Had Rehoboam and his inexperienced counselors understood the divine will concerning Israel, they would have listened to the request of the people for decided reforms in the administration of the government. But in the hour of opportunity that came to them during the meeting in Shechem, they failed to reason from cause to effect, and thus forever weakened their influence over a large number of the people. Their expressed determination to perpetuate and add to the oppression introduced during Solomon's reign was in direct conflict with God's plan for Israel, and gave the people ample occasion to doubt the sincerity of their motives. In this unwise and unfeeling attempt to exercise power, the king and his chosen counselors revealed the pride of position and authority.

Hvis Rehabeam og hans uerfarne rådgivere havde forstået Guds vilje med Israel, ville de have rettet sig efter folkets ønsker om gennemgribende reformer inden for statsadministrationen. Men de udnyttede ikke det gunstige øjeblik under mødet i Siken; de sluttede ikke fra årsag til virkning og svækkede derved for bestandig deres indflydelse over en stor del af folket. Deres faste beslutning om at videreføre og forværre det tvangsregimente, som var blevet indført under Salomo, var i direkte strid med Guds plan med Israel, og folket havde god grund til at betvivle ægtheden af kongens og hans rådgiveres motiver. Dette ukloge og ubarmhjertige forsøg på at udøve magt viser, at kongen og hans rådgivere var stolte og higede efter at bruge deres myndighed.