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2 Chronicles 11:1-23 King James Version (KJV)

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.

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

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

4 Thus 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.

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

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

7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

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

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

12 And 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.

14 For 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:

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

16 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.

17 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.

18 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;

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

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

21 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.)

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

23 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.


2 Chronicles 11:1-23 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And when Rehoboam H7346 was come H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 he gathered H6950 of the house H1004 of Judah H3063 and Benjamin H1144 an hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 chosen H977 men, which were warriors, H6213 H4421 to fight H3898 against Israel, H3478 that he might bring H7725 the kingdom H4467 again H7725 to Rehoboam. H7346

2 But the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came to Shemaiah H8098 the man H376 of God, H430 saying, H559

3 Speak H559 unto Rehoboam H7346 the son H1121 of Solomon, H8010 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 and to all Israel H3478 in Judah H3063 and Benjamin, H1144 saying, H559

4 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Ye shall not go up, H5927 nor fight H3898 against your brethren: H251 return H7725 every man H376 to his house: H1004 for this thing H1697 is done H1961 of me. And they obeyed H8085 the words H1697 of the LORD, H3068 and returned H7725 from going H3212 against Jeroboam. H3379

5 And Rehoboam H7346 dwelt H3427 in Jerusalem, H3389 and built H1129 cities H5892 for defence H4692 in Judah. H3063

6 He built H1129 even Bethlehem, H1035 and Etam, H5862 and Tekoa, H8620

7 And Bethzur, H1049 and Shoco, H7755 and Adullam, H5725

8 And Gath, H1661 and Mareshah, H4762 and Ziph, H2128

9 And Adoraim, H115 and Lachish, H3923 and Azekah, H5825

10 And Zorah, H6881 and Aijalon, H357 and Hebron, H2275 which are in Judah H3063 and in Benjamin H1144 fenced H4694 cities. H5892

11 And he fortified H2388 the strong holds, H4694 and put H5414 captains H5057 in them, and store H214 of victual, H3978 and of oil H8081 and wine. H3196

12 And in every several city H5892 he put shields H6793 and spears, H7420 and made them exceeding H7235 H3966 strong, H2388 having Judah H3063 and Benjamin H1144 on his side.

13 And the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 that were in all Israel H3478 resorted H3320 to him out of all their coasts. H1366

14 For the Levites H3881 left H5800 their suburbs H4054 and their possession, H272 and came H3212 to Judah H3063 and Jerusalem: H3389 for Jeroboam H3379 and his sons H1121 had cast them off H2186 from executing the priest's office H3547 unto the LORD: H3068

15 And he ordained H5975 him priests H3548 for the high places, H1116 and for the devils, H8163 and for the calves H5695 which he had made. H6213

16 And after H310 them out of all the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 such as set H5414 their hearts H3824 to seek H1245 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 came H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 to sacrifice H2076 unto the LORD H3068 God H430 of their fathers. H1

17 So they strengthened H2388 the kingdom H4438 of Judah, H3063 and made Rehoboam H7346 the son H1121 of Solomon H8010 strong, H553 three H7969 years: H8141 for three H7969 years H8141 they walked H1980 in the way H1870 of David H1732 and Solomon. H8010

18 And Rehoboam H7346 took H3947 him Mahalath H4258 the daughter H1323 H1121 of Jerimoth H3406 the son H1121 of David H1732 to wife, H802 and Abihail H32 the daughter H1323 of Eliab H446 the son H1121 of Jesse; H3448

19 Which bare H3205 him children; H1121 Jeush, H3266 and Shamariah, H8114 and Zaham. H2093

20 And after H310 her he took H3947 Maachah H4601 the daughter H1323 of Absalom; H53 which bare H3205 him Abijah, H29 and Attai, H6262 and Ziza, H2124 and Shelomith. H8019

21 And Rehoboam H7346 loved H157 Maachah H4601 the daughter H1323 of Absalom H53 above all his wives H802 and his concubines: H6370 (for he took H5375 eighteen H8083 H6240 wives, H802 and threescore H8346 concubines; H6370 and begat H3205 twenty H6242 and eight H8083 sons, H1121 and threescore H8346 daughters.) H1323

22 And Rehoboam H7346 made H5975 Abijah H29 the son H1121 of Maachah H4601 the chief, H7218 to be ruler H5057 among his brethren: H251 for he thought to make him king. H4427

23 And he dealt wisely, H995 and dispersed H6555 of all his children H1121 throughout all the countries H776 of Judah H3063 and Benjamin, H1144 unto every fenced H4694 city: H5892 and he gave H5414 them victual H4202 in abundance. H7230 And he desired H7592 many H1995 wives. H802


2 Chronicles 11:1-23 American Standard (ASV)

1 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, that were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

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

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

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

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

6 He built Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 And Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

8 and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

10 and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.

11 And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of victuals, and oil and wine.

12 And in every city `he put' shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. And Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border.

