提要
北方各族用石頭打死了哈多蘭（10:18；在王上12:18也叫亞多蘭）──他原本代表羅波安到他們的領地，可能是去收稅。此一行動很明顯地表示，他們脫離猶大決心已定（10:16）。羅波安立即預備打仗，想要重新取得領土的控制權，並迫使反叛者臣服。假如上主沒有派先知示瑪雅介入，那內戰必然發生。示瑪雅的信息是說，他們不要去打仗，因為以色列分裂乃是上帝的計劃（11:14）；所以，他們不可以與自己兄弟作戰，否則便是抵擋上帝的旨意了。羅波安遵守了上帝的話，在以後的三年中，他的王國因上帝的祝福而興盛。
羅波安的王國受到鼓舞，其中最主要的原因，乃是許多有信心的利未人，他們離開了耶羅波安的新王國，而會集到猶大。他們這樣做，是因為耶羅波安發起了官方的宗教，要人去拜牛犢。耶羅波安這樣做是有目的的，主要是為了切斷與猶大耶路撒冷聖殿的一切關係（參王上12:26~28）。不僅利未人離開，就是其他人也一樣。「以色列各支派中，凡立定心意尋求耶和華以色列上帝的……」11:16）。這情形之下，主把他忠心的孩子（餘民），從一大群拒絕祂的人中分開了。
因為羅波安已然失去所有北方各族的領地，他便把一切力量用於保持現有的一切。他武裝了一些猶大境內重要的城市，包括伯利恆，他祖父大衛的故鄉。凡他所武裝的城市，都在耶路撒冷的南邊和西邊，顯然是因為埃及人以戰爭威脅猶大，且不久果然成為事實。
羅波安的治理逐漸有起色，因為他「走在大衛和所羅門的路上」（11:17）。三年之久，王國強盛，但不久羅波安忘了他需倚賴上帝。他不僅拋棄了主，而且，我們從列王紀上的記載得知，他竟引導他的子民去拜偶像（王上14:23、24；15:12）。上主興起了埃及王示撒，來攻擊耶路撒冷和他的同盟，因為「王和民得罪了耶和華」（12:2）並離棄了祂。
再一次，上帝使用了先知示瑪雅傳祂的信息。示瑪雅勇敢無懼地，面對君王羅波安，且責備他的罪。羅波安接受了先知的信息，並且誠心地在上帝面前降卑自己，上帝終於賜他恩典（參彼前5:5~6）。上帝饒恕了這城，卻讓他們成為埃及人的手下，目的是要讓他們反省事奉上帝有什麼好處。示撒要猶大負擔供獻貢品的重任，他企圖巧取豪奪一切他能拿到的，包括所羅門時代留下來的黃金寶藏。但上帝，當祂自己主治的時候卻沒有壓迫他們。祂從來沒有拿什麼，只是大方的施惠給他們。事實上，降服於上帝是好多了的事。正如耶穌宣告的：「到我這裡來……我就使你們得安息。你們當負我的軛，學我的樣式。我的心裡柔和謙卑……」（太11:28 30）。
多麼悲慘！羅波安從主前失落，和他的祖父大衛大不相同：「（羅波安）……不立定心意尋求耶和華」（12:14）。主觀察人心，並且知道那些渴慕祂的人。因為羅波安不渴慕上帝，所以他陷在罪中，並在主的眼中「行惡」。
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Overview
When the northern tribes stoned Hadoram (10:18; also called "Adoram" in 1 Kings 12:18), who had gone into their territory to represent Rehoboam, probably to collect taxes, it became clear that their words about separating from Judah were to be taken seriously (10:16). Rehoboam immediately prepared for battle to regain contol over those territories and force the rebels to submit. If the Lord had not intervened by sending the prophet Shemaiah, there would have been a civil war. Shemaiah's message was that they not go to battle, for it was the plan of God for Israel to be divided (11:4); therefore, they were not to fight against the will of God by fighting with their brethren. Rehoboam obeyed the word of the Lord, and for the next three years, his kingdom prospered with God's blessings.
One of the main reasons for Rehoboam's kingdom being strengthened was the influx of many faithful Levites who had left Jeroboam's new kingdom and moved to Judah. They did so because of the calf worship Jeroboam had instituted as the official religion. Jeroboam had done this purposely, in order to cut any ties with the Jerusalem Temple in Judah (cf. 1 Kings 12:26-28). Not only did Levites leave, but others as well, "from all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the Lord God of Israel" (11:16). In this way, the Lord was separating His faithful children (the remnant) from the larger group that had rejected Him.
Since Rehoboam had lost all the territory of the northern tribes, he put all his might into holding on to what he had. He fortified a few important cities within Judah, including Bethlehem, the hometown of his grandfather David. All the cities he fortified were to the south and the west of Jerusalem, apparently because of Egypt's war threat to Judah, which soon turned into reality.
Rehoboam began his rule successfully because he "walked in the way of David and Solomon" (11:17). For three years, the kingdom was strong, but then Rehoboam forgot his need for God. Not only did he forsake the Lord, but, as we learn from the historical account in 1 Kings, he led his people into idolatry (1 Kings 14:23, 24; 15:12). The Lord raised up Shishak, king of Egypt, to come against Jerusalem with his allies as a punishment, because "they had transgressed against the Lord" (12:2) and had forsaken Him.
Once again, God used the prophet Shemaiah to give His message. Shemaiah, boldly and without fear, confronted King Rehoboam with his sin. Because Rehoboam received the prophet's message and sincerely humbled himself before God, God gave him grace (cf. 1 Peter 5:5-6). God spared the city but allowed them to become subservient to Egypt, in order to teach them, by contrast, the benefits of serving Him. Shishak burdened Judah with paying him tribute. He tried to take all he could get, including the gold treasures that remained from Solomon's rule. God, however, had never oppressed them when He was the ruler; He never took but only gave to them generously. Indeed, it is much better to submit to God! As Jesus proclaimed, "Come to Me...and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart..." (Matthew 11:28-30).
How tragic that once again Rehoboam fell away from the Lord. Unlike his grandfather David, "[Rehoboam] did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord" (12:14). The Lord looks upon the hearts of mankind and knows those who have a longing for Him. Because Rehoboam did not long after God, he fell into sin and "did evil" in the sight of the Lord.
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