1 Kings 12:21 — English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website
Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem. He brought together 180,000 fighting men from the royal house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin. He had decided to make war against the royal house of Israel. Solomon's son Rehoboam wanted his fighting men to get the kingdom of Israel back for him.
What Does This Mean?
After the kingdom split, Rehoboam gathered warriors from Judah and Benjamin to fight against the northern tribes to regain control. This verse shows the military preparation taken by Rehoboam.
Explained for Children
Imagine two big teams in a game. One team, led by Rehoboam, decided to get more players ready to play so they could win back the game they thought was theirs.
Historical Background
1 Kings was likely written by various prophets and historians around 850 BC. The audience was the Israelites, who were experiencing the division of their kingdom into two parts: the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom, led by Rehoboam.
Living It Out Today
In a modern scenario, a company might gather its best employees to regain market share lost to a competitor. This verse teaches about taking action to secure what you believe is rightfully yours.