14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest's office unto Jehovah;

15 and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the he-goats, and for the calves which he had made.

16 And after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto Jehovah, the God of their fathers.

17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.

18 And Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, `and of' Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

19 and she bare him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

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

21 And Rehoboam loved Maacah 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.)

22 And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, `even' the prince among his brethren; for `he was minded' to make him king.

23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fortified city: and he gave them victuals in abundance. And he sought `for them' many wives.


2 Chronicles 11:1-23 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Rehoboam cometh in to Jerusalem, and assembleth the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors, to fight with Israel, to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam.

2 And a word of Jehovah is unto Shemaiah, a man of God, saying,

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

4 Thus said Jehovah, Ye do not go up nor fight with your brethren, turn back each to his house, for from Me hath this thing been;' and they hear the words of Jehovah, and turn back from going against Jeroboam.

5 And Rehoboam dwelleth in Jerusalem, and buildeth cities for a bulwark in Judah,

6 yea, he buildeth Beth-Lehem and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 and Beth-Zur, and Shocho, and Adullam,

8 and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

10 and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, that `are' in Judah and in Benjamin, cities of bulwarks.

11 And he strengtheneth the bulwarks, and putteth in them leaders, and treasures of food, and oil, and wine,

12 and in every city and city targets and spears, and strengtheneth them very greatly; and he hath Judah and Benjamin.

13 And the priests, and the Levites, that `are' in all Israel, have stationed themselves by him, out of all their border,

14 for the Levites have left their suburbs and their possession, and they come to Judah and to Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons have cast them off from acting as priests to Jehovah,

15 and he establisheth to him priests for high places, and for goats, and for calves, that he made --

16 and after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those giving their heart to seek Jehovah, God of Israel, have come in to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Jehovah, God of their father.

17 And they strengthen the kingdom of Judah, and strengthen Rehoboam son of Solomon, for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.

18 And Rehoboam taketh to him a wife, Mahalath, child of Jerimoth son of David, `and' Abigail daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.

19 And she beareth to him sons, Jeush, and Shamaria, and Zaham.

20 And after her he hath taken Maachah daughter of Absalom, and she beareth to him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 And Rehoboam loveth Maachah daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines -- for eighteen wives he hath taken, and sixty concubines -- and he begetteth twenty and eight sons, and sixty daughters.

22 And Rehoboam appointeth for head Abijah son of Maachah, for leader among his brethren, for to cause him to reign.

23 And he hath understanding, and spreadeth out of all his sons to all lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all cities of the bulwarks, and giveth to them provision in abundance; and he asketh a multitude of wives.


2 Chronicles 11:1-23 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem; and he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men apt for war, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

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

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

4 Thus saith Jehovah: Go not up, nor fight with your brethren; return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. And they hearkened to the words of Jehovah, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

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

6 And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

8 and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

10 and Zorah, and Ajalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.

11 And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of victuals, and of oil and wine;

12 and in every several city, targets and spears, and made them exceedingly strong. And Judah and Benjamin were his.

13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their districts;

14 for the Levites left their suburbs and their possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from exercising the priesthood to Jehovah;

15 and he ordained for himself priests for the high places, and for the he-goats and for the calves that he had made.

16 -- And after them, those out of all the tribes of Israel that set their heart to seek Jehovah the God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to Jehovah the God of their fathers.

17 And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong three years; for during three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

18 And Rehoboam took Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David as wife, [and of] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.

19 And she bore him children: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

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

21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22 And Rehoboam established Abijah the son of Maachah at the head, to be ruler among his brethren; for [he thought] to make him king.

23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all the fortified cities; and he gave them food in abundance. And he desired [for them] a multitude of wives.


2 Chronicles 11:1-23 World English Bible (WEB)

1 When Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

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

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

4 Thus says Yahweh, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers: return every man to his house; for this thing is of me. So they listened to the words of Yahweh, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

6 He built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 Beth Zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

8 and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

10 and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.

11 He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, and oil and wine.

12 In every city [he put] shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

13 The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border.

14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest's office to Yahweh;

15 and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made.

16 After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.

17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.

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

19 and she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

20 After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.)

22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, [even] the prince among his brothers; for [he was minded] to make him king.

23 He dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them food in abundance. He sought [for them] many wives.


2 Chronicles 11:1-23 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, and got together the men of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand of his best fighting-men, to make war against Israel and get the kingdom back for Rehoboam.

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

3 Say to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,

4 The Lord has said, You are not to go to war against your brothers: let every man go back to his house, for this thing is my purpose. So they gave ear to the words of the Lord and were turned back from fighting against Jeroboam.

5 Now Rehoboam kept in Jerusalem, building walled towns in Judah.

6 He was the builder of Beth-lehem and Etam and Tekoa

7 And Beth-zur and Soco and Adullam

8 And Gath and Mareshah and Ziph

9 And Adoraim and Lachish and Azekah

10 And Zorah and Aijalon and Hebron, walled towns in Judah and Benjamin.

11 And he made the walled towns strong, and he put captains in them and stores of food, oil, and wine.

12 And in every town he put stores of body-covers and spears, and made them very strong. And Judah and Benjamin were his.

