Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 12:20
And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
20. when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again ] R.V. was returned. This change is made because the words are like 2Ch 10:2, and the two should be represented as agreeing. The movement described in these words is that of the whole ten tribes. At first Jeroboam had been summoned by the leading men that he might be their adviser and perhaps spokesman. Now when their request has been rejected the whole people agree that he shall be made their king.
but the tribe of Judah only ] So Rehoboam was left in the position of David at his accession, king of Judah only. The LXX. adds here ‘and Benjamin’ to accord with the previous variations in 1Ki 11:32; 1Ki 11:36. See notes there.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The first act of the Israelites, on learning what had occurred at Shechem, was to bring together the great congregation of the people (compare Jdg 20:1), in order that, regularly and in solemn form, the crown might be declared vacant, and a king elected in the room of the monarch whose authority had been thrown off. The congregation selected Jeroboam. The rank, the talent, and the known energy of the late exile, his natural hostility to the house of Solomon, his Ephraimitic descent, his acquaintance with the art of fortification, and the friendly relations subsisting between him and the great Egyptian king, pointed him out as the most suitable man for the vacant post. If, according to the Septuagint, Shishak had not only protected him against Solomon, but also given him an Egyptian princess, sister to his own queen, in marriage, his position must have been such that no other Israelite could have borne comparison with him. Again, the prophecy of Ahijah would have been remembered by the more religious part of the nation, and would have secured to Jeroboam their adhesion; so that every motive, whether of policy or of religion, would have united to recommend the son of Nebat to the suffrages of his countrymen.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. Made him king over all Israel] What is called Israel here, was ten-twelfths of the whole nation; and had they a right to call another person to the throne? They had not, – they had neither legal nor constitutional right. Jeroboam was not of the blood royal; he had no affinity to the kingdom. Nothing could justify this act, but the just judgment of God. God thus punished a disobedient and gainsaying people; and especially Solomon’s family, whose sins against the Lord were of no ordinary magnitude.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That Jeroboam was come again, to wit, from Egypt, which was known before to the chief of the tribes, and to them who met at Shechem, and now was more universally known by all the people. They
sent to his tent or habitation, to which he had retired himself, as others also generally did: see above, 1Ki 12:16.
Called him unto the congregation; which was summoned by the elders of the several tribes, to take advice how to settle their affairs, which they easily agreed to do, by conferring the crown upon Jeroboam, according to Gods promise made to him.
There was none, i.e. no entire tribe. See Poole “1Ki 11:13,31,32“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20-24. when all Israel heard thatJeroboam was come againThis verse closes the parentheticalnarrative begun at 1Ki 12:2;1Ki 12:21-24 resume thehistory from 1Ki 12:1. Rehoboamdetermined to assert his authority by leading a large force into thedisaffected provinces. But the revolt of the ten tribes was completedwhen the prophet Shemaiah ordered, in the Lord’s name, an abandonmentof any hostile measures against the revolutionists. The army,overawed by the divine prohibition, dispersed, and the king wasobliged to submit.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again,…. Out of Egypt; the chief men knew of it before, for he had headed them in their approach and address to Rehoboam; but the people in common had not, and especially those of the various tribes besides that of Ephraim:
that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel; they sent for him from his tent or house, which probably was in Shechem, and gave him an invitation to come to their assembly, met together to deliberate about a king; when they unanimously chose him to be king over Israel, that is, over the ten tribes, and inaugurated him into his office:
there was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only; in which Benjamin was included, as appears from the following verse; that being joined to it, and mixed with it, and both having a part in Jerusalem, and so ever after the kingdom was denominated the kingdom of Judah.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) Jeroboam was come again.The assembly at Shechem probably broke up in disorder, carrying everywhere the news of the rebellion. It would be quite in harmony with Jeroboams astuteness, if, after setting the revolution on foot, he himself stood aloof from leadership, and waited till the congregation, the duly summoned assembly, sent for him and offered him the crown. The title king over all Israel certainly indicates a claim on the part of the ten tribes to be the true Israel, relying perhaps on the prophetic choice and blessing of Jeroboam, and professing to have risen in the name of the Lord against the idolatry of Solomon and his house. Perhaps it also indicated a desire for the subjugation of Judah, which Jeroboam, with the aid of Shishak, certainly seems to have subsequently attempted.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(20, 21) In these two verses we have again the same curious juxtaposition of the tribe of Judah only and the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin. The army gathered would be, no doubt, drawn from Solomons established and disciplined forces, as well as from the levy of Judah and Benjamin generallyperhaps including (as in 2Sa. 17:27) contingents from the tributary raceswho would be attached with a strong personal allegiance to the house of Solomon, and prepared to stamp out the rebellion, before it could thoroughly organise itself for disciplined resistance.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
JEROBOAM IS MADE KING OF ISRAEL; REHOBOAM VAINLY ATTEMPTS TO SUBDUE THE REBELLION, 1Ki 12:20-24.
