Rehoboam

Related Category: Biblical Proper Names: Biographies

(rē´´əbō´əm), in the Bible, last king of the United Monarchy, first king of Judah, son of Solomon. Under him the northern tribes broke away from the rule of Jerusalem and set up a separate kingdom (called Israel) with Jeroboam I as their king. Rehoboam's foolish insolence to the protesting tribespeople is celebrated. In Rehoboam's reign Palestine was invaded by Sheshonk I of Egypt. It is also spelled Roboam.