Week 5: Division of the Kingdom - Jereboam

Division of the Kingdom - Jereboam: 1 Kings 12-14

Objective: 

• The division of the kingdom

• The Message of the Man of God to Jeroboam

• Death of the Man of God

• Judgment on the House of Jeroboam

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• • 1 Kings 12:1-24
  • 1 Kings 13:1-30
  • 1 Kings 14:1-19

Key verse(s):

• "But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him” 1 Kings 12:8

Comments:

• The elders, who were David and Solomons's councils before, advised Rehoboam to listen to the people. If he had listened to the people and shown his love to them, they were going to follow him. The kingdom was split in two because he didn't follow their council.
• It's always important for a leader to show love first before authority or leadership.
  
• Jereboam heard the man of God and was unhappy with what he said. He thought he could use his power to change his word, however, this man was delivering God's message. He can't change the message and also that was God's judgment concerning Jeroboam. Because of his action, God punished him right away. Through the prophet's prayer, Jeroboam was forgiven.
• This prophet fell into the mistake of not following God's word. The false prophet from Bethel tricked him. He didn't ask God first before going with him (what God told him was against what this man said.) That's why this prophet, even though he was faithful to God, died.
• Jeroboam was a bad king and spread sin widely among the people. God judged him by ending his kingdom as well as from his house.

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

1. Rehoboam listened to the advice of whom?
2. Was that a good decision?
3. What was the sign that the prophet gave to prove his vision?
4. How did the man of God die? Why?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. Rehoboam listened to the advice of:
   a) the eldersb) the young men c) both of them d) neither
2. What happened to King Jeroboam when he ordered the catch of the prophet?
   a) he died b) his hand withered c) he became famous
3. Why did God punish Jeroboam?
   a) he didn’t follow God b) he didn’t offer sacrifice to God c) he worshipped other Gods d) a, b, and c
4. 14. How did God punish Jeroboam?
   a) He killed him b) He killed his wife c) He killed his son