CHAPTER XI _Rehoboam raises an array, purposing to reduce the ten tribes;_ _but is prevented by Shemaiah the prophet_, 1-4. _He builds several cities of defense, and fortifies others_, 5-12. _The priests and Levites being turned out by Jeroboam, come to_ _Rehoboam_, 13, 14. _Jeroboam's gross... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 11:5. _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 1 Kings 12:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 11:11. _STORE OF VICTUAL_] In these places he laid up stores of provisions, not only to enable _them_ to endure a siege; but also that they might be able, from their situation, to supply desolate places.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 11:14. _THE LEVITES LEFT THEIR SUBURBS_] They and the priests were expelled from their offices by Jeroboam, lest they should turn the hearts of the people to the true God, and then they would revolt to Judah, 1 Kings 12:26; and therefore he established a new worship, and made new... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 11:15. _AND HE ORDAINED HIM PRIESTS - FOR THE DEVILS_] שעירים _seirim_, the _hairy ones_; probably _goats_: for as the _golden_ _calves_, or _oxen_, were in imitation of the Egyptian _ox_-god, _Apis_; so they no doubt paid Divine honours to the _goat_, which we know was an object... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 11:16. _SUCH AS SET THEIR HEARTS TO SEEK THE LORD_] All the truly pious joined him out of every tribe, and the whole tribe of Levi, being deprived of their functions, joined him also. Thus he had _Judah, Benjamin_, and _Levi_, and probably a part of _Simeon_; for he had _Etam_, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 11:17. _FOR THREE YEARS THEY WALKED IN THE WAY OF DAVID_] During this time he prospered; but for _fourteen_ years after this he and the people were unfaithful to the Lord, except at such intervals as the hand of God's judgments was upon them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 11:18. _TOOK HIM MAHALATH_] By marrying thus in the family of David, he strengthened his right to the Jewish throne.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 11:20. _MAACHAH THE DAUGHTER OF ABSALOM_] 1 Kings 15:10. She is called _Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel_, 2 Chronicles 13:2. For this the _Targum_ gives the following reason: "Abijah reigned _three_ years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibea... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 11:21. _EIGHTEEN WIVES AND THREESCORE CONCUBINES_] Bad enough, but not so abandoned as his father. Of these marriages and concubinage the issue was _twenty-eight_ sons and _sixty_ daughters; _eighty-eight_ children in the whole, to the education of the whole of whom he could pay b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 11:22. _MADE ABIJAH - THE CHIEF_] Abijah certainly was not the _first-born_ of Rehoboam; but as he loved Maachah more than any of his wives, so he preferred her son, probably through his mother's influence. In Deuteronomy 21:16, this sort of preference is forbidden; but Rehoboam h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 11:23. _HE DEALT WISELY_] It was true policy to disperse his own sons through the different provinces who were not likely to form any league with Jeroboam against their father. _HE DESIRED MANY WIVES._] He was much addicted to women; yet we do not find that he formed any heatheni... [ Continue Reading ]