2 Chronicles 11

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 11

1¶ 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.

2But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

3Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

4Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

5And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

6He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

8And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

10And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which [are] in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.

11And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

12And in every several city [he put] shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

13¶ And the priests and the Levites that [were] in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.

14For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:

15And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

16And 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.

17So 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.

18And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, [and] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

19Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

20And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

21And 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.)

22And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, [to be] ruler among his brethren: for [he thought] to make him king.

23And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Upon his return to Jerusalem, Rehoboam prepared to wage war against Israel but was divinely commanded through the prophet Shemaiah not to fight, as the kingdom's division was God's will. He then focused on fortifying numerous cities throughout Judah and Benjamin. Priests, Levites, and other devout Israelites migrated to Judah due to Jeroboam's idolatry, strengthening Rehoboam's kingdom for three years. Rehoboam also established a large household and designated Abijah as his intended successor.

Medium Summary

After the kingdom's division, King Rehoboam assembled a large army from Judah and Benjamin, intending to reclaim Israel by force. However, the prophet Shemaiah delivered a direct message from the LORD, forbidding the conflict and stating that the separation was divinely ordained, which Rehoboam and his army obeyed. Consequently, Rehoboam focused his efforts on strengthening his remaining kingdom by building and fortifying fifteen key cities across Judah and Benjamin, equipping them with provisions and military leadership. A significant development was the migration of priests and Levites from all over Israel to Judah and Jerusalem, as Jeroboam had rejected them and established idolatrous worship. This influx of faithful individuals, along with others who sought the LORD, significantly strengthened Rehoboam's kingdom for three years, during which they followed the ways of David and Solomon. The chapter concludes with details of Rehoboam's extensive family, including his eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and his decision to make Abijah, son of Maachah, his chief and intended successor.

Long Summary

Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, King Rehoboam swiftly gathered a substantial army of 180,000 chosen warriors from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with the clear intention of fighting against the newly separated kingdom of Israel to restore his dominion. However, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, delivering a direct divine injunction to Rehoboam and his people: they were not to engage in war against their brethren, as the division of the kingdom was explicitly declared to be God's doing. Obedient to this divine command, Rehoboam's forces dispersed and returned to their homes. Following this, Rehoboam dedicated his energies to consolidating and strengthening his kingdom within Judah. He undertook an extensive building program, fortifying fifteen key cities, including Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Bethzur, Shoco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, equipping them with captains, provisions, and weaponry. A pivotal event was the voluntary migration of priests and Levites from all parts of Israel to Judah and Jerusalem. This exodus occurred because Jeroboam had cast them off from their sacred duties to the LORD, instead ordaining his own priests for high places, devils, and the golden calves he had made. Many other devout Israelites from all tribes, who set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel, also came to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. This significant influx of faithful individuals greatly strengthened the kingdom of Judah and Rehoboam's rule for a period of three years, during which they walked in the righteous ways of David and Solomon. The chapter also provides details of Rehoboam's personal life, noting his numerous marriages, including Mahalath and Maachah, whom he loved above all his wives and concubines. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, fathering twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. Rehoboam strategically made Abijah, the son of Maachah, the chief among his brethren, intending him to be the next king, and wisely dispersed his other children throughout the fortified cities of Judah and Benjamin, providing them with abundant provisions.

Core Concepts

  • Divine InterventionThe LORD directly intervened through the prophet Shemaiah, commanding Rehoboam not to fight against Israel, explicitly stating that the kingdom's division was His doing, which Rehoboam obeyed.
  • Fortification of JudahRehoboam extensively built and strengthened fifteen strategic cities throughout Judah and Benjamin, equipping them with provisions, captains, and weaponry to establish a strong defensive network.
  • Levitical MigrationPriests and Levites, along with other devout Israelites, left Jeroboam's kingdom and relocated to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam had rejected them from their office and established idolatrous worship.
  • Strengthening of Rehoboam's KingdomThe obedience to God's command and the influx of faithful priests, Levites, and other Israelites significantly strengthened Rehoboam's kingdom for three years, during which they adhered to the righteous ways of David and Solomon.
  • Rehoboam's Family and SuccessionRehoboam had a large family with numerous wives and concubines, fathering many children. He strategically designated Abijah, son of Maachah, as his chief and intended successor, while dispersing other sons to fortified cities.