Introduction
The study of leadership in academic circles has been going on for millennia, and it has provided a wealth of information regarding both positive and negative leadership traits. For a comprehensive grasp of the repercussions that result from ineffective leadership, the Bible, and more specifically the books of 1 and 2 Kings, is an invaluable resource. The purpose of this article is to investigate the negative leadership traits that were displayed by three kings of Merida, namely King Solomon, King Rehoboam, and King Ahab, as described in the biblical account (Merida, 2015). This analysis intends to shed light on the adverse impact that each king’s leadership had on the kingdom by drawing on two scholarly sources for each of the kings.
Solomon and the Lack of Conceptualization
King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, fell victim to the negative trait of a lack of conceptualization. Friedman and Friedman (2019) contend that Solomon’s fall from grace occurred when he lost touch with the fundamental values that underpin ethical leadership. Despite the fact that he was the smartest of all humans, Solomon was able to amass an incredible amount of riches, which Friedman and Friedman (2019) estimate to be worth an unbelievable one hundred billion dollars. Solomon chose to indulge in the construction of a magnificent throne rather than use this money for the benefit of his people. He placed a higher value on his own opulence than he did on justice and righteousness.
The authors Kelemen et al. (2020) propose that leadership can be noteworthy for its negative impacts, highlighting the significance of avoiding activities that are destructive to the organization. Solomon’s inability to conceptualize is made clear by the fact that he is unable to anticipate the future effects of his wasteful spending. Due to the lack of forethought displayed by this individual, the people were subjected to a significant tax load, and the situation became more problematic for his successor, Rehoboam (Friedman & Friedman, 2019). Being able to conceptualize is an important trait for a servant leader because it helps people see a better future and understand what needs to be done to get there. Solomon failed in this area, which shows how short and broken his rule had been.
Rehoboam and Lack of Empathy
As Solomon’s successor, Rehoboam shows a negative leadership trait by not caring about other people during his time in power. After inheriting a tax system that was hard to deal with from his father, Rehoboam was faced with a big problem when people came to him asking for help with their financial strain problems (Friedman & Friedman, 2019). Instead of showing kindness and understanding, Rehoboam responded with harshness, demanding even more respect from the people who were already having a hard time under the load. Based on Friedman and Friedman (2019), a lack of empathy in leadership caused a revolt, which in turn resulted in the division of the kingdom.
Chevalier et al. (2021) show in their study how important it is for real leaders to stand up to pressure from the outside world and act in a way that is consistent with their beliefs. Rehoboam’s failure to show compassion and care about the well-being of his people had long-lasting effects, which led to the kingdom staying split for a long time. Chevalier et al. (2021) argue that there is a link between a leader’s empathy and the growth of trust and understanding among followers. A split happened because Rehoboam did not care about his people’s problems.
Ahab’s Weakness
King Ahab’s negative leadership trait is centered on his self-centered behavior and his tendency to take advantage of situations. In spite of the fact that he had practically everything he could possibly want, Ahab’s vulnerability was revealed when he pursued Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-16) and when he married the notorious Jezebel. The leadership style of Ahab was characterized by a lack of constraint and a self-centered mentality, which made him open to following anyone, regardless of their moral position (1 Kings 20:43).
Hisham (2019) describes self-centered leadership as a pattern of behavior that is characterized by an individual’s desire to exercise control over the entire organization. This negative leadership trait is exemplified by Ahab’s lack of self-control and his approach that is overly focused on himself. It was Ahab’s opportunistic behavior that ultimately led to his collapse, rather than his adoption of a servant-based leadership paradigm, which places an emphasis on selflessness (Burmansah et al., 2020). One of the factors that contributed to the difficulties that the kingdom had throughout his reign was his failure to stick to a leadership style that was morally just and to consider other options.
Conclusion
The biblical examples of King Solomon, King Rehoboam, and King Ahab’s bad leadership reveal the dangers of poor leadership. Through their inability to conceive, lack of empathy, and self-centered weakness, these former leaders teach us how to be excellent leaders today. Moral behavior, compassionate leadership, and not worrying about oneself are always crucial for healthy administration, according to scholarly sources. When we think about these stories from the Bible, they tell us that leadership has an effect that lasts far beyond a single reign and shapes the fate of entire countries. Studying these historical figures can help present and future leaders aim for righteousness and humanity, because, as Proverbs says, the way leaders act has a big effect on the well-being of the people they lead.
References
Burmansah, B., Rugaiyah, R., Mukhtar, M., Nabilah, S., Jauhari, A., & Fatayan, A. (2020). Mindful leadership: The ability of the leader to develop compassion and attention without judgment – A case study of the leader of Buddhist higher education institute. European Journal of Educational Research, 9(1), 51-65. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.9.1.51
Chevalier, S., Coillot, H., Colombat, P., Bosselut, G., Guilbert, L., & Fouquereau, E. (2021). An explanatory model of authentic leadership, flourishing and work–family balance of nurses in French hospitals. Leadership in Health Services, 34(2), 112-130. https://doi.org/10.1108/lhs-06-2020-0043
Friedman, H., & Friedman, L. (2019). What went wrong? Lessons in leadership from Solomon, the Bible’s wisest and worst ruler. Journal of Values-Based Leadership, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.22543/0733.121.1237
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Kelemen, T. K., Matthews, S. H., & Breevaart, K. (2020). Leading day-to-day: A review of the Daily causes and consequences of leadership behaviors. The Leadership Quarterly, 31(1), 101344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2019.101344
Merida, D. (2015). Christ-centered exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings. B&H Publishing Group.
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