Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah. He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin. He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil and wine. He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceedingly strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him out of all their territory. For the Levites left their pasture lands and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to Yahweh. He himself appointed priests for the high places, for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made. After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those who set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.
Rehoboam took a wife for himself, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse. She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. After her, he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers; for he intended to make him king. He dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city. He gave them food in abundance and he sought many wives for them.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv5, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 Or, repaired them and made them strong to be…
Or, repaired them and made them strong to be more able to resist Jeroboam.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv5, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23 2Ch 11:5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built…
2Ch 11:5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
Ver. 5. And Rehoboam dwelt, &c.] See 1Ki 12:18.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv5, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 Built cities, i.e. repaired, and enlarged, and fortified them;…
Built cities, i.e. repaired, and enlarged, and fortified them; as building is oft used in Scripture, as hath been formerly proved; for these cities, or divers of them, were built before, as appears from Jos 10:10; 12:15; 15:21,33,35,58; 19:42.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v13 See here,
See here,
I. How Rehoboam was strengthened by the accession of the priests and Levites, and all the devout and pious Israelites, to him, even all that were true to their God and their religion.
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1. Jeroboam cast them off, that is, he set up such a way of worship as he knew they could not in conscience comply with, which obliged them to withdraw from his altar, and at the same time he would not allow them to go up to Jerusalem to worship at the altar there; so that he totally cast them off from executing the priest's office, Ch2 11:14. And very willing he was that they should turn themselves out of their places, that room might be made for those mean and scandalous persons whom he ordained priests for the high places, Ch2 11:15. Compare Kg1 12:31. No marvel if he that cast off God cast off his ministers; they were not for his purpose, would not do whatever he might bid them do, would not serve his gods, nor worship the golden image which he had set up.
2. They thereupon left their suburbs and possessions, Ch2 11:14. Out of the lot of each tribe the Levites had cities allowed them, where they were comfortable provided for and had opportunity of doing much good. But now they were driven out of all their cities except those in Judah and Benjamin. One would think their maintenance well settled, and yet they lost it. It was a comfort to them that the law so often reminded them that the Lord was their inheritance, and so they should find him when they were turned out of their house and possessions. But why did they leave their possessions? (1.) Because they saw they could do no good among their neighbours, in whom (now that Jeroboam set up his calves) the old proneness to idolatry revived. (2.) Because they themselves would be in continual temptation to some base compliances, and in danger of being drawn insensibly to that which was evil. If we pray, in sincerity, not to be led into temptation, we shall get and keep as far as we can out of the way of it. (3.) Because, if they retained their integrity, they had reason to expect persecution from Jeroboam and his sons. The priests they made for the devils would not let the Lord's priests be long among them. No secular advantages whatsoever should draw us thither, or detain us there, where we are in danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.
3. They came to Judah and Jerusalem (Ch2 11:14) and presented themselves to Rehoboam, Ch2 11:13, margin. Where should God's priests and Levites be, but where his altar was? Thither they came because it was their business to attend at the times appointed. (1.) It was a mercy to them that they had a place of refuge to flee to, and that when Jeroboam cast them off there were those so near that would entertain them, and bid them welcome, and they were not forced into the lands of the heathen. (2.) It was an evidence that they loved their work better than their maintenance, in that they left their suburbs and possessions in the country (where they might have lived at ease upon their own), because they were restrained from serving God there, and cast themselves upon God's providence and the charity of their brethren in coming to a place where they might have the free enjoyment of God's ordinances, according to his institution. Poverty in the way of duty is to be chosen rather than plenty in the way of sin. Better live upon alms, or die in a prison, with a good conscience, than roll in wealth and pleasure with a prostituted one. (3.) It was the wisdom and praise of Rehoboam and his people that they bade them welcome, though they crowded themselves perhaps to make room for them. Conscientious refugees will bring a blessing along with them to the countries that entertain them, as they leave a curse behind them with those that expel them. Open the gates, that the righteous nation, which keepeth truth, may enter in; it will be good policy. See Isa 26:1, Isa 26:2.
