the course of history for his people, he rejected their counsel and turned to the young men who he had grown up with.  They counseled him to not only continue the yoke of Solomon but to add to it, and to his great discredit, Rehoboam listened to them.  He “got a little authority” as Joseph said, and he immediately started to exercise unrighteous dominion. 

              Once Rehoboam rejected the people’s request, they rejected him as their king saying, “To your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David” (v16).  They chose Jeroboam to be their own king, but unfortunately he turned to wickedness almost immediately because of his worry that he might lose power.  Thinking that the people of Israel would still go to Jerusalem to try to worship, “the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (v28).  His fear of losing the “little authority” that he supposed he had caused him to introduce idolatry among the people.  So not many years after the marvelous temple dedication in Jerusalem under Solomon, the people of Israel tragically were divided and worshipping idols.  As Mormon said, “Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men” (Alma 46:9).