1 Kings 12:3–5 moves us to the scene of the gathering. The phrase and Jeroboam and all Israel came
suggests that Jeroboam was the leader or at least the spokesman of the people in presenting their request before Rehoboam.
They begin with a complaint: Your father made our yoke heavy.
The writer does not give any more details of the heavy yoke, but implied in the language is the fact that Solomon’s policy had changed during the course of his reign. When the temple and his palace were constructed, the forced labor
was restricted to foreign slaves, while Israelites were compensated and employed in monthly shifts, giving them time to attend to their own business. Later, it appears that free
Israelites were treated as if they were bond slaves. Such treatment was contrary to the law of God.
Rehoboam did not reject the complaints of the northern tribes without giving himself time for consideration, so he sent their representatives away for three days, promising to give them an answer after that time. In doing so, he showed what may appear to be wisdom. Yet, as we will see, he went to the wrong sources for advice. He should have consulted the Lord, either through a prophet or the high priest. The king’s omission in this regard brings to mind the distinction between taking advice and being directed. From men the king takes advice, which he may either follow or reject. From God he takes direction that he ignores at his peril.
3 And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam,