Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 212
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IMMERSE
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KINGDOMS
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| 11:34–12:7
the goddess of the Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech,
the god of the Ammonites. He has not followed my ways and done what
is pleasing in my sight. He has not obeyed my decrees and regulations as
David his father did.
“‘But I will not take the entire kingdom from Solomon at this time. For
the sake of my servant David, the one whom I chose and who obeyed my
commands and decrees, I will keep Solomon as leader for the rest of his
life. But I will take the kingdom away from his son and give ten of the tribes
to you. His son will have one tribe so that the descendants of David my
servant will continue to reign, shining like a lamp in Jerusalem, the city
I have chosen to be the place for my name. And I will place you on the
throne of Israel, and you will rule over all that your heart desires. If you
listen to what I tell you and follow my ways and do whatever I consider to
be right, and if you obey my decrees and commands, as my servant David
did, then I will always be with you. I will establish an enduring dynasty for
you as I did for David, and I will give Israel to you. Because of Solomon’s
sin I will punish the descendants of David—though not forever.’”
Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but he fled to King Shishak of Egypt
and stayed there until Solomon died.
The rest of the events in Solomon’s reign, including all his deeds and his
wisdom, are recorded in The Book of the Acts of Solomon. Solomon ruled
in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years. When he died, he was buried in
the City of David, named for his father. Then his son Rehoboam became
the next king.
Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him
king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he returned from Egypt,
for he had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. The leaders of Israel
summoned him, and Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel went to
speak with Rehoboam. “Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten
the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us.
Then we will be your loyal subjects.”
Rehoboam replied, “Give me three days to think this over. Then come
back for my answer.” So the people went away.
Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who
had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How
should I answer these people?”
The older counselors replied, “If you are willing to be a servant to these
people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your
loyal subjects.”