Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 12:3

That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spoke unto Rehoboam, saying,

3. that they sent ] Better, And they sent: see the previous note. Josephus ( Ant. viii. 8, i) calls this party , and represents them as sending to Jeroboam immediately after Solomon was dead. Clearly there was a feeling that some change was at hand, and the knowledge of Ahijah’s prophecies had not been confined to Jeroboam and Solomon. Hence men were prepared for what was coming.

and called him ] Knowing that he would be ready to come, and that his ability and industry (described 1Ki 11:28 above) qualified him for a leader of their enterprise.

Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel ] The LXX. ( Vat.) omits Jeroboam. But the object of sending for him was clearly that he might be the prime mover in the agitation, and by taking part in the popular petition he would prepare the way for the invitation sent to him as mentioned below in 1Ki 12:20.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

They sent and called him: when the people sent him word of Solomons death, they also sent a summons for him to come to Shechem. Or as soon as he had heard the tidings of Solomons death from others, or from common fame; presently there came a solemn message to him from the people, who desired his presence and assistance, as it seems probable, from divers motives; some, that they might translate the kingdom from Rehoboam to him; and others only for this reason, that the presence and countenance of a man of so great interest and reputation, and one that had some claim or pretence upon the kingdom, might lay the greater obligation upon Rehoboam to grant their desires of ease and relief.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

That they sent and called him,…. That is, the people of Israel, some of the principal of them, especially of the tribe of Ephraim, sent messengers to him, and gave him an invitation to come to them at Shechem; or, they had sent e, as Kimchi interprets it, which was the reason of his returning from Egypt, at least one of them:

and Jeroboam, and all the congregation of Israel, came; the chief men of them, the heads of the people; these, with Jeroboam at the head of them, who was come out of Egypt, came to Shechem, where Rehoboam was, and they had appointed to meet him:

and spake unto Rehoboam; one in the name of them all, perhaps Jeroboam:

saying; as follows.

e So Pagninus, Montanus.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

1Ki 12:3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,

Ver. 3. That they sent and called him. ] This was the act of the multitude, that shallow brained, but great and many headed beast. Jeroboam they picked as one that had been a prime officer amongst them; one that had suffered banishment for speaking freely for them, that was a mighty man of valour, 1Ki 11:28 and that had God’s promise of the kingdom by the prophet Ahijah, who was also of the same tribe.

And Rehoboam and all the congregation. ] An importable subsidy in Henry VIII’s time, procured by Cardinal Wolsey, was, by the Commons, denied to be paid. a Suffolk rose up in arms making Poverty their captain, as here the aggrieved Israelites did Jeroboam, one that was born of himself, and of whom it might be said, as it was once of Caligula, Non meliorem unquam servum fuisse, nec deteriorem dominum, that there was not a better servant than he, nor a worse lord.

a Speed.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

congregation = assembly.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Reciprocal: Jdg 9:1 – communed 2Ch 10:3 – they sent Pro 26:21 – General

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1Ki 12:3. They sent and called him When the people sent Jeroboam word of Solomons death, they also sent a message to him to desire he would attend their general meeting at Shechem, and assist them to get their grievances redressed. For they judged that the presence and countenance of a man of such great interest and reputation might lay the greater obligation upon Rehoboam to grant them ease and relief. Some suppose that they had heard of what had passed between the Prophet Ahijah and him, and had an inclination to fulfil what the prophet had foretold to him; which is not unlikely. And all the congregation came That is, all their elders, and the heads of their tribes. These, it appears, chose Jeroboam to be their speaker.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments