So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
The cause was of God. Rehoboam, in following an evil counsel, and the Hebrew people, is making a revolutionary movement, each acted as free agents, obeying their own will add passions. But God, who permitted the revolt of the northern tribes, intended it as a punishment of the house of David for Solomon's apostasy. That event demonstrates the immediate superintendence of His providence over the revolutions of kingdoms; and thus it affords an instance, similar to many other striking instances that are found in Scripture, of divine predictions, uttered long before, being accomplished by the operation of human Scripture, of divine predictions, uttered long before, being accomplished by the operation of human passions, and in the natural course of events.