Chapter 12: Yeravam becomes king and leads the Jewish people astray

1.      Rechavam is coronated as king in Shem:

• Rechavam traveled to Shechem, as all the Jewish people had gone to Shechem to crown him there as king.

2. Yeravam leads the people in asking Rechavam to lessen the taxes, who in return responds harshly:

• The return of Yeravam from Egypt: When Yeravam the son of Nevat, who was still in Egypt having fled from the presence of King Shlomo, heard [that his enemy king Shlomo passed away, he nevertheless remained in Egypt until^[1]], the Jewish people sent messengers [who were the elderly and respected members of the congregation^[2]] to call Yeravam to come back and join them [to be their leader to approach Rechavam to lessen the burden on the Jewish people^[3]]. So, Yeravam arrived and was joined by all of the congregation of the Jewish people, [in Shechem where they intended on coronating Rechavam] and they went to greet Rechavam to speak to him.
• Yeravam asks Rechavam to lessen the burden on the Jewish people: They spoke the following words to Rechavam: Your father made life difficult for us [with all of the taxes that we were required to pay in order to support his palace and family and horses and all of his luxuries^[4]]. Now, if you lighten your father’s hard demands of us [and lessen the taxes] then we shall serve you [and accept you as our King].
• Rechavam asks for three days to take counsel and decide: Rechavam replied to the people that they should leave him be for three days and then return and he will tell them his decision, so all the people left. King Rechavam then went and sought the advice of the elders who had attended Shlomo his father [and advised him] while he was yet alive.
• Rechavam takes the counsel of his young and childish advisors versus the elderly advisors of Shlomo: He asked the elders as to what they advise him to answer to the people. The elders told him that he should follow their demands and act kindly to them and act like a servant to them today in order so they will be servants to him for all days to come. However, unfortunately Rechavam disregarded their advice and rather took the advice of the young childish men who he grew up with and who he was attended by. When he asked them as to what they think he should answer the Jewish people, they replied to him that he should respond to them with force and tell them that he is going to be much stricter than his father, and that his small finger is as thick as his father’s two thighs, and that he will even add more to the taxes and torture them not with whips, as did his father, but rather with scorpions.
• Rechavam responds harshly to the Jewish people on the third day: Yeravam and all the Jewish people came to Rechavam on the third day, as the king had requested, and the king responded to them very harshly disregarding the counsel that he had received from his elderly advisors. He said to them the words of his young childish counselors, and conveyed to them that he will rule over them even more strictly and he will torture them not with whips as did his father, but with scorpions. The king did not pay attention to the nations request being that Hashem had wanted this to occur in order to fulfill the prophecy of Achiyah Hashiloni who promised the kingdom to Yeravam Ben Nevat.

[1] Metzudos Dovid 12:2

[2] Metzudos Dovid 12:3

[3] Metzudos Dovid 12:3

[4] Radak and Metzudos Dovid 12:4