2 Chronicleschapter 11

A.Do not fight your brethren, for this thing is from Mevv. 1-4

1 When 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. 2 But 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 4 that 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 word is from Me.’” So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam.

B.Fifteen cities fortified in Judah and Benjaminvv. 5-12

5 Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah. 6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. 11 He strengthened their fortresses and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine. 12 He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

C.Priests and Levites leave the north for Jerusalemvv. 13-17

13 Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam. 14 For 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. 15 And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made. 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. 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.

D.Rehoboam's wives, his sons, and a shrewd scatteringvv. 18-23

18 And Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab. 19 She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. 20 After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 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. 22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king. 23 Rehoboam 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.

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Chapter summary

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Rehoboam musters a hundred and eighty thousand men to win the north back by force, and the word of God comes through Shemaiah: 'Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren… for this thing is of me.' They obey and go home: a rare act of restraint. He fortifies fifteen cities with victuals and shields. Then a migration the Chronicler cares about: the priests and Levites throughout all Israel resort to him, because Jeroboam cast them off and made his own priests for the high places and the calves, and with them come those who set their hearts to seek Jehovah. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah three years, walking in the way of David and Solomon.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Ezra — 2 Chronicles overview

A. 1–4 Do not fight your brethren, for this thing is from Me
B. 5–12 Fifteen cities fortified in Judah and Benjamin
C. 13–17 Priests and Levites leave the north for Jerusalem
D. 18–23 Rehoboam's wives, his sons, and a shrewd scattering

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

2 Chronicles 124 verses
- 2 Chronicles 12:1After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israel with him forsook the Law of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 12:5Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have forsaken Me; therefore, I have forsaken you into the hand of Shishak.’”
- 2 Chronicles 12:15Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer concerning the genealogies? There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their days.
- 2 Chronicles 12:16And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Abijah reigned in his place.
- Read 2 Chronicles 12 →
1 Kings 123 verses
- 1 Kings 12:21And when Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against the house of Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.
- 1 Kings 12:28After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
- 1 Kings 12:31Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites.
- Read 1 Kings 12 →
2 Chronicles 112 verses
- 2 Chronicles 11:21Rehoboam 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.
- 2 Chronicles 11:23Rehoboam 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.
- Read 2 Chronicles 11 →
Joshua 152 verses
- Joshua 15:35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
- Joshua 15:39Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
- Read Joshua 15 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

1 Kings 112 verses
- 1 Kings 11:3He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away.
- 1 Kings 11:29During that time, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam on the road as he was going out of Jerusalem. Now Ahijah had wrapped himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open field.
- Read 1 Kings 11 →
2 Chronicles 102 verses
- 2 Chronicles 10:8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.
- 2 Chronicles 10:15So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from God, in order that the LORD might fulfill the word that He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
- Read 2 Chronicles 10 →
2 Samuel 132 verses
- 2 Samuel 13:19And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her robe. And putting her hand on her head, she went away crying bitterly.
- 2 Samuel 13:22And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar.
- Read 2 Samuel 13 →
2 Chronicles 132 verses
- 2 Chronicles 13:2and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Micaiah daughter of Uriel; she was from Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
- 2 Chronicles 13:9But did you not drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites? And did you not make priests for yourselves as do the peoples of other lands? Now whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of things that are not gods.
- Read 2 Chronicles 13 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.