If you weren't sure about the division of the kingdom of Israel being part of God's plan you get some solid confirmation in this chapter. The thing with Jeroboam and his rebellious plotting was clearly part of God's plan. God used this very evil man to bring about his judgement which involved splitting Israel. Notice it was God who first refers to Rehoboam as the king of "Judah" and not "Israel" when he speaks to Shemaiah (the man of God) in verse 3 . . .
verse 3-4 -- "Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, Thus saith the LORD . . ."Also, notice how God stops Rehoboam from doing what any strong ruler in that day would have done to any sign of rebellion in its midst -- squash it like a bug. Rehoboam makes ready to wipe Jeroboam and his followers off the face of the earth, but God tell him not to do it. Notice what he says . . . don't go and fight them
verse 4 -- "for this thing is done of me."It strikes me so clearly as I read this again that God was executing his plan to judge Israel and it called for a split kingdom.
What's also important here is the polarization of the faithful to Judah (and Benjamin) and the wicked to the other tribes in Israel (following Jeroboam). Notice the Levites all head for Judah and any people who trusted in God. This is a very interesting migration which could be a study all to itself. Stop and imagine that for a moment. Large caravans and small cluster of people from all over this moutainous region heading south to Judah (and presumably also from the east heading west from the other side of Jordan).
This had to have been a massive movement of people. We also see how truly evil this man Jeroboam was. He not only rebelled against the house of Solomon and Rehoboam, he was rebelling against God -- and with great zeal! He quickly set up his own religion based on the pagan gods in the land and wanted nothing to do with the God of Israel. He kicks out the Levites
verse 14 -- he "cast them off from executing the priest’s office."This guy was bold! The scope and intensity of his rebellion must have been invectious. Of course we know he is later regarded as the father of rebellion in Israel and becomes the symbol of evil influence for many generations to follow.