20. All Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again The representatives of the people, when they were about to assemble at Shechem to demand of Rehoboam a lightening of their burdens, had sent and called Jeroboam from Egypt, and he was at the head of the assembly at Shechem when they made their demands; (compare 1Ki 12:2-3; 1Ki 12:12😉 but it was not till after the congregation at Shechem was broken up, and the people had departed to their tents, (1Ki 12:16,) that all Israel, in the wider sense, (that is, the masses who went not to Shechem but were only represented there by their elders or delegates,) heard of Jeroboam’s return.
Sent and called him unto the congregation The congregation that had assembled to anoint him king. Here we have an instance of the rapidity with which the sacred writer passes over the minor details of his history. The call for this assembly the time, and place, and manner, of its coming together and the ceremonies of the election and crowning of their new king, are all passed over in silence.
Judah only Though Benjamin seems to have adhered to Rehoboam, (1Ki 12:21,) and also many Israelites of other tribes that dwelt in the cities of Judah, (1Ki 12:17,) yet they are all looked upon thenceforth as absorbed in the tribe of Judah. See on 1Ki 19:3.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 12:20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
Ver. 20. And made him king. ] See Hos 8:4 . See Trapp on “ Hos 8:4 “
But the tribe of Judah only.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Judah only. See note on “one tribe” (1Ki 11:32).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
and made him: 1Sa 10:24, Hos 8:4
none that followed: 1Ki 12:17, 1Ki 11:13, 1Ki 11:32, Hos 11:12
Reciprocal: Jdg 9:1 – communed Jdg 9:6 – plain 2Sa 19:20 – Joseph 1Ki 4:1 – over all Israel 1Ki 11:11 – I will surely 1Ki 11:26 – Jeroboam 1Ki 11:35 – will give 2Ki 10:3 – Look even 2Ki 17:18 – the tribe 2Ki 17:21 – they made 2Ki 21:24 – made Josiah 2Ch 10:19 – Israel 2Ch 13:6 – rebelled Pro 12:24 – hand Pro 26:21 – General Eze 23:4 – the elder Hos 13:10 – thy judges
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 12:20. When all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come From Egypt; which was known to the great men, and to such as met at Shechem before, and was now spread over the country; they sent To his tent, or habitation, to which he had retired from Shechem, as the others, who had met there had generally done. And called him unto the congregation Which had been summoned by the elders of the several tribes, to consider how to settle their affairs, which they easily agreed to do, by conferring the crown on Jeroboam, according to Gods promise made to him. None followed the house of David No entire tribe; but the tribe of Judah Which comprehended Benjamin also, being one with it, as was observed before, 1Ki 11:32. And it was by the singular providence of God that they did not also desert such a haughty prince as Rehoboam was. There were, however, many families and individuals of some of the other tribes, especially of Levi and Simeon, which dwelling in the cities of Judah, continued to be subject to Rehoboam, see 1Ki 12:17.