2 Chronicles 13:6
Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master.
Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat,

Jeroboam, an Ephraimite, emerged as a prominent leader during Solomon’s reign. He later became the first king of the northern tribes after the kingdom divided.

1Ki 11:26 Now Jeroboam son of Nebat was an Ephraimite…
1Ki 11:40 Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam.…

a servant of Solomon son of David,

He had served in Solomon’s administration and had witnessed the burdens placed on Israel through forced labor and taxation. Though Solomon was David’s son and rightful king over the united nation, his later unfaithfulness brought God’s judgment upon the kingdom.

1Ki 11:28 Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor…
1Ki 11:27 and this is the account of his rebellion against the king.…

rose up and rebelled against his master.

Jeroboam’s revolt fulfilled the judgment God had announced through Ahijah. After Solomon’s death, he led ten tribes away from David’s house and established the northern kingdom of Israel. His rule was marked by rebellion not only against Solomon’s dynasty but also against God’s appointed worship, as he established idolatrous centers at Bethel and Dan.

1Ki 12:19 So to this day Israel has been in rebellion…
1Ki 12:16 When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen…
2Ch 10:19 So to this day Israel has been in rebellion…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeroboam son of Nebat
Originally a servant of King Solomon, Jeroboam became the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the united monarchy. His rebellion against Solomon's son, Rehoboam, led to the split of the kingdom.

2. Solomon son of David
The son of King David and Bathsheba, Solomon was the third king of Israel, known for his wisdom, wealth, and building projects, including the First Temple in Jerusalem.

3. Rehoboam
The son of Solomon and the first king of the southern kingdom of Judah. His harsh policies and refusal to lighten the burdens on the people led to the division of the kingdom.

4. The Kingdom of Israel
After the division, the northern kingdom, consisting of ten tribes, was ruled by Jeroboam. It was distinct from the southern kingdom of Judah.

5. The Rebellion
Jeroboam's rebellion against Rehoboam was a significant event that led to the division of the united monarchy into two separate kingdoms.
Teaching Points
Respect for Authority
Jeroboam's rebellion serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting God-ordained authority. While there are times for righteous dissent, rebellion for personal gain or power is condemned.

Consequences of Division
The division of the kingdom illustrates the destructive nature of division within God's people. Unity in the body of Christ is essential for fulfilling God's purposes.

God's Sovereignty
Despite human rebellion and division, God's sovereign plan continues. He uses even the actions of rebellious individuals to accomplish His purposes.

Leadership and Responsibility
Leaders are accountable for their actions and decisions. Rehoboam's failure to listen to wise counsel led to the loss of the kingdom, highlighting the need for humility and wisdom in leadership.

Faithfulness to God's Commands
Jeroboam's actions were contrary to God's commands, leading to idolatry and further sin in Israel. Faithfulness to God's Word is crucial for personal and communal well-being.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jeroboam's rebellion against Rehoboam reflect the broader theme of authority and submission in the Bible?

2. In what ways can division within the church or community be prevented, drawing lessons from the division of Israel and Judah?

3. How does the account of Jeroboam and Rehoboam illustrate the importance of seeking and heeding wise counsel?

4. What are some modern examples of rebellion against authority, and how can Christians respond in a way that honors God?

5. How can we ensure that our actions align with God's commands, avoiding the pitfalls of Jeroboam's leadership?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 11:26-40
This passage provides the background of Jeroboam's rise to power and the prophecy given to him by the prophet Ahijah, foretelling his rule over ten tribes of Israel.

1 Kings 12:1-24
Details the events leading to the division of the kingdom, including Rehoboam's decision to follow the advice of his younger counselors, which led to the people's rebellion.

Exodus 20:12
The commandment to honor one's father and mother can be seen as a broader principle of respecting authority, which Jeroboam violated by rebelling against his master.
The Folly of Unnatural Severance, EtcW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 13:1-20
The Successor of RehoboamT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 13:1, 2, 21, 22
A Great War in a Short ReignT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 13:3-19
A Great SpeechJ. Wolfendale.2 Chronicles 13:4-12
Abijah's SpeechW. H. Bennett, M.A.2 Chronicles 13:4-12
The Lessons of Abijah's SpeechW. H. Bennett, M. A.2 Chronicles 13:4-12
People
Aaron, Abijah, David, Ephron, Iddo, Jeroboam, Levites, Maacah, Micaiah, Michaiah, Nebat, Rehoboam, Solomon, Uriel
Places
Bethel, Ephron, Gibeah, Jerusalem, Jeshanah, Mount Zemaraim
Topics
Arms, David, Jeroboam, Jerobo'am, Master, Nebat, Official, Rebelled, Rebelleth, Rise, Risen, Rose, Servant, Solomon, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 13:6

     6224   rebellion, against authority

2 Chronicles 13:4-12

     7467   temple, Solomon's

Library
The Secret of victory
'The children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers.'--2 CHRON. xiii. 18. These words are the summing-up of the story of a strange old-world battle between Jeroboam, the adventurer who rent the kingdom, and Abijah, the son of the foolish Rehoboam, whose unseasonable blustering had played into the usurper's hands. The son was a wiser and better man than his father. It is characteristic of the ancient world, that before battle was joined Abijah made a long speech
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Ephraim
We mean not here the land of Ephraim, but a certain town in the confines of that land: of which you read 2 Chronicles 13:19; and of which the Talmudic writers speak: "What is the best flour," to be offered in the Temple? "Michmas and Mezonechah obtain the first place for fine flour; Ephraim in the valley obtains the next place to them." These words are not read the same way by all. Those of the Mishnaioth, in the eighth chapter, read, as we have writ it: the Tosaphtah also reads Michmas: but the
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Letter vi. In My Last Two Letters I have Given the State of the Argument as It...
My dear friend, In my last two Letters I have given the state of the argument as it would stand between a Christian, thinking as I do, and a serious well-disposed Deist. I will now endeavour to state the argument, as between the former and the advocates for the popular belief,--such of them, I mean, as are competent to deliver a dispassionate judgment in the cause. And again, more particularly, I mean the learned and reflecting part of them, who are influenced to the retention of the prevailing
Samuel Taylor Coleridge—Confessions of an Inquiring Spirit etc

Beth-El. Beth-Aven.
Josephus thus describes the land of Benjamin; "The Benjamites' portion of land was from the river Jordan to the sea, in length: in breadth, it was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." Let these last words be marked, "The breadth of the land of Benjamin was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." May we not justly conclude, from these words, that Jerusalem and Beth-el were opposite, as it were, in a right line? But if you look upon the maps, there are some that separate these by a very large tract of land,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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