Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King Rehoboam dispatches Hadoram to enforce tribute on the northern tribes following his refusal to lighten their yoke. The Israelites respond by stoning the royal envoy, prompting Rehoboam to mount his chariot and flee to Jerusalem.
The words — וַ/יִּשְׁלַ֞ח (va/i.yish.Lach) translates literally as "and he sent," recording the royal command. הַ/מַּ֔ס (ha./Mas) means "the forced labor," naming the specific burden that provokes the violence.
The thread — The administration of conscripted labor reappears in 1 Kings 4:6 with Adoniram and 1 Kings 5:14 with monthly work shifts. The violent rejection of a king's representative parallels 2 Chronicles 24:21, where conspirators stone a royal official.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that centralized coercion without covenantal trust triggers immediate rebellion. It requires the reader to observe how political overreach directly precipitates the collapse of unified royal authority.
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 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.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 1 Kings 4:6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.
- 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.
- Acts 7:57 At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.