Daily Tanach Monday Sefer Melachim 1 Chapter 12: The Jewish people rebel against Rechavam and coronate Yeravam as king

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  1. The Jewish people rebel against Rechavam and coronate Yeravam as king:
  • When the Jewish people saw how Rechavam responded to them they replied to the king that there is no reason for them to choose a share and heritage in the house of David, and the house of David [i.e. the Beis Hamikdash[1]] shall be for him alone. And so it was the Jewish people all returned to their homes [having chosen Yeravam as their leader and king]. And only the Jewish people who dwelled in the cities of Judah remained loyal to Rechavam, and under his reign.
  • The Jewish people stone to death the tax collector of Rechavam: King Rechavam sent Adoram to collect the taxes from the Jewish people, and he was stoned by the Jewish people to the point that he died.
  • Rechavam flees: When king Rechavam saw what happened he [became filled with fright for his own soul and[2]] quickly entered his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.
  • The coronation of Yeravam: The Jewish people revolted against the House of David [on that day and continue to rebel against them] until this very day. When the Jewish people heard that Yeravam had returned, they made him king over all Israel. The only tribe that was left to follow the house of David and his monarchy was the tribe of Judah [and the tribe of Benjamin[3]].

 

  1. Rechavam attempts to wage war against the tribes of Israel and is stopped by the prophet of G-d:
  • Rechavam assembles an army: When Rechavam came back to Jerusalem he assembled all the House of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin to wage war against the tribes of Israel, to return the kingdom to Rechavam, the son of Shlomo. He assembled one hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors.
  • The prophet Shemiah warns Rechavam not to wage war: Hashem spoke to Shemia, who was a prophet of G-d, the following words: “Go tell Rechavam, the son of Shlomo, King of Judah, and to all of the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the rest of the people, saying: Thus said the Lord: ‘You shall not go up and wage war with your brothers, the children of Israel. Every man should return to his home, as I am the one who arranged [for the split of the kingdom to occur].”
  • The soldiers return home: They heeded the word of Hashem, and they returned to their homes as Hashem had instructed them.

[1] Rashi 12:16

[2] Metzudos Dovid 12:18

[3] Rashi and Mefarshim 12:21

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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