4. When the priests and Levites came to Jerusalem all the devout pious Israelites of every tribe followed them. Such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, that made conscience of their duty to God and were sincere and resolute in it, left the inheritance of their fathers and went and took houses in Jerusalem, that they might have free access to the altar of God and be out of the temptation to worship the calves, Ch2 11:16. Note, (1.) That is best for us which is best for our souls; and, in all our choices, advantages for religion must take place of all outward conveniences. (2.) Where God's faithful priests are his faithful people should be. If Jeroboam cast off God's ministers, every true-born Israelite will think himself obliged to own them and stand by them. Forsake not the Levite, the out-cast Levite, as long as thou livest. When the ark removes do you remove and go after it, Jos 3:3.
5. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah (Ch2 11:17), not only by the addition of so many persons to it, who, it is likely, brought what they could of their effects with them, but by their piety and their prayers they procured a blessing upon the kingdom which was a sanctuary to them. See Zac 12:5. It is the interest of a nation to protect and encourage religion and religious people, and adds more than any thing to its strength. They made him and his people strong three years; for so long they walked in the way of David and Solomon, their good way. But when they forsook that, and so threw themselves out of God's favour and protection, the best friends they had could no longer help to strengthen them. We retain our strength while we cleave to God and our duty, and no longer.
II. How Rehoboam was weakened by indulging himself in his pleasures. He desired many wives, as his father did (Ch2 11:23), yet, 1. In this he was more wise than his father, that he does not appear to have married strange wives. The wives mentioned here were not only daughters of Israel, but of the family of David; one was a descendant from Eliab, David's brother (Ch2 11:18), another from Absalom, probably that Absalom who was David's son (Ch2 11:20), another from Jerimoth, David's son. 2. In this he was more happy than his father, that he had many sons and daughters; whereas we read not of more than one son that his father had. One can scarcely imagine that he had no more; but, if he had, they were not worth mentioning; whereas several of Rehoboam's sons are here named (Ch2 11:19, Ch2 11:20) as men of note, and such active men that he thought it his wisdom to disperse them throughout the countries of Judah and Benjamin (Ch2 11:23), either, (1.) That they might not be rivals with his son Abijah, whom he designed for his successor, or rather, (2.) Because he could repose a confidence in them for the preserving of the public peace and safety, could trust them with fenced cities, which he took care to have well victualled, that they might stand him in stead in case of an invasion. After-wisdom is better than none at all; nay, they say, "Wit is never good till it is bought;" though he was dearly bought with the loss of a kingdom.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv5–21 He built even Bethlehem,.... The place of our Lord's…
He built even Bethlehem,.... The place of our Lord's birth, about six miles from Jerusalem:
and Etam; another city in the tribe of Judah; see Ch1 4:32, there was a rock of this name, Jdg 15:8 and a fountain from whence waters were conveyed into the pool at Jerusalem, spoken of in Jewish writings (b):
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and Tekoah; of which place Amos the prophet was, and which was about twelve miles from Jerusalem. Rauwolff (c) speaks of it as a fortified place now; he says it has a strong and mighty castle, built on a great and high hill.
(b) Cippi Heb. p. 10. (c) Travels, par. 3. c. 22. p. 321. Ed. Ray.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 Built - Repaired, enlarged, and fortified them. They were…
Built - Repaired, enlarged, and fortified them. They were built before.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv5, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23 Verse 5. And built cities for defense in Judah.]…
Verse 5. And built cities for defense in Judah.] He was obliged to strengthen his frontiers against the encroachments of the men of Israel; and Jeroboam did the same thing on his part to prevent the inroads of Judah. See 1Kg 12:25.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv5, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 2Ch 11:5. Rehoboam built cities for defence in Judah…
2Ch 11:5. Rehoboam built cities for defence in Judah — That is, repaired, enlarged, and fortified them: for these cities, or divers of them, were built before, as appears from Jos 10:10; Jos 12:15; Jos 15:24; Jos 15:33-58; Jos 19:42.
