Rehoboam (died 958 BC) was King of Judah from 975 to 958 BC, succeeding Solomon and preceding Abijah.
Biography[]
Rehoboam was a son of Solomon and the Ammonite princess Naamah. Solomon's flirtation with Ammonite paganism led to God cursing Solomon's dynasty, tearing the kingdom from his son Rehoboam. Rehoboam won the support of the ten northern tribes of Israel when he became king in 975 BC, but Rehoboam was known to speak to the people in an uncivil manner, refused to decentralize the power of taxation, and swore to be a more harsh ruler than his father. Rehoboam's tyranny resulted in Jeroboam rebelling and forming the Kingdom of Israel in the north, leaving Rehoboam as King of Judah in the south. Rehoboam built pagan altars and poles to Asherah and permitted male cult prostitution, and he conscripted 80,100 men to fight against Israel. In 971 BC, Pharaoh Shishak invaded Judah, captured all of its cities, plundered Solomon's Temple, and vassalized Rehoboam. Rehoboam, who had 18 wives and 60 concubines, had 28 sons and 60 daughters; with Maacah, he fathered his successor Abijah. He died in 958 BC.
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