2 Chronicles 11

Rehoboam Secures His Kingdom

1 ¹When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

2 But the word of the LORD came to ²Shemaiah the man of God:

3 "Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,

4 'Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against ³your relatives. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from me.'" So they listened to the word of the LORD and returned and did not go against Jeroboam.

5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built ⁴cities for defense in Judah.

6 He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

8 Gath, ⁵Mareshah, Ziph,

9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, fortified cities that are in Judah and in Benjamin.

11 He made the fortresses strong, and put commanders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine.

12 And he put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin.

Priests and Levites Come to Jerusalem

13 And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel presented themselves to him from all places where they lived.

14 For the Levites left ⁶their common lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, ⁷because Jeroboam and his sons cast them out from serving as priests of the LORD,

15 and he appointed his own ⁸priests for the high places and for the goat idols and for ⁹the calves that he had made.

16 ¹⁰And those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

17 ¹¹They strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam the son of Solomon secure, for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

Rehoboam's Family

18 Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of ¹²Eliab the son of Jesse,

19 and she bore him sons, Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

20 After her he took ¹³Maacah the daughter of Absalom, who bore him ¹⁴Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters).

22 ¹⁵And Rehoboam appointed ¹⁶Abijah the son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.

23 And he dealt wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the districts of Judah and Benjamin, in all the fortified cities, and he gave them abundant provisions and procured wives for them.^[a]

2 Chronicles 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

Rehoboam forbidden to war against Israel. (1-12) The priests and Levites find refuge in Judah. (13-23)

Verses 1-12 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.

Verses 13-23 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.

Cross References

• 1. For ver. 1-4, see 1 Kings 12:21-24
• 2. 2 Chronicles 12:5, 15
• 3. 2 Chronicles 28:8, 11
• 4. ver. 23; 2 Chronicles 8:5; 2 Chronicles 12:4; 2 Chronicles 14:6; 2 Chronicles 17:2, 19; 2 Chronicles 21:3
• 5. 2 Chronicles 14:9
• 6. Numbers 35:2
• 7. 2 Chronicles 13:9
• 8. 1 Kings 12:31; 1 Kings 13:33
• 9. See 1 Kings 12:28
• 10. 2 Chronicles 15:9
• 11. [2 Chronicles 12:1]
• 12. 1 Samuel 16:6; 1 Samuel 17:13, 28; [1 Chronicles 27:18]
• 13. 1 Kings 15:2
• 14. [1 Kings 14:31]
• 15. [Deuteronomy 21:15-17]
• 16. [See ver. 20 above]

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew and sought a multitude of wives

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 11

In this chapter are related the preparations Rehoboam made to regain the ten tribes that revolted from him, but was forbid making the attempt by a prophet of the Lord, which he paid a regard unto, 2Ch 11:1-4, the fortification of several cities in Judah and Benjamin for his defence, 2Ch 11:5-12, the resort of several priests and Levites to him from Jeroboam, which served to strengthen his kingdom, 2Ch 11:13-17, and an account of his wives, and of his children, and of his disposal of them, 2Ch 11:18-23.

been at Shechem, and had given his answer to the request of the men of Israel, upon which they revolted from him: this and the three following verses are the same with 1Ki 12:21-24. \\See Gill on "1Ki 12:21"\\. 19374-950111-2023-2Ch11.2