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Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 8, 9, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23 Rehoboam was between two dangers: on the north he…
Rehoboam was between two dangers: on the north he might be attacked by Jeroboam, on the south by Jeroboam’s ally, Egypt. From this side was the greater peril, and therefore out of the 15 cities fortified, all but three were on the southern or western frontier, where Egypt would be most likely to attack.
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Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23 Juda. This was now become a frontier country, and…
Juda. This was now become a frontier country, and both kings were forced to erect fortifications, 3 Kings xii. 25.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv5, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23 built cities for defence in Judah--This is evidently used…
built cities for defence in Judah--This is evidently used as the name of the southern kingdom. Rehoboam, having now a bitter enemy in Israel, deemed it prudent to lose no time in fortifying several cities that lay along the frontier of his kingdom. Jeroboam, on his side, took a similar precaution (Kg1 12:25). Of the fifteen cities named, Aijalon, now Yalo, and Zorah, now Surah, between Jerusalem and Jabneh [ROBINSON], lay within the province of Benjamin. Gath, though a Philistine city, had been subject to Solomon. And Etham, which was on the border of Simeon, now incorporated with the kingdom of Israel, was fortified to repel danger from that quarter. These fortresses Rehoboam placed under able commanders and stocked them with provisions and military stores, sufficient, if necessary, to stand a siege. In the crippled state of his kingdom, he seems to have been afraid lest it might be made the prey of some powerful neighbors.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23 6. Beth-lehem — The city of David and of…
6. Beth-lehem — The city of David and of Christ. See on Rth_1:1; Mat_2:1.
Etam — Identified by Dr. Robinson with the ruined village Urtas, about a mile south of Beth-lehem. Here he found “traces of an ancient site — the foundations of a square tower, a low thick wall of large squared stones, rocks hewn and scarped, and the like.” Tobler, however, identifies Etam with Ain Attan, a little-south-west of Urtas. Comp. note on Jdg_15:8.
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Tekoa — Twelve miles south of Jerusalem. See on 2Sa_14:2. All three of these places are mentioned in the Septuagint version of Jos_15:59, but are wanting in the Hebrew text.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23 5. built cities for defence] This does not mean…
5. built cities for defence] This does not mean that all these cities were then built for the first time; certainly Beth-lehem, Tekoa, and Hebron were ancient places. Rebuilding, strengthening, and fortifying are included in the meaning of the Hebrew verb bânâh = build. The cities mentioned were situated some in the Hill Country of Judah, some in the Shephelah.
5–23. The Prosperity of Rehoboam
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This section has no corresponding section in 1 Kin. On the other hand the Chronicler omits three important sections of 1Ki_12:25-33 (the setting up of the golden calves), 2Ch_13:1-22 (the episode of the prophet who cried against the altar in Beth-el) and 2Ch_14:1-15 (the death of the son of Jeroboam).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–23 (b) REHOBOAM STRENGTHENS THE DEFENCES OF HIS KINGDOM (2Ch_11:5-12).
(b) REHOBOAM STRENGTHENS THE DEFENCES OF HIS KINGDOM (2Ch_11:5-12).
This section is peculiar to the chronicler.
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(5) Dwelt in Jerusalem.—As the capital.
Cities for defence.—(‘Arîm l’mâçôr = ‘arê mâçôr; 2Ch_8:5), “embattled cities; “LXX., πόλεις τειχήρεις.
In Judah.—Not the territory of the tribe, but the kingdom is intended, for some of the fortresses were in Benjamin (2Ch_11:10).
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 Vers. 5-12. These eight verses tell how Rehoboam, relieved…
Vers. 5-12. These eight verses tell how Rehoboam, relieved of the responsibility of attempting to reconquer the revolted, wisely betakes himself to strengthening and defending what was left to him. He builds fifteen "fenced cities," or "cities for defence," twelve of them south and west of Jerusalem, for lear of Egypt; he fortifies certain strongholds, officering them, provisioning them, and supplying to them and "every several city" the necessary weapons of warfare and shields.
