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Rehoboam

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Son of King Solomon; his refusal to lighten labor demands led to the division of the united Kingdom of Israel into north and south.

Detailed Definition
Rehoboam rejected elders’ counsel, causing ten tribes to secede under Jeroboam. In poetry, Rehoboam embodies the folly of arrogance, the fragility of unity, and the tragic consequences of ignoring wisdom for power.
Example
Example in poetry:
In 1 Kings 12, Rehoboam’s folly inspires poetry about leadership and division; 19th-century verse depicts Rehoboam rejecting elders’ counsel as emblem of pride; Contemporary poems use Rehoboam to explore consequences of arrogance in governance; In laments over national split, Rehoboam’s reign begins Israel’s fragmentation; Some chronological poems list Rehoboam among kings who “did evil in the sight of the Lord”; Educational poems cite Rehoboam to teach about listening and wisdom.
Additional Notes
Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, loses ten tribes due to his harsh rule (1 Kings 12); his reign marks the division of Israel; his failure to heed elders’ counsel symbolizes the perils of arrogance in leadership—ideal for political or cautionary poetry on power and listening.
Also Known As
Rehoboam king of Judah Rehoboam son of Solomon
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