2 Chronicles 10 Commentary
Solomon is known for his wisdom. His son, Rehoboam, may easily top the chart for the lack of it. When we hear that the events in this chapter are from the LORD, we want to ask if the holy script refers to a lack of wisdom or simply the moment of foolish arrogance.
It could be the same, since arrogance is often a sign that wisdom is lacking.
The evidence here is that by the time Solomon was dying, he had become a dictator, overtaxing people or simply overworking them on his vanity projects. The devil has one package of sins for the poor and another package of sins for the rich. Solomon is over-ambitious, and vanity leads him to enslave his own people.
For all the wealth that the LORD had given him, we would expect a contented Solomon to sit down and concentrate on palace matters. But mortals don’t have this special gift.
So, Solomon’s death was such a relief to even estranged people like Jeroboam that they sought to start afresh. Life should be different now that the evil dictator had died, so they thought. And the LORD agreed with them. And Rehoboam’s lack of wisdom achieved an intended purpose for the LORD.
Men must be very worried when the LORD withdraws wisdom from them. It is always a sign that something wrong is about to happen. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.
Because of Solomon’s idolatry, the nation experiences a scattering. The one powerful and prosperous kingdom has become two separate, weak, and quarreling kingdoms. Thanks to Rehoboam’s lack of wisdom!
The southern kingdom would be called Judah, while the northern kingdom would be called Israel. The LORD had commissioned Jeroboam as a leader for Israel while Rehoboam continued to rule over Judah. Whenever mortals gather to sin, the LORD moves in to scatter.
In just 40 short years, the blessing had become a curse on the nation. Solomon’s vanity had driven the nation into desperate times in the midst of plenty. Idolatry has a way to undo everything called good.
It is the rich people who are so shockingly lacking in the basics of life that they admire the peaceful nights of a man on the street. The powerful of this world can be so lacking in wisdom that one wonders why they are in their positions. When the LORD withdraws wisdom from mortals, hell reigns.
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