Bible Strands
1 Kings 12:18
Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King Rehoboam acts amid the northern tribes' rebellion, sending Adoram to manage the conscripted workforce after the people refuse his harsh terms.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּשְׁלַח (wayyishlach) records the royal dispatch, while אֲדֹרָם (Adoram) and הַמַּס (hammas) identify the official and his specific duty over the forced labor.
The thread — The text notes Rehoboam's flight to Jerusalem after the stoning, which directly precedes the permanent division of the kingdom and recalls earlier administrative records where Adoniram or Adoram oversaw conscription under David and Solomon.
Why it lands — The passage records that a royal messenger is executed by the governed population, demonstrating how administrative oppression triggers immediate political fracture.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 4:6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.
- 2 Samuel 20:24 Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;
- 1 Kings 5:14 He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.
- Acts 7:57 At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
- Exodus 17:4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What should I do with these people? A little more and they will stone me!”
- Numbers 14:10 But the whole congregation threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Kings 20:18 “If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”
- 2 Chronicles 10:18 Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.
- 2 Chronicles 24:21 But they conspired against Zechariah, and by order of the king, they stoned him in the courtyard of the house of the LORD.
- Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.