Vers. 5-17.
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The strengthening of a kingdom.
I THE ERECTION OF FORTRESSES. (Vers. 5-12.)
1. Their object. To defend the frontiers of the kingdom, against both Israel on the north and Egypt on the south, for which last special need existed, considering the friendly relations which had subsisted between Jeroboam and Shishak. Shishak"s invasion, which soon followed, showed Rehoboam"s apprehensions not to have been baseless. Though wars are seldom justifiable, it is never wrong or unwise on the part of a prudent monarch to consult for the protection of his country and people.
2. Their names.
(1) In the land of Judah.
(a) On the southern frontier: Bethlehem, mentioned in Jacob"s time, (Gen_35:19) two hours south of Jerusalem, the birthplace of David and of Christ (1Sa_16:1; Mic_5:1; Mat_2:5, Mat_2:11) now Beit-Lahm. Etam, a town probably between Bethlehem and Tekoa, the present village Urtas, south of Bethlehem, near which is the spring called Ain Atan. Tekoa, now Tekua, "on the summit of a hill covered with ancient ruins, two hours south of Bethlehem" (Keil). Beth-zur, (Jos_15:58) a town on the watershed, identified with the modern Beth-sur, a ruin midway between Urtas and Hebron.
(b) On the western boundary towards the Philistines: Soco, (Jos_15:35) the present Shuweike in Wady Sumt, three hours and a half southwest from Jerusalem. Adullam, (Jos_15:35) a very old Canaanitish town, that lay in the so-called Shephelah, or lowland, of Judah, probably to be identified with the present Deir Dubban, two hours north of Eleutheropolis. Gath one of the five chief towns of the Philistines, (Jos_13:3) first subjected to the Israelites by David, (1Ch_18:1) and under Solomon ruled by its own king, who paid tribute to the Israelitish throne; (1Ki_2:39) according to the "Onomasticon," situated five Roman miles from Eleutheropolis, on the road to Dios-polis; otherwise not yet identified, though Conder looks for it in the direction of Tell-es-Safi. Mareshah, (Jos_15:44) near to which Asa defeated the Ethiopian king Zemh, (2Ch_14:9) according to Eusebius, lay two Roman miles from, and in all probability is to be sought for in, the ruin Merash, twenty-four minutes south of Beit Jibrin (Eleu-theropolis). Adoram, shortened into Dora (Josephus, "Ant.," 14:5. 3), is the present-day Dura, a village seven miles and a half west of Hebron, surrounded by olive-groves and corn-fields (Robinson). Lachish, in the lowland of Judah, (Jos_15:39) is probably the present ruin Lakis, three miles west-south-west from Beit Jibrin, situated "on a circular height covered with ancient walls and marble fragments, and overgrown with thistles and bushes" (Robinson, Ritter, Keil; Pressel in Herzog, 8:157; Reihm, 1:876), though Conder prefers to find it in Tell-el-hesy, near Egion.
Azekah, (Jos_15:35) east of Ephes-dammim, (1Sa_17:1) has not been discovered.
(c) On the border of the Edomites: Hebron, originally Kirjath-arba, i.e. the city of Arba, "a great man among the Anakims", (Jos_14:15 Jos_15:13 Jos_21:11) afterwards a settlement of the patriarchs, (Gen_23:2 Gen_35:27) now called El-Khalil, "the friend of God," in the hill country of Judah, seven hours from Jerusalem, one of the oldest towns of which we possess knowledge, having been "built seven years before Zoan in Egypt". (Num_13:22) Ziph, probably in the hill country of Judah, (Jos_15:55) to be looked for in the present ruin Tall Ziph, an hour and a quarter south-east of Hebron.
