BSB

2 Chronicles 11

Compare: BSB WEB KJV ASV

1When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

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

3“Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin

4that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for this is My doing.’” So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam.

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

6He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

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

11He strengthened their fortifications and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine.

12He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

13Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.

14For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD.

15And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

16Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

17So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

18And Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab.

19She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

20After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.

23Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.

Commentary Insights

Study and Reflection

Explore devotional and study commentary connected to this passage.

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.

2 Chronicles 11:1-12 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.

2 Chronicles 11:13-23 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.

Study This Passage

Key Words and Topics

These study connections are drawn from the internal BSB concordance and topical index imported into Daily Bread Intake.

Related Topics

Abihail: The Second Wife of Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 11:18, 19

And Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab. / She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

Abijam: History of 2 Chronicles 11:22

Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.

Absalom: Children of 2 Chronicles 11:20

After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

Attai: Son of Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 11:20

After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

Character: Instability: Israelites 2 Chronicles 11:17

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

Cities: Fortified 2 Chronicles 11:10–12

Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. / He strengthened their fortresses and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine. / He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

Cities: Furnished with Stores 2 Chronicles 11:11, 12

He strengthened their fortresses and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine. / He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

Cities: Often Fortified by Art 2 Chronicles 11:5–10, 23

Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah. / He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, / Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

Concubinage: Laws Concerning: Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 11:21

Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

Decision: Israelites 2 Chronicles 11:16

Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Demons: Worship of 2 Chronicles 11:15

And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

Select a topic to open the full topical search.

Bible Dictionary

Related Dictionary Terms

Explore people, places, themes, and biblical terms connected to this passage.

Shemariah Whom Jehovah guards. (1.) One who joined David at Ziklag… Bethlehem House of bread. (1.) A city in the "hill country"… Sacrifice The offering up of sacrifices is to be regarded as… Jerusalem Called also Salem, Ariel, Jebus, the "city of God," the… Shemaiah Whom Jehovah heard. (1.) A prophet in the reign of… Benjamin Son of my right hand. (1.) The younger son of… Rehoboam He enlarges the people, the successor of Solomon on the… Mahalath A lute; lyre. (1.) The daughter of Ishmael, and third… Mareshah Possession, a city in the plain of Judah (John. 15:44).… Daughter This word, besides its natural and proper sense, is used… Jerimoth Heights. (1.) One of the sons of Bela (1 Chr.… Jeroboam Increase of the people. (1.) The son of Nebat (1… Abihail Father of might. (1.) Num. 3:35. (2.) 1 Chr. 2:29.… Absalom Father of peace; i.e., "peaceful" David's son by Maacah (2… Adullam One of the royal cities of the Canaanites, now Aid-el-ma… Solomon Peaceful, (Heb. Shelomoh), David's second son by Bathsheba, i.e., the… Lachish Impregnable, a royal Canaanitish city in the Shephelah, or maritime… Father A name applied (1) to any ancestor (Deut. 1:11; 1…