INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 11 In this chapter are related the preparations Rehoboam made to regain the ten tribes that revolted from him, but was forbid making the attempt by a prophet of the Lord, which he paid a regard unto, 2 Chronicles 11:1, the fortification of several cities in Judah and Be... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 1-4. AND WHEN REHOBOAM WAS COME TO JERUSALEM,.... After he had been at Shechem, and had given his answer to the request of the men of Israel, upon which they revolted from him: this and the three following verses are the same with 1 Kings 12:21. 1 Kings 12:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Kings 12:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Kings 12:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Kings 12:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND REHOBOAM DWELT IN JERUSALEM,.... The metropolis of Judah, and the capital city of his kingdom: AND BUILT CITIES FOR DEFENCE IN JUDAH; that is, rebuilt, enlarged, and fortified them; for otherwise they were built before, though neglected before the revolt of the ten tribes; but now it became nec... [ Continue Reading ]
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 1 Chronicles 4:32, there was a rock of this name, Judges 15:8 and a fountain from whence waters were conveyed into the pool at Jerusalem, spoken of in Jewish... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BETHZUR, AND SHOCHO, AND ADULLAM. All in the tribe of Judah, of which see Joshua 15:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GATH,.... Which cannot be that Gath which was one of the principalities of the Philistines, but a city in the tribe of Judah; though of it we nowhere else read; unless this is the same with Moreshethgath, Micah 1:14, which is probable, since it follows: AND MARESHAH; the birth place of Micah th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ADORAIM,.... Called by Josephus d Adora, which he mentions along with Mareshah, or Marissa: AND LACHISH: a royal city in the time of the Canaanites, and which fell to the lot of Judah, Joshua 12:11, AND AZEKAH; a city situated in the plain of Judah, Joshua 10:10. d Antiqu. l. 13. c. 9. sect.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ZORAH,.... The same with Zoreah, Joshua 15:33, AND AIJALON; there was a city of the tribe of Dan of this name, in the valley of which the moon stood still in the times of Joshua, Joshua 10:12, but whether the same with this, and now belonging to Judah, or another of the same name, is not certai... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE FORTIFIED THE STRONG HOLDS,.... Of these and other cities: AND PUT CAPTAINS IN THEM; garrisons of soldiers, with captains over them to defend them: AND STORE OF VICTUAL, AND OF OIL AND WINE; that they might be able to hold out a siege, should they be attacked.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN EVERY SEVERAL CITY HE PUT SHIELDS AND SPEARS,.... Furnished them with these and perhaps other pieces of armour, these being put for all, to defend themselves with against an enemy, and to annoy them: AND MADE THEM EXCEEDING STRONG; so that they could not be easily taken: HAVING JUDAH AND BE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES, THAT WERE IN ALL ISRAEL,.... In the ten tribes, in the cities assigned to them therein: RESORTED TO HIM OUT OF ALL THEIR COASTS; as to their rightful sovereign, and chiefly for the sake of the service of the sanctuary at Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LEVITES LEFT THEIR SUBURBS AND THEIR POSSESSION,.... The cities and the fields adjacent to them, which were given them in the several tribes, and were in all forty eight; see Joshua 21:1 and came to Judah and Jerusalem; to the cities of Judah, which belonged to the Levites; and to Jerusalem,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE ORDAINED HIM PRIESTS FOR THE HIGH PLACES,.... Of such who were not of the tribe of Levi, and family of Aaron; see 1 Kings 12:31 AND FOR THE DEVILS; demons in the shape of goats, as this word signifies, in which form many of the Heathen deities were worshipped; idols of whatsoever kind are so... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THEM OUT OF ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL,.... Besides the priests and Levites, and after their example, many of the common people, out of all the ten tribes: SUCH AS SET THEIR HEARTS TO SEEK THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL; to seek his face and favour, where he was to be found; to worship him accordin... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY STRENGTHENED THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH,.... Made it more numerous, and in a better condition to defend itself: AND MADE REHOBOAM SON OF SOLOMON STRONG THREE YEARS; established him on the throne, strengthened the government in his hands, and were the means of preserving him in the pure worship of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND REHOBOAM TOOK HIM MAHALATH, THE DAUGHTER OF JERIMOTH, THE SON OF DAVID, TO WIFE,.... Of which son of David we nowhere else read; perhaps he might be the son of one of his concubines, or he might have two names: AND ABIHAIL THE DAUGHTER OF ELIAB THE SON OF JESSE; who was David's eldest brother.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH BARE HIM CHILDREN,.... Or, "and she bore him" d; for it is said only of one of them, the other perhaps died without children; this may refer to the last mentioned, Abihail, whose children were JEUSH, AND SHAMARIAH, AND ZAHAM; who perhaps all died in their father's lifetime, since the firstbor... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER HE TOOK MAACAH THE DAUGHTER OF ABSALOM,.... Thought by some to be Absalom the son of David, his father's brother, and his uncle, and so married his cousin; but Absalom seems to have had but one daughter, whose name was Tamar, 2 Samuel 14:27, and the name of this man is different from his;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND REHOBOAM LOVED MAACAH THE DAUGHTER OF ABSALOM ABOVE ALL HIS WIVES AND HIS CONCUBINES, c] Who is called Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel, 2 Chronicles 13:2, FOR HE TOOK EIGHTEEN WIVES AND SIXTY CONCUBINES led thereunto by the example of his father Solomon, contrary to the command of God, Deuteron... [ Continue Reading ]
AND REHOBOAM MADE ABIJAH THE SON OF MAACAH THE CHIEF,.... The chief of all his sons, head over them, being the son of his most beloved wife, and her firstborn however, and perhaps might be of a greater capacity than the rest of his children: TO BE RULER AMONG HIS BRETHREN; or over them; gave him gr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE DEALT WISELY,.... Acted a prudent part, in order to execute his scheme, and particularly by disposing of his other sons in different parts of his kingdom, as follows: or "he made him his son Abijah to understand" e; he taught and instructed him in the art of government, took a particular care... [ Continue Reading ]