Friday, January 9, 2004
Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow
Kellia: 3 Kings 12:16-24 Epistle: Hebrews 11:8, 11-16 Gospel: St. Mark 13:1-8
3 Kings 12:16-24 LXX (1 K 12:16-24 MT), especially vss. 22-24,
"And the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak to Rehoboam the
son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant
of the people, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, neither shall ye fight with your
brethren the sons of Israel: return each man to his own home; for this thing is from Me...." God
called forth His Prophet Shemaiah during a major crisis in the history of the ancient People of
God. First, the Lord sent Shemaiah, as well as the Prophet Ahijah, to precipitate the separation of
the twelve tribes into two nations, Judah and Israel. Then, after the ten northern tribes had
separated from Judah and Benjamin, the Lord again sent His word to Shemaiah to stop a
fratricidal war just as it was beginning - by a proclamation of restraint to the people of Judah.
Relations among the descendants of the twelve sons of the Patriarch Israel had a long, unsettled
history. The present reading clearly reveals that the rebellion of the northern tribes from the
Davidic monarchy was precipitated by the brash actions of Rehoboam, the newly crowned King
over the twelve tribes (and see 3 K 12:1-15 LXX). The reading also reveals that the northern
tribes were ready to rebel because of forced labor and taxation imposed by Rehoboam's father,
King Solomon (3 K. 11:28; 12:3 LXX). But Scripture also show the true determining factor in
the break up: the judgment of God against the idolatry instituted by King Solomon (3 K 11:9-13).
God allows consequences to come when we sin against Him.
In this instance, it is important to note carefully why the Lord created a crisis among the tribes
through two of His Prophets, Ahijah (3 K 11:29-39 LXX) and Shemaiah (only 3 K 12:24 LXX):
because Solomon "turned away his heart from the Lord God of Israel" (3 K. 11:9). Also do not
overlook the fact that God caused the break through His Prophets' words and actions.
Begin with the exclusive Septuagint (LXX) account of the first of Shemaiah's actions during the
inter-tribal crisis: he prompted Jeroboam to rebel against the Davidic dynasty and to assume the
throne of the northern tribes of Israel. "And the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah son of
Enlami, saying, Take to thyself a new garment which has not gone into the water, and rend it into
twelve pieces; and thou shalt give some to Jeroboam, and shalt say to him, Thus saith the Lord,
Take to thyself ten pieces to cover thee: and Jeroboam took them; and Shemaiah said, Thus saith
the Lord concerning the ten tribes of Israel" (3 K12:24 LXX, paragraph 6).
Do you see a pattern in God's activity among His People? He uses a specific individual who
speaks His word, but then, He causes His Prophet to dramatize His message, to clarify and assert
His word fully. Recall the action of the Lord Jesus in withering the fig tree (Mt. 21:19-21), and
you will see another instance of God dramatically reinforcing His verbal word with actions.
The second action of Shemaiah in the crisis between the two Kingdoms came after the actual split
between the tribes (read 3 K 12:1-24 LXX). Rehoboam was fully determined to go to war with
Jeroboam, break the coalition of northern tribes, and prevent the defection of Israel from his rule.
First, he ineptly sends Adoram, the chief of conscription for forced labor, to gain the submission
of the northern tribes. The people of the north, however, "stoned him with stones, and he died" (3
K.12:18 LXX). Therefore, King Rehoboam mustered an army to prevent the secession (3 K.
11:11 LXX). Finally, the Lord sent the Prophet Shemaiah to proclaim the will of the Lord
against fratricide. The commandments of God abide for all people.
Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and
truth, and establish among them peace which is the fruit of righteousness.