the cause The cause of all this confusion and anarchy was Rehoboam's folly, cruelty, and despotic tyranny, and this was certainly not `from the Lord, ' nor does the original text speak this doctrine. See an elucidation of a similar passage at

2 Samuel 24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

. It says, {sibbah}, (from {savav}, to turn, change, ) `the change or REVOLUTION was from the Lord;' which is consistent with all the preceding declarations. God stirred up the people to revolt from a man who had neither skill nor humanity to govern them. God serves his own wise and righteous purpose by the imprudences and iniquities of men, and snares sinners in the work of their own hands. `He maketh the wrath of man to praise him.'

1 Kings 12:24 Thus said the LORD, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers the children of Israel: return every man to his house...

1 Kings 22:23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets...

Deuteronomy 2:30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate...

Judges 14:4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines...

2 Chronicles 10:15 So the king listened not to the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word...

2 Chronicles 22:7 And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come...

2 Chronicles 25:16, 20 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, Are you made of the king's counsel? forbear...

Psalm 5:10 Destroy you them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions...

Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD has not done it?

Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 4:28 For to do whatever your hand and your counsel determined before to be done.

that he might

1 Kings 11:11, 29-38 Why the LORD said to Solomon, For as much as this is done of you, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes...

1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

2 Samuel 17:14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel...

2 Kings 9:36 Why they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying...

2 Kings 10:10 Know now that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab...

Isaiah 14:13-17 For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...

Isaiah 46:10, 11 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand...

Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the army of heaven...

John 19:23, 24, 28, 29, 32-37 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat...

Acts 3:17 And now, brothers, I know that through ignorance you did it, as did also your rulers.

Acts 13:27-29 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not...