{"id":62300,"date":"2019-09-03T16:52:50","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T13:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=62300"},"modified":"2023-03-29T06:54:53","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T03:54:53","slug":"the-march-of-folly-rulers-and-bad-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-march-of-folly-rulers-and-bad-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"The March of Folly: Rulers And Bad Advice"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[444,813,924],"acf":{"old_id":"62300","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":34243,"related_cahpter":"299","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"With an extended commentary by Barbara Tuchman","content":"

In our comments on 2 Samuel 19, we observed that the Sages were perturbed over David\u2019s rash and baseless decision to have Mephi-Boshet split his property with Tziva, and noted a midrash (cited by Radak) stating that it caused a heavenly voice (<\/span>bat kol<\/span><\/em>) to announce the eventual division of David\u2019s kingdom amongst Rehoboam, his grandson, and Jeroboam ben Nebat. The proverbial chickens have come home to roost in our chapter.<\/span><\/p>\n

This episode also features prominently in the preface to a most intriguing book: <\/span>The March of Folly<\/span>, by Pulitzer Prize winning author Barbara W. Tuchman. In chapter one, entitled \u201cPursuit of Policy Contrary to Self-Interest,\u201d she offers Rehoboam\u2019s rejection of a tax cut as evidence of how often leaders act foolishly\u2014particularly when more wholesome alternatives are readily available. (The book is subtitled: \u201cFrom Troy to Vietnam.\u201d) Let these excerpts from her description of this event serve as our lesson.<\/span><\/p>\n

Acknowledged King without question by the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin, Rehoboam, clearly aware of unrest in Israel, traveled at once to Shechem, center of the north, to obtain the people\u2019s allegiance. He was met instead by a delegation of Israel\u2019s representatives who demanded that he lighten the heavy yoke of labor put upon them by his father and said that if he did so they would serve him as loyal subjects. Among the delegates was Jeroboam who had hurriedly been sent for from Egypt as soon as King Solomon died, and whose presence must certainly have warned Rehoboam that he faced a critical situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026 With the first sensation of sovereignty heating his blood, Rehoboam found this advice [of the older counselors\u2014to be lenient] too tame and turned to \u201cthe young men that were grown up with him.\u201d They knew his disposition and like counselors of any time who wish to consolidate their position in the \u201cOval Office,\u201d gave advice they knew would be palatable\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Delighted with this ferocious formula [\u201cmy father chastised you with whips, I will chastise you with scorpions\u201d], Rehoboam faced the delegation when it returned on the third day and addressed them \u201croughly\u201d word for word as the young men had suggested\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Instantly\u2014so instantly as to suggest that they had previously decided upon their course of action in case of a negative reply\u2014the men of Israel announced their secession from the House of David with the battle cry \u201cTo thy tents, O Israel! See to thine own house, David.”<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":62310,"id":62310,"title":"1kings12-TheMarchOfFolly3","filename":"1kings12-TheMarchOfFolly3.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings12-TheMarchOfFolly3.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-march-of-folly-rulers-and-bad-advice\/1kings12-themarchoffolly3\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"1kings12-themarchoffolly3","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":62300,"date":"2019-09-03 13:52:36","modified":"2019-09-03 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