2 Chronicles11
English Standard Version
Tap any underlined word for the original Hebrew or Greek.
1 When to , he the of and , , to against , to the to .
2 But the of the Lord to the of :
3 to the of , of , and to in and ,
4 the Lord, You shall or your . every to his , me. So they to the of the Lord and and did against .
5 in , and he for in .
6 He , , ,
7 , , ,
8 , , ,
9 , , ,
10 , , and , are in and in .
11 He made the , and in them, and of , , and .
12 And he put and in the and them . So he held and .
13 And the and the were in themselves him where they lived.
14 the their and their and to and , because and his cast them serving as of the Lord,
15 and he his own for the and for the and for the he had .
16 And those who had their to the Lord of them the of to to to the Lord, the of their .
17 They the of , and for they the of , they for in the of and .
18 as the of the of , and of the of the of ,
19 and she him , , , and .
20 her he the of , who him , , , and .
21 the of his and (he and , and and ).
22 And the of as among his , he intended to .
23 And he and of his through the of and , in the , and he them and for them.
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2 Chronicles 11Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 11. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Rehoboam forbidden to war against Israel. (1–12). The priests and Levites find refuge in Judah. (13–23).
vv1-12
A few good words might have prevented the rebellion of Rehoboam's subjects; but all the force of his kingdom cannot bring them back. And it is in vain to contend with the purpose of God, when it is made known to us. Even those who are destitute of true faith, will at times pay some regard to the word of God, and be kept by it from wrong actions, to which they are prone by nature.
vv13-23
When the priests and Levites came to Jerusalem, the devout, pious Israelites followed them. Such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, left the inheritance of their fathers, and went to Jerusalem, that they might have free access to the altar of God, and be out of the temptation to worship the calves. That is best for us, which is best for our souls; in all our choices, religious advantages must be sought before all outward conveniences. Where God's faithful priests are, his faithful people should be. And when it has been proved that we are willing to renounce our worldly interests, so far as we are called to do so for the sake of Christ and his gospel, we have good evidence that we are truly his disciples. And it is the interest of a nation to protect religion and religious people.
Key Words
רְחַבְעָם: Rechabam, an Israelite king
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם: Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
קָהַל: to convoke
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
בִּנְיָמִין: Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
בָּחַר: properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Cross References
2 Chronicles 11Parallel account of Rehoboam assembling the army of Judah and Benjamin to fight Jeroboam.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Detailed account of Jeroboam establishing the calf worship and rejecting the Levitical order.
Supported by JFB
Rehoboam violates the law of the firstborn by promoting Abijah, the son of his favorite wife.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Later reference to Jeroboam casting out the priests of Yahweh and ordaining false priests.
Supported by JFB
Mosaic prohibition of sacrificing to goat demons, translated here as devils.
Supported by JFB
Rehoboam's large harem violates the Deuteronomic restriction against kings multiplying wives.
Supported by JFB
The suburbs and possessions the Levites abandoned were those assigned under Moses.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Similar godly migration from the northern tribes to Jerusalem during Asa's reign.
Identifies Abijah's mother as Micaiah (Maachah), daughter of Uriel/Absalom.
Jehoshaphat similarly disperses his sons with gifts and fenced cities to secure the succession.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shemaiah the prophet appears again to deliver a message from God to Rehoboam.
While Rehoboam fortifies cities in Judah, Jeroboam builds Shechem and Penuel in Israel.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Eliab, the son of Jesse, whose daughter Abihail married Rehoboam.
Abraham similarly dispersed his secondary sons eastward to secure Isaac's inheritance.