Then Rehoboam went to Shechem
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon and grandson of David, is the central figure in this passage. His journey to Shechem is significant as it marks the beginning of his reign. Shechem holds historical importance as a city of refuge and a place where significant events in Israel's history occurred, such as the renewal of the covenant under Joshua (Joshua 24:1-25). It is located in the hill country of Ephraim, a central location that was accessible to the tribes of Israel. Rehoboam's decision to go to Shechem rather than remain in Jerusalem, the established capital, suggests an attempt to unify the tribes and gain their support, as Shechem was a traditional gathering place for the northern tribes.

for all Israel had gone there
The phrase "all Israel" indicates the collective gathering of the tribes, emphasizing the unity and shared identity of the nation at this time. This assembly was not merely a formality but a crucial moment for the tribes to express their allegiance or dissent. The gathering at Shechem reflects the tribal confederation's practice of coming together for significant national decisions, reminiscent of earlier assemblies in Israel's history (Judges 20:1). This moment is pivotal as it foreshadows the impending division of the kingdom, highlighting the fragile unity among the tribes.

to make him king
The act of making Rehoboam king was a formal recognition of his succession to the throne of his father, Solomon. This was a customary practice in the ancient Near East, where the people or representatives of the people would affirm the new king. The coronation at Shechem, rather than Jerusalem, underscores the political tensions and the need for Rehoboam to secure the loyalty of the northern tribes. This event is a turning point in Israel's history, as it leads to the division of the united monarchy into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. The people's willingness to make Rehoboam king also reflects the Davidic covenant's enduring influence, as God had promised David that his descendants would rule Israel (2 Samuel 7:12-16). However, Rehoboam's subsequent actions and the resulting division serve as a reminder of the conditional nature of the covenant, dependent on the king's faithfulness to God.

1. Rehoboam
The son of Solomon and the grandson of David, Rehoboam is the central figure in this passage. He is about to be made king over Israel, following the death of his father, Solomon.

2. Shechem
A significant city in the history of Israel, Shechem is where Rehoboam goes to be made king. It is a place of covenant renewal and historical importance, previously associated with figures like Abraham and Jacob.

3. All Israel
This term refers to the collective tribes of Israel who gather at Shechem for the coronation of Rehoboam. It signifies the unity of the nation at this pivotal moment.

4. Event of Coronation
The gathering at Shechem is for the purpose of making Rehoboam king, a significant event that marks the transition of leadership from Solomon to his son.Leadership and Responsibility
Rehoboam's journey to Shechem underscores the weight of leadership and the responsibility that comes with it. Leaders must seek wisdom and guidance, especially when assuming new roles.

Significance of Place
The choice of Shechem as the coronation site is not arbitrary. It reminds us of the importance of historical and spiritual landmarks in our faith journey.

Unity and Division
The gathering of "all Israel" at Shechem highlights the potential for unity, but also foreshadows the division that will soon occur. Unity in the body of Christ is vital, yet fragile.

Seeking Godly Counsel
As Rehoboam faces a critical decision, the importance of seeking wise and godly counsel becomes evident. This is a reminder for us to surround ourselves with advisors who are grounded in biblical truth.Top 10 Lessons from 2 Chronicles 10

(2 Chronicles 10) Why is there no clear archaeological evidence of this pivotal assembly at Shechem?

Who incited David to count the fighting men of Israel? God did (2 Samuel 24: 1) Satan did (I Chronicles 2 1:1)

How can 1 Chronicles 10's account that Saul died by falling on his own sword (1 Chronicles 10:4) be reconciled with 2 Samuel 1:10, where an Amalekite claims to have killed him?

Who were Rehoboam and Jeroboam in biblical history?(1) To Shechem.--Sh'kemah, with accusative ending; Kings, Sh'kem. "Were come," pf. plural; Kings, singular.

