Rehoboam and Jeroboam: the divided kingdom

¶ … leadership lessons of Rehoboam and Jeroboam

The ancient Biblical story of Rehoboam and Jeroboam illustrates what constitutes true leadership. During this time in history, many people thought that heredity conveyed greatness. Rehoboam was the son of Solomon and the grandchild of King David. However, the Israelites often chafed under the heavy taxes imposed upon them by Solomon. Jeroboam, speaking on behalf of the common populace begged Rehoboam for these taxes to be eased. "Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee" (II Chronicles 10:4). However, the new king was deaf to these entreaties: "Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee ... For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions" (II Chronicles 10:11). Rehoboam turned a deaf ear to his citizen as represented by Jeroboam, and increased the taxes upon the people of Israel, because of the advice of his foolish advisors. The new king "forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him" (II Chronicles 10:8).

In reaction to these actions, the people of Israel rebelled, under the leadership of Jeroboam. Ironically, in trying to establish himself as a strong king, Rehoboam showed himself to be a weak king. He bragged to the people of Israel "My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins" (11 Chronicles 10:11). The older sages warned the new king that the people would be compliant if he was kind, but Rehoboam confused tyranny with strength. After suffering under heavy taxes for so many years, seeing that their hopes of relief from new leadership would not come to pass, the people would bear no more. Jeroboam broke away from Rehoboam's leadership to form the new kingdom of Judea, versus the kingdom of Samaria, which was still governed by Rehoboam. "And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him" (II Chronicles 12:1).

It is natural, from the point-of-view of modernity, to view Rehoboam as the 'bad' leader and Jeroboam as the 'good' leader. However, it is important to remember that Jeroboam's division of the kingdom did militarily weaken Israel, and supplanted the traditional symbolic center of the religion with his own trappings of leadership and religiosity. Rehoboam is reproached by the authors of the Bible for creating an environment that established the conditions necessary for rebellion but Jeroboam is not a hero, because he attempted to reestablish idol-worship in the new kingdom: "And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with your golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods. Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? So that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods" (II Chronicles 13:8-9).

Both of these characters had a negative impact upon the history of Israel, because their actions resulted in continual war between the divided kingdoms of the Holy Land. Their lack of leadership disturbed the relationship between Israel, its leadership, and God. Both kings forgot the needs of the populace and God and put their own needs first and foremost. Rehoboam put his need for wealth and the esteem of his flattering friends above the needs of the people of Israel whom he was supposed to govern. Jeroboam put his own desire for power above the needs of the Lord by reestablishing idol worship and not encouraging his followers to hold fast to the true, religious ideals of Israel.

The lesson of these two kings is a lesson of leadership. Egotism is not the founding principle of leadership, rather selfless, servant leadership is the truest and also the most effective way to govern. A leader should ask: how can I honor the needs of my cause, my institution, and those whom I govern, rather than ask how he or she can enhance his or her own image. Too often in our society we confuse violence and aggression with strength. In seeking to be even stronger than his mighty grandfather and father, Rehoboam showed himself to be much weaker. He exhibited none of the wisdom of David and Solomon, and had all of their imperfections. He forgot that a leader is the servant of God and the people of Israel, and rules by their agreement and good will. Likewise, because of his successful rebellion, Jeroboam put his desire to create a new faith and vision of the kingdom above the need to serve God, the ultimate authority.