The Second Book of the Chronicles
2 Chronicles 11
Chapter XI · Vol. II, pp. 856–857
1 Rehoboam raising an army to subdue Israel, is forbidden by the prophet Shemaiah. 5 He strengtheneth his kingdom with forts and provision. 13 The priests and Levites, and such as feared God, forsaken by Jeroboam, strengthen the kingdom of Judah. 18 The wives and children of Rehoboam.
1 And whena Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
B.C. 974.
3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your cbrethren: return every man to his house; for this thing dis done of me.1 And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and ebuilt cities for defence in Judah.2
e Repaired, enlarged, and fortified, ch.14.6.
2 In kingdoms, times of danger produce great exertions for defence; just as in the church of God, times of persecution and controversy produce great devotedness, courage, zeal, study, and learning.—C.
6 He built even fBeth-lehem,3 and gEtam, and hTekoa,
3 There were two cities of this name: (1) Bethlehem-judah (Ju. 17. 7), so called to distinguish it from (2) another in Zebulun (Jos. 19. 15), called also Ephratah, or fruitful. Bethlehem-judah is about six miles south of Jerusalem, and contains about 300 inhabitants.—C.
7 And iBeth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
i Jos.15.35,58. Mi.1.15.
9 And Adoraim, and nLachish, and Azekah,
n Jos.10.5,11; 15.35,39. Is.37.8.
10 And oZorah, and Aijalon, and pHebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.4
A.M. 3030. B.C. 974.
4 These cities were situated along the southern and western borders of Judah. Two of them, Zorah and Aijalon, were in Benjamin. It would seem that the object of Rehoboam was chiefly to fortify his little kingdom against attacks from the south and west—the Edomites, Moabites, and Egyptians. The northern border, being near the capital, and being generally rugged and difficult, was easily defended.—P.
11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put qcaptains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
q ver.23; ch.14.7; 17.19.
12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
14 (For the Levites left rtheir suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for sJeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:
s ch.13.9. Re.13.16. 1 Ki.12.28-33; 13.33
15 And he tordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils,5 and for the calves which he had made.)
t 1 Ki.12.31. Re.17.17. Ho.13.2. Ps.106.37.
5 That is, literally, hairy ones, a name commonly applied to goats, but which well includes all the fabulous deities of heathenism, known by the names of Pan, Silenus, Satyrs, Fauns, &c. Herodotus informs us (ii. 26) that the he-goat was universally worshipped in Egypt, under the name of Mendes; and to some such disgraceful deities the text undoubtedly refers. See note on Le.17.7.—C.
16 And uafter them, 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.
u i.e. Those Levites, ver.14; ch.15.9; 30.11,18. Ps.69.32,36.
17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for xthree years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.6
x ch.12.1,2. Ho.6.4. Mat.13.18-22. Ps.78.34-37.
6 That this book was written after the captivity, yet, comparatively, near to the days of Solomon, and under divine inspiration, there can, with Christians, be no doubt. It is delightful therefore to observe this incidental testimony to the religious character of Solomon, as it classes him with David—a sinner, for such is the way of man—a believer, a penitent, for such is the work of grace.—C.
18 And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of yEliab7 the son of Jesse;
y 1 Sa.16.6,7; 17.13,28. 1 Ch.27.18; 2.13.
7 Eliab was David's eldest brother, 1 Ch. 2. 13; 1 Sa. 17. 28, and David had seven elder brothers, 1 Sa. 17.13,14. By any computation therefore, as David began his reign at thirty (2 Sa. 5. 4), Abihail must have been, in point of fact, his granddaughter, or great grand-daughter, and his daughter only by adoption, or heirship-at-law.—C.
19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
20 And after her he took zMaachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
z 1 Ki.15.2. ch.13.2; not of Absalom, 2 Sa.14.27.
21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took aeighteen wives, and threescore concubines, and begat twenty and eight sons and threescore daughters.)
a De.17.17. 1 Ki.11.1,3.
22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.8
8 The succession lay in the will of the king, and did not descend by order to the eldest son. Rehoboam might therefore make this selection; but, as the case of Adonijah and Absalom gave him warning, he dispersed his other sons, with ample maintenance, to separate commands, so that none of them might have an opportunity of acquiring such popularity in the capital, as might tempt them to rebellion. See 2 Sa. 15.1-13.—C.
Notes
[Ver. 14. Jeroboam established an idolatrous worship in his kingdom. The Levites, it appears, would not conduct his services. They preferred banishment to servitude under such a master. The kingdom of Judah was thus materially strengthened. In addition to the powerful tribes of Judah and Benjamin, it had the Levites, and also the great bulk of Simeon and Dan. In compactness and natural strength of territory, in unity and courage, in devotion to God and purity of worship, the kingdom of Judah far surpassed that of Israel. P.]
Ver. 20. [Maachah was also the name of Absalom's mother, who was daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. The name indicates that the Geshurites and Maachathites were closely related and originally of the same stock. In ch. 13. 2 there is a statement which at first sight seems to be at variance with this verse. Here it is said that Abijah was son of Maachah, daughter of Absalom, and the fact is corroborated by the parallel passage in 1 Ki. 15. 2; but in 2 Ch. it is said of Abijah that 'his mother's name was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.' The solution of the difficulty appears to be this:—Absalom's daughter Maachah was married to Uriel, and their daughter, also called Maachah, became the mother of Abijah. Her father, however, being a comparatively obscure person, his name is omitted in the ordinary history, and she is called the daughter of Absalom, who was her grandfather. P.]
Reflections.—How often is war too rashly undertaken! But it is in vain to withstand the purposes of God. And it is honourable to drop our darling attempts when he requires it. It is more prudent to make the best we can of what we have, and to take all lawful pains to secure it, than to fight for more. When nations are forsaking God, his faithful ministers are often singularly distressed; and yet none are more useful for strengthening a kingdom that deals kindly with them. It is proper 'that those who fear God should leave their country when his ministers and worship are expelled from it. No secular advantage ought to carry or keep us where we must make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. That is really best for us which is best for our souls. And in all our choices religion should take the lead of outward advantages. If for God's sake we forsake our worldly all, we shall one day find ourselves great gainers. Such as suffer for righteousness' sake ought to be received by us with open arms. And never should we cleave more closely to Christ's faithful ministers than when they are persecuted. Seasons of persecution especially distinguish the precious from the vile. Nothing so strengthens a nation as when all ranks concur to walk in the way of the Lord. But, alas! how often do princes weaken their kingdoms by their indulgence of sinful lust and following of long-rooted customs! And happy is it if those who begin foolishly would but end wisely in the right disposal of their children or their property!