Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 12

The first step taken by the new king was a most judicious one. If anything could have removed the disaffection of the Ephraimites and caused them to submit to the ascendency of Judah, it would have been the honor shown to their capital by selecting it as the location for the coronation.

Shechem (now Nablus) was situated on the slope of Mount Gerizim, directly opposite Mount Ebal, in a location second to none in all Palestine. Although Abimelech had destroyed the city (Judges 9:45), it had likely risen again quickly and was once more a chief city—perhaps the chief city—of Ephraim. Its central location made it a convenient place for the general assembly of the tribes, just as it had been in the days of Joshua (Joshua 8:30–35; Joshua 24:1–28), which provided an additional reason for its selection.

Heard of it - That is, of the death of Solomon and the accession of Rehoboam. This point would be clearer without the division into chapters, which, it must be remembered, is a later addition and without authority.

Dwelt in Egypt - By changing the vowel pointing in one word and a single letter in another, the Hebrew text here can be read as it is in 2 Chronicles 10:2: returned out of Egypt; and they sent and called him.

In the Septuagint version, the story of Jeroboam is told in two different ways. The general narrative agrees closely with the Hebrew text, but an insertion into the body of 1 Kings 12—remarkable for its meticulous detail—at once disrupts the order of events and gives the history a new aspect and tone in many respects. This section of the Septuagint, though regarded by some as thoroughly authentic, absolutely conflicts with the Hebrew text in many important particulars. In its general outline, it is wholly irreconcilable with the other narrative. If both stood on the same footing and we were free to choose between them, there could be no question about preferring the history as given in our version.

The complaint was likely twofold. The Israelites undoubtedly complained about the heavy taxation imposed on them to maintain the monarch and his court (1 Kings 4:19–23). Their chief grievance, however, was the forced labor to which they had been subjected (1 Kings 5:13–14).

Forced labor has been a cause of insurrection in many ages and countries. It helped bring about the French Revolution and was, for many years, one of the principal grievances of the Russian serfs.

Jeroboam’s position as superintendent over the forced labor of the tribe of Ephraim (1 Kings 11:28) revealed to him the great dissatisfaction that Solomon’s system had produced. His planned rebellion during Solomon’s reign may have been connected with this persistent grievance.

The old men who stood before his father Solomon—Perhaps these were “the princes” of 1 Kings 4:2. Solomon placed great value on good advisers (Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 15:22; Proverbs 24:6).

The advice was not that the king should permanently resign the office of ruler, but that he should, for this one occasion, be ruled by his people.