(2) In the land of Benjamin, as a protection against the north. Zorah, (Jos_15:33) not Samson"s birthplace, (Jud_1:13:2) represented by the ruin Sura, ten Roman miles from Eleutheropolis, on the road to Nicopolis, but a place lying on a high peak of the northern slope of the Wadi-Serar. Aijalon, the present village of Jalo, on the verge of the plain Merj-ibn-Omeir, four leagues west of Gibeon. These last-named towns belonged originally to Dan, but after the disruption of the kingdom they appear to have fallen to the tribe of Benjamin.
3. The equipment of these strongholds. Captains were appointed, provisions laid up, and shields and spears stored up in every city (ver. 11).
II THE REFORMATION OF RELIGION. (Vers. 13-17.)
1. The priests and Levites out of all Israel returned to the temple. The occasion of this falling away from Jeroboam was that he and his sons had practically renounced the religion of Jehovah, had set up "high places" of his own in Dan and Bethel, where Jehovah was worshipped in the form of two ox-images, or golden calves, in imitation, most likely, of the images of Apis and Mnevis in Egypt, or of the "calf" made by Aaron in the wilderness, the notion of which doubtless was also borrowed from Egypt. (1Ki_12:28) These calves and other images of animals the Chronicler calls sheerim (Hebrew), "devils" (Authorized Version), "hegoats" or "satyrs" (Revised Version), after which the Israelites had gone a-whoring in Egypt, (Jos_24:14) and even in the wilderness (Lev_17:7; Amo_5:25, Amo_5:26) "In later times they appear to have connected with it this worship notions of goblins, in the form of goats, who haunted the wilderness and laid in wait for women" (Gerlach). Jeroboam, then, having set up this rival form of worship, had no further use for the regularly ordained priests and Levites, unless they would conform to the new cultus; and because they would not, he cast them out from their offices and would no more allow them "to sacrifice unto the Lord." It says a good deal for their conscientiousness and courage that, rather than renounce what they believed to be the true religion, or worship God otherwise than according to their consciences, they cheerfully abandoned "their suburbs and possession in modern phraseology, their residences and emoluments; Scottice, their manses and glebes. They were the first nonconformists in the northern kingdom.
2. The pious worshippers of Jehovah out o/ all Israel returned to Jerusalem. These are described:
(1) By their characters. "Such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel." The essence of all religion is "to seek the Lord God of Israel," in whose favour is life, and whose "loving-kindness is better than life", (Psa_30:5 Psa_63:3) the knowledge of whom is also life eternal. (Joh_17:2) Nor can God be sought unless with the heart as distinguished from the mind, and with the whole as contrasted with a divided heart (2Ch_15:12; Psa_119:2, Psa_119:10; Jer_29:13) And even this is impossible without determination, energy, and perseverance on the part of him who desires to be religious (Psa_9:1; 2Ki_10:31; Act_11:3)
(2) By their worship. They "came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers." True religion cannot subsist alongside of false worship. A serious mistake it is to suppose that any form of expression will suffice as an outlet for pious feeling. God must be approached and served in the way and through the forms he has himself prescribed.
3. Rehoboam and his princes returned to the service of Jehovah.
(1) Their reformation was probably sincere so far as it went. But
(2) it did not go far enough. They did not abandon entirely the idol-worship of Solomon, but conjoined with it the service of Jehovah. And
(3) it was of short duration, lasting only three years (ver. 17), i.e. so long as the fright of invasion was on them, but disappearing when all fear on that score was at an end. (2Ch_12:1)
Learn:
1. The worthlessness to a kingdom of fortresses without religion.
2. The worthlessness to a person of religion without sincerity andtruth.
3. The worthlessness to a state of a king without a God.
4. The worthlessness to either state or individual of goodness thatis not permanent. W.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v17 For three years they walked in the way of…
2Ch_11:17
For three years they walked in the way of David.
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Experimental goodness
Three years of experimental goodness ought to be three years of personal consolidation. To get three years ahead of the enemy ought to be a great advantage. The doctors say that it takes three years to get drink really out of a man's system and no man is safe until he has quite passed the line of three years. These critical times in life are the making of life, when they are really seized aright as to their spirit and highest significance. (J. Parks, D. D.)
