Rehoboam’s Foolish Choice: A Linguistic and Contextual Study of 1 Kings 12:1–20

This research paper by Daniel Wilson, submitted to Dr. Miles Van Pelt for Hebrew Exegesis at Reformed Theological Seminary – Jackson, analyzes the division of the united monarchy in 1 Kings 12:1–20. Wilson argues that Rehoboam’s downfall was rooted not in ignorance but in arrogance—a willful rejection of seasoned advice in favor of youthful pride and authoritarian ambition.

Through close lexical and syntactical analysis of the Hebrew text, Wilson highlights key terms such as ʿām (“people”), ʿēṣāh (“counsel”), and qāšeh (“harsh”), demonstrating how word choice reinforces the narrative’s moral dimension. The contrast between the elders’ gentle counsel and the younger men’s aggressive rhetoric reveals the theological principle that leadership grounded in humility aligns with God’s covenantal wisdom, while tyranny invites division.

The paper concludes that Rehoboam’s decision precipitated not only political fragmentation but also theological judgment. The schism of Israel was ultimately God’s sovereign act of discipline, yet human pride served as its instrument. Wilson’s study portrays 1 Kings 12 as a timeless warning against self-reliant leadership and a call to embrace humility as the path to wise governance.

Course and semester: Hebrew Exegesis — Fall 2014