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 firstly,  because  he  was  blinded  by  pride; secondly,  because  he  would  not take the  advice  of  the  wise,  but  followed  instead  that  of  his  young  companions, who  took  care  to  flatter  his  pride. You can  see  by  this  how passion makes  a man  blind,  and  how  disastrous  it  is  to  listen  to  the voice of  unscrupulous  flatterers. “He that  walketh  with  the  wise,  shall be wise:  a friend  of  fools  shall  become  like  them”  (Prov.  13,  20).

Gentleness. If Roboam  had  returned  a kind,  friendly  answer  to  the people, he  would  have  conciliated  them,  and  all  the  twelve  tribes  would have acknowledged  him  as  their  king. “A mild  answer  breaketh  wrath: but a harsh  word  stirreth  up  fury”  (Prov.  15,  1). “Blessed are  the  meek.”

Schism. The ten  tribes  sinned  by  rebelling  against  the  throne  of David,  and  their  sin  was  all  the  greater,  because  their  defection  from the house  of  David  implied  a defection  from  the  future  Messias  and  a renunciation  of  the  promises  of  God.

Partaking in  the  guilt  of  others.  His  young  advisers  shared  in  the guilt of  Roboam’s  sin  and  in  its  evil  consequences,  by  urging  him  to a hard  and  cruel  course  of  action. Jeroboam committed  a terrible  sin when he  incited  the  people  to  idolatry  and  induced  them  to  apostatize from the  true  God. God punished  him  by  the  overthrow  of  his  whole family. Jeroboam’s son,  Nadab,  only  reigned  two  years. Then a rebellion  against  him  broke  out,  and  the  whole  house  of  Jeroboam  was destroyed.

Are you  fond  of  being  with  giddy  companions? Do you  follow  their  advice  in  preference  to  the  injunctions  and exhortations of  older  and  more  prudent  persons? Do you  listen to the  voice  of  your  passions  rather  than  to  that  of  your  conscience? Roboam lost  the  larger  part  of  his  kingdom,  because he listened  to  the  unprincipled  advice  of  flatterers. So, if  you like the  company  of  those  who  are  unprincipled,  you  will  lose both faith  and  innocence,  which  are  more  valuable  than  a whole kingdom. Therefore avoid  bad  companions.

N order  to  bring  back  the  kings  and  the  people  to  better  sentiments, God  raised  up,  at  different  times,  holy  persons  who are known  as  prophets. These prophets  preached  penance  in  a