דברי הימים ב, פרק י׳, פסוק י״ח

A king's attempt to manage a brewing uprising can easily spiral out of control, resulting in violence and a hasty retreat. King Rehoboam sends his chief tax official to confront the rebelling crowds, a decision that ultimately ends in a fatal disaster.

There are differing views regarding the exact purpose of this mission. One approach suggests that Rehoboam completely misjudged the severity of the rebellion. Acting as if nothing was wrong, he simply sent the official to collect the standard taxes that had been established during King Solomon's reign [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Conversely, another perspective argues that the king intentionally sent him to calm the crowds and appease the people with gentle words [מצודת דוד].

The chosen messenger, Hadoram, was an older, veteran minister who had likely managed tax collection since the days of David and Solomon. Despite his senior position, he was deeply unpopular among the masses, and by the time of this uprising, he carried no real authority [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Originally, he was known as Adoniram, a name that reflected the great prestige he enjoyed during Solomon's rule. However, as his status declined under Rehoboam, his name was shortened to Hadoram [רש״י].

The crowd's response to his arrival was immediate and violent. The mob turned on the official, throwing stones at him until he died [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. King Rehoboam, who was present at the scene and witnessed the brutal riot firsthand, became terrified for his own life [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In a panic, the king had to exert massive physical effort and strength to quickly board his chariot and escape to Jerusalem [מצודת ציון].