Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of collecting taxes, to deal with the situation. But the Israelites threw stones at him until he died. When King Rehoboam saw this, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled back to Jerusalem.
This verse shows the violent rejection of King Rehoboam's harsh rule, as the people killed his tax collector and forced the king to flee for his life.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred during the division of Israel's kingdom after Solomon's death, when his son Rehoboam foolishly chose to increase the people's burdens rather than lighten them. The northern tribes had just declared their independence from Rehoboam's rule, and his decision to send a tax collector showed how completely he misunderstood the gravity of the situation. This violent response marked the final break between the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah).
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