מלכים א, פרק י״ד, פסוק ל״א

The end of a king's reign often brings his personal choices and his family legacy into sharp focus. The conclusion of Rehoboam's life reveals a profound contrast between his glorious royal lineage and his personal spiritual path. Upon his death, he is physically laid to rest alongside his ancestors, the great kings David and Solomon, in the City of David, and the throne passes to his son Abijam, who is also known as Abijah [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

In the final record of his life, his mother's identity as Naamah the Ammonite is mentioned once again, a detail already established earlier. This repetition draws attention to the defining influences of his rule. The primary approach among commentators is that it serves to highlight his low spiritual state up to his very last moments. Although he rests physically with his ancestors, his heart was never truly like theirs. The reminder of his Ammonite mother at the time of his death indicates that he never repented. Instead, he continued to cling to her idolatrous practices, living and dying in sin [אברבנאל]. She was the one who incited him toward evil throughout his entire life [מלבי״ם], and until his dying day, his actions closely mirrored hers [מצודת דוד].

In contrast, a unique perspective views this repeated mention as a point of merit. According to this approach, his mother was actually a worthy and refined woman. It was through her merit that Rehoboam attained the kingship, making her a foundational figure in the continuation of the royal dynasty [חומת אנך].

This continuation of the royal line, realized when his son takes the throne, is not something to be taken for granted. By strict justice, Rehoboam's idol worship should have resulted in the kingdom being stripped from him completely. However, God kept His promise to David, ensuring that the kingship would not be entirely removed as it had been from Saul. Therefore, God left the rule over the tribe of Judah in the hands of Rehoboam and his descendants, safeguarding the destiny of David's line even after Rehoboam's passing [אברבנאל].