Page 561 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_06_MacArthur_Bible_June.qxd 8/8/03 15:51 Page 542

JUNE 1
and repaired the damages to the City of David
28
his father. The man Jeroboam was a mighty
man of valor; and Solomon, seeing that the
young man was industrious, made him the 11:38 if you heed all that I command you.
officer over all the labor force of the house of The Lord gave to Jeroboam the same promise
Joseph. that He had made to David—an enduring
29 Now it happened at that time, when royal dynasty over Israel, the 10 northern
Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the tribes, if he obeyed God’s law. The Lord
prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the imposed on Jeroboam the same conditions
way; and he had clothed himself with a new for his kingship that He had imposed on David
garment, and the two were alone in the field. (2:3,4; 3:14).
30 Then Ahijah took hold of the new garment
that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces. 11:39 but not forever. This statement implied
31 And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself that the kingdom’s division was not to be per-
ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God of manent and that David’s house would ulti-
mately rule all the tribes of Israel again (Ezek.
Israel: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of 37:15–28).
the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to
you (but he shall have one tribe for the sake
32
of My servant David, and for the sake of Jeru- City of David his father. And Rehoboam his
salem, the city which I have chosen out of all son reigned in his place.
33
the tribes of Israel), because they have forsak- And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all
en Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of 12 Israel had gone to Shechem to make him
2
the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the king. So it happened, when Jeroboam the son
Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of of Nebat heard it (he was still in Egypt, for he
Ammon, and have not walked in My ways to had fled from the presence of King Solomon
3
do what is right in My eyes and keep My and had been dwelling in Egypt), that they
statutes and My judgments, as did his father sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and the
David. However I will not take the whole whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to
34
4
kingdom out of his hand, because I have made Rehoboam, saying, “Your father made our
him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the bur-
My servant David, whom I chose because he densome service of your father, and his heavy
kept My commandments and My statutes. yoke which he put on us, and we will serve
35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s you.”
hand and give it to you—ten tribes. And to 5 So he said to them, “Depart for three days,
36
his son I will give one tribe, that My servant then come back to me.” And the people
David may always have a lamp before Me in departed.
Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for 6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders
37
Myself, to put My name there. So I will take who stood before his father Solomon while he
you, and you shall reign over all your heart still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me
desires, and you shall be king over Israel. to answer these people?”
38 Then it shall be, if you heed all that I com- 7 And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will
mand you, walk in My ways, and do what is be a servant to these people today, and serve
right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My them, and answer them, and speak good
commandments, as My servant David did, then words to them, then they will be your ser-
I will be with you and build for you an enduring vants forever.”
house, as I built for David, and will give Israel 8 But he rejected the advice which the elders
to you. And I will afflict the descendants of Da- had given him, and consulted the young men
39
vid because of this, but not forever.’ ” who had grown up with him, who stood before
40 Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. him. And he said to them, “What advice do
9
But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to you give? How should we answer this people
Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the
the death of Solomon. yoke which your father put on us’?”
41 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, all 10 Then the young men who had grown up
that he did, and his wisdom, are they not writ- with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you
ten in the book of the acts of Solomon? And should speak to this people who have spoken
42
the period that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke
over all Israel was forty years. Then Solomon heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus
43
rested with his fathers, and was buried in the you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be
542