2 Chronicles11
New King James Version
1Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled from the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
2But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3“Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall not go up or fight against your brethren! Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.” ’ ” Therefore they obeyed the words of the Lord, and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.
5So Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.
6And he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7Beth Zur, Sochoh, Adullam,
8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and Benjamin, fortified cities.
11And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine.
12Also in every city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13And from all their territories the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with him.
14For the Levites left their common-lands and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests to the Lord.
15Then he appointed for himself priests for the high places, for the demons, and the calf idols which he had made.
16And after the Levites left, those from all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the Lord God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers.
17So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.
18Then Rehoboam took for himself as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliah the son of Jesse.
19And she bore him children: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham.
20After her he took Maachah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
21Now Rehoboam loved Maachah the granddaughter of Absalom more than all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maachah as chief, to be leader among his brothers; for he intended to make him king.
23He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the territories of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city; and he gave them provisions in abundance. He also 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.