Verse 1. - This verse would have been far better placed last in the previous chapter, but now, left without note of time, it purports to tell us that (whereas by the last clause of the previous chapter "Rehoboam reigned in his" father Solomon's "stead," and had been presumably accepted as his heir and successor in Jerusalem and all Judaea) Rehoboam, now somewhat later on, repairs to Shechem (the ancient capital, and the prized position of the high-spirited tribe of Ephraim) to receive some final recognition as king from "all Israel." Rehoboam. Solomon's son by Naaraah; an Ammonite princess (1 Kings 14:21, 31). Eurydemus may be considered as a close reproduction in Greek of the Hebrew name Rehoboam. To his son Abijah, by his favourite wife Maachah, who was the third of the wives that belonged to the house of Jesse, he bequeathed the kingdom. Wanting any positive Scripture statement of the matter of Rehoboam going to Shechem, we believe the explanation given above is the most probable, and that it was not any designed stroke of policy, with the view of conciliating or flattering Ephraim. Though no formal statement of it be made here, yet it is quite intelligible that the opinions, feelings, and readiness to express them on the part of Ephraim and "Israel" were well enough known, and had to be reckoned for. Shechem. For many reasons one of the most interesting geographical names in all the Old Testament. It was the ancient capital, as Shiloh, near to it, was the ancient seat of the national worship. It was situate in Ephraim, with Ebal to the immediate north, and Gerizim to the immediate south. Its upper slopelands (its position on which is possibly the origin of the name, שֶׁכֶם, "a shoulder" commanded a view of the Mediterranean. It was the half-way resting-place, at the end of the second day's journey, for travellers from Galilee to Jerusalem, and hence bore the name in later times, it is thought, of Mabertha, or Mabartha (מַעֲבַרְתָּא), Pliny's Mamortha. Vespasian subsequently named it Neapolis, the modern Nablous. The Authorized Version synonyms of Shechem appear as Sichem, Sychem, Sychar (John 4:5, 20). In post-Captivity times, a new temple on Gerizim was the cathedral of Samaritan worship, which was levelled by John Hyrcanus, B.C. 129. Jacob's well is a hall: mile south-east, and Joseph's tomb two miles east (Joshua 24:32). Almost every one of the references to Shechem are of great interest on one account or another, and to turn to each of them in order is to read the Scripture narrative of the place. The leading references are subjoined (Genesis 12:6; Genesis 33:18, 19; Genesis 34; Genesis 35:1-4; Genesis 37:12, 28; Genesis 43:22; Genesis 49:5-7; Deuteronomy 27:11; Joshua 9:33-35; Joshua 20:7; 21:20, 21; 24:1, 25, 32; Judges 9:7, 22, 34-45; Judges 21:1; 2 Kings 17:5, 6, 24; 2 Kings 18:9; 1 Chronicles 6:67; 1 Chronicles 7:28; Ezra 4:2; Jeremiah 41:5; John 4:5; Acts 7:16; Acts 8:5). The article "Shechem," by Dr. Hackett, in Dr. Smith's 'Bible Dictionary,' vol. 3. pp. 1234-1240, is of exceptional interest. All Israel. No doubt this expression may mean even here the assemblage of the federated twelve tribes. Considering the immediate recurrence of the expression in ver. 3, it must be, however, that the Jeroboam party of the ten tribes (headed by the strong and self-conscious Ephraimites) are especially in view; in point of fact, of course, all the twelve tribes were represented in the gathering of ver. 1. There can be no division of opinion about this, though the meeting be represented as one demanded or occasioned by the attitude of Israel, in the lesser comprehension of the name.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Then Rehoboam
רְחַבְעָ֖ם (rə·ḥaḇ·‘ām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7346: Rehoboam -- 'a people are enlarged', a king of Judah

went
וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to Shechem,
שְׁכֶ֑מָה (šə·ḵe·māh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7927: Shechem -- 'ridge', a district in Northern Palestine, also a son of Hamor

for
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

all
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

had gone
בָּ֥אוּ (bā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

[there]
שְׁכֶ֛ם (šə·ḵem)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7927: Shechem -- 'ridge', a district in Northern Palestine, also a son of Hamor

to make him king.
לְהַמְלִ֥יךְ (lə·ham·lîḵ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 10:1 Rehoboam went to Shechem (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)