And when 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. Ver. 1-4. See on 1 Kings 12:21,24 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah. Ver. 5. _And Rehoboam dwelt, &c._] See 1 Kings 12:18 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine. Ver. 11. _And put captains in them._] Who were his own sons likely, 2Ch 11:23 in whom he might best confide, though our Henry II found it otherwise.... [ Continue Reading ]
And in every several city [he put] shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side. Ver. 12. _And made them exceeding strong._] But sin was at the bottom, and blew them up: their iniquity was their ruin, as Ezekiel 18:30 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And the priests and the Levites that [were] in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. Ver. 13. _And the priests and the Levites._] This was to be like their worthy predecessors. Exo 32:26 _ For Jeroboam and his sons._] Who were as active against the truth as their father. See 1 Kings... [ Continue Reading ]
And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. Ver. 15. _And he ordained him priests._] See 1 Kings 12:31 . _ And for the devils._] Heb., Hairy horrid things, boegy men. See Revelation 9:11; Revelation 9:20. The devil is ειδωλοχαρης, sait... [ Continue Reading ]
And after 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. Ver. 16. _And after them._] See the force of good example; and that there were not a few of these that thus fled, though Jeroboa... [ Continue Reading ]
_So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon._ Ver. 17. _For three years they walked in the ways of David and Solomon,_] viz., Before his fall, and after his repentance: for this pas... [ Continue Reading ]
And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, [and] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse; Ver. 18. _The daughter of Jerimoth the son of David._] By some concubine likely. See 1 Chronicles 3:9 . _ The daughter of Eliab._] All his three wives here mentio... [ Continue Reading ]
And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.) Ver. 21. _He took Maachah, the daughter of Absalom,_] _i.e., _ His niece by his sister, or h... [ Continue Reading ]
And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, [to be] ruler among his brethren: for [he thought] to make him king. Ver. 22. _And Rehoboam loved Maachah._] Not for any good that was in her, _see _ 1Ki 15:13 but either for her beauty, or for her conformity unto him in wicked practices; for l... [ Continue Reading ]
And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives. Ver. 23. _And he dealt wisely,_] _i.e., _ Politicly, as did after him Jehoshaphat, 2Ch 21:3 for he dis... [ Continue Reading ]