The Kingdom Divides

1 Kings 12:1-24

A young king listened to his friends instead of his elders, and lost a nation.

Solomon is dead. His son Rehoboam stands ready to be crowned. The northern tribes come with one request: Your father's yoke was heavy. Lighten it, and we'll serve you. Rehoboam consults the elders who served Solomon. Their advice: serve the people, speak kindly, and they'll be loyal forever. Then he consults his young friends. Their advice: Tell them your little finger is thicker than your father's thigh. Discipline them with scorpions, not whips. Rehoboam takes the young men's counsel. Ten tribes walk away. Israel splits into two kingdoms — Judah in the south, Israel in the north — and never reunites.

• Leadership
• Pride
• Consequences
• Division