2 Chronicles 11:23

23 for he was wiser and mightier over all his sons; and in all the coasts of Judah and of Benjamin, and in all the walled cities, he set his sons; and he gave to them full many meats, and he had many wives/and he took to them many wives. (And he treated all his sons wisely, and he placed them in authority, in all the land of Judah and of Benjamin, in all the fortified cities; and he gave them a great deal of food, or provisions, and many wives.)

2 Chronicles 11:23 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 11:23

And he dealt wisely
Acted a prudent part, in order to execute his scheme, and particularly by disposing of his other sons in different parts of his kingdom, as follows: or "he made him his son Abijah to understand" ^F5; he taught and instructed him in the art of government, took a particular care of his education, that he might be fitted for it; and he might instruct him how to behave towards his brethren, for the present and hereafter, as well as towards all the people in general: or "he (Abijah) understood" ^F6; had more understanding and wisdom than all the children of Rehoboam; though it seems best to interpret it of Rehoboam himself, since it follows:

and disposed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah
and Benjamin, unto every fenced city;
to be governors thereof, in whose hands he could better trust them than in any other; or else, by thus separating them, they would not be able to enter into combination against Abijah; but then he must at the same time appoint some persons to watch and observe them; or otherwise, having such, strong places in their possession, they might rebel against him; the Targum is,

``he built and repaired the cities, and appointed of all his children throughout all the countries of the house of Judah, to all the fortified cities;''

that is, to have the command of them:

and he gave them victual in abundance;
that they might have no reason to complain, and might be able to hold out a siege against an enemy, should they be attacked:

and he desired many wives;
either for himself, or rather for his son, since he himself had many; or "Abijah desired, or asked ^F7 many wives" of their parents, or of those who had the dispose of them, in imitation of his father.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (Nbtw) "erudire faciebat", Pagninus, Grotius; "docuit", Vatablus.
F6 "lntellexit", Piscator.
F7 (lavy) "petivit", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; "postulavit", Piscator.

2 Chronicles 11:23 In-Context

21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, above all his wives and his secondary wives. And he had wedded eighteen wives, and he had sixty secondary wives; and he begat eight and twenty sons, and sixty daughters (And he wedded eighteen wives, and he had sixty concubines; and he begat twenty-eight sons, and sixty daughters).

22 And he ordained Abijah, the son of Maachah, the head, (and) duke over all his brethren; for he thought to make Abijah king, (And he ordained Abijah, Maachah's son, to be the head, and the ruler, over all his brothers; for he thought to make Abijah king.)

23 for he was wiser and mightier over all his sons; and in all the coasts of Judah and of Benjamin, and in all the walled cities, he set his sons; and he gave to them full many meats, and he had many wives/and he took to them many wives. (And he treated all his sons wisely, and he placed them in authority, in all the land of Judah and of Benjamin, in all the fortified cities; and he gave them a great deal of food, or provisions, and many wives.)