2 Chronicles11
New American Standard
1Now when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
2But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3“Tell Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4‘This is what the Lord says: “You shall not go up nor fight against your relatives; return, every man, to his house, for this event is from Me.”’” So they listened to the words of the Lord and returned from going against Jeroboam.
5Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah.
6He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11He also strengthened the fortresses and put officers in them and supplies of food, oil, and wine.
12He put shields and spears in every city and strengthened them greatly. So he held Judah and Benjamin.
13Moreover, the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel also stood with him from all their districts.
14For the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the Lord.
15He set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs and the calves which he had made.
16Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord God of Israel followed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers.
17They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam the son of Solomon for three years, for they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.
18Then Rehoboam married Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse,
19and she bore to him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
20After her he married Maacah the daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
21Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and concubines. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah as head and leader among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.
23He acted wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the territories of Judah and Benjamin to all the fortified cities, and he gave them plenty of provisions. And he sought many wives for them.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 11.
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.