.
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C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v15 Lit. "hairy ones," i.e. satyrs, Isa 13:21.
devils
Lit. "hairy ones," i.e. satyrs, Isa 13:21.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v13 Rehoboam’s Worship, Idolatry, and Family
Rehoboam’s Worship, Idolatry, and Family
v. 13. And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts, thus giving Rehoboam a great increase of moral power, for they placed themselves at his disposal.
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v. 14. For the Levites left their suburbs, the commons or pasture-grounds assigned to them, and their possession, namely, those in the cities set apart for them in the various northern tribes, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto the Lord, since he, for reasons of policy, wanted to keep the members of the northern tribes from journeying to Jerusalem, especially for the three great festivals, 1Ki 12:26-30;
v. 15. and he, Jeroboam, ordained him priests for the high places, such as were not of the tribe of Levi, 1Ki 12:31, and for the devils, a term sometimes used for idols in general, Lev 17:7, and for the calves which he had made, 1Ki 12:28, the abominable idols of Bethel and Dan which caused Israel to sin.
v. 16. And after them, namely, the priests and Levites who remained faithful to the true God, out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers; being forbidden to do so in their own country, in the midst of their native tribe, they emigrated and settled in Jerusalem, where the true worship was still practiced until Rehoboam. too, forsook the Lord, 2Ch 12:1.
v. 17. So they, coming in considerable numbers, strengthened the kingdom of Judah, both numerically and morally, and made Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, strong three years; for three years they, all the people of the southern nation, including the newcomers, walked in the way of David and Solomon. Afterwards, when foreign and idolatrous customs were encouraged by Rehoboam, the accession of pious Israelites from the neighboring kingdom ceased.
v. 18. And Rehoboam took him Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, the son of David, to wife, apparently the daughter of a concubine’s son, and Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, the son of Jesse, his cousin;
v. 19. which bare him children: Jeush and Shamariah and Zaham.
v. 20. And after her he took Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, in the wider sense, for she was Absalom’s granddaughter, by his daughter Tamar, 2Sa 14:27; which bare him Abijah and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
v. 21. And Rehoboam loved Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, above all his wives and his concubines (for he took eighteen wives and threescore concubines, having a full harem according to Oriental custom, and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters).
v. 22. And Rehoboam made Abijah, the son of Maachah, his most beloved wife, the chief, to be ruler among his brethren, he designated him as his successor; for he thought to make him king.
v. 23. And he dealt wisely, with prudent foresight, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city, making them officers of fortresses, laying responsibility upon them and keeping them out of mischief, into which they might have fallen If they had been idle in Jerusalem; and he gave them victual in abundance, thus providing for them also in this respect and obviating dissatisfaction. And he desired many wives, namely, for his sons, he arranged marriages for them with the daughters of the land, thus making them contented and establishing firmer connections between his house and the people of the country. In a way, at least, Rehoboam hereby redeemed the mistake made at the beginning of his reign.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv5, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 22 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities
It might be best to translate so that the reader understands that other people helped Rehoboam build these cities. AT: "Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and had his workers build cities" (See: Metonymy)
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Etam, Tekoa ... Zorah, Aijalon
All of the names in this list refer to cities. (See: How to Translate Names)
translationWords
Bethlehem
Hebron
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv5, 9, 13, 15, 18, 23 11:5-23 The Lord’s blessing on Rehoboam is demonstrated in…
11:5-23 The Lord’s blessing on Rehoboam is demonstrated in his building activities, the defection of the faithful priests from the north to the south, the migration of the faithful in the north to Jerusalem, and his large family.
11:5-12 Rehoboam . . . fortified various towns to defend Judah from east, south, and west, protecting the valleys leading into the Judean hill country and the important crossroads. Rehoboam’s first task was to strengthen a minimal but defensible position. The defensive lines made strategic sense against an Egyptian attack, and likely began before the invasion of Pharaoh Shishak (926/925 BC).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.