13 And the priests and Levites who were in all Israel came together to him from every part of their country.

14 For the Levites gave up their living-places and their property, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons had sent them away, not letting them be priests to the Lord;

15 And he himself made priests for the high places, and for the images of he-goats and oxen which he had made.

16 And after them, from all the tribes of Israel, all those whose hearts were fixed and true to the Lord, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to make offerings to the Lord, the God of their fathers.

17 So they went on increasing the power of the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, strong for three years; and for three years they went in the ways of David and Solomon.

18 And Rehoboam took as his wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, the son of David and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, the son of Jesse;

19 And she had sons by him, Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

20 And after her he took Maacah, the daughter of Absalom; and she had Abijah and Attai and Ziza and Shelomith by him.

21 Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, was dearer to Rehoboam than all his wives and his servant-wives: (for he had eighteen wives and sixty servant-wives, and was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.)

22 Rehoboam made Abijah, the son of Maacah, chief and ruler among his brothers, for it was his purpose to make him king.

23 And in his wisdom he had his sons stationed in every walled town through all the lands of Judah and Benjamin; and he gave them a great store of food, and took wives for them.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 11

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 11 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 11

We are here going on with the history of Rehoboam.

  • I. His attempt to recover the ten tribes he has lost, and the letting fall of that attempt in obedience to the divine command (v. 1-4).
  • II. His successful endeavours to preserve the two tribes that remained (v. 5-12).
  • III. The resort of the priests and Levites to him (v. 13-17).
  • IV. An account of his wives and children (v. 18-23).

2Ch 11:1-12

How the ten tribes deserted the house of David we read in the foregoing chapter. They had formerly sat loose to that family (2 Sa. 20:1, 2), and now they quite threw it off, not considering how much it would weaken the common interest and take Israel down from that pitch of glory at which it had arrived in the last reign. But thus the kingdom must be corrected as well as the house of David.

  • 1. Rehoboam at length, like a bold man, raises an army, with a design to reduce the revolters, v. 1. Judah and Benjamin were not only resolved to continue their allegiance to him, but ready to give him the best assistance they could for the recovery of his right. Judah was his own tribe, that owned him some years before the rest did; Benjamin was the tribe in which Jerusalem, or the greatest part of it, stood, which perhaps was one reason why that tribe clave to him.
  • 2. Yet, like a conscientious man, when God forbade him to prosecute this design, in obedience to him he let it fall, either because he reverenced the divine authority or because he knew that he should not prosper if he should go contrary to God's command, but instead of retrieving what was lost would be in danger of losing what he had. It is dangerous undertaking any thing, but especially undertaking a war, contrary to the will of God. God calls him (v. 3), Rehoboam the son of Solomon, to intimate that this was determined for the sin of Solomon, and it would be to no purpose to oppose a decree that had gone forth. They obeyed the words of the Lord; and though it looked mean, and would turn to their reproach among their neighbours, yet, because God would have it so, they laid down their arms.
  • 3. Like a discreet man, he fortified his own country. He saw it was to no purpose to think of reducing those that had revolted. A few good words might have prevented their defection, but now all the forces of his kingdom cannot bring them back. The thing is done, and so it must rest; it is his wisdom to make the best of it. Perhaps the same young counsellors that had advised him to answer them roughly urged him to fight them, notwithstanding the divine inhibition; but he had paid dearly enough for being advised by them, and therefore now, we may suppose, his aged and experienced counsellors were hearkened to, and they advised him to submit to the will of God concerning what was lost, and to make it his business to keep what he had. It was probably by their advice that,
    • (1.) He fortified his frontiers, and many of the principal cities of his kingdom, which, in Solomon's peaceable reign, no care had been taken for the defence of.
    • (2.) He furnished them with good stores of victuals and arms, v. 11, 12. Because God forbade him to fight, he did not therefore sit down sullenly, and say that he would do nothing for the public safety if he might not do that, but prudently provided against an attack. Those that may not be conquerors, yet may be builders.

2Ch 11:13-23

See here,

  • I. How Rehoboam was strengthened by the accession of the priests and Levites, and all the devout and pious Israelites, to him, even all that were true to their God and their religion.
    • 1. Jeroboam cast them off, that is, he set up such a way of worship as he knew they could not in conscience comply with, which obliged them to withdraw from his altar, and at the same time he would not allow them to go up to Jerusalem to worship at the altar there; so that he totally cast them off from executing the priest's office, v. 14. And very willing he was that they should turn themselves out of their places, that room might be made for those mean and scandalous persons whom he ordained priests for the high places, v. 15. Compare 1 Ki. 12:31. No marvel if he that cast off God cast off his ministers; they were not for his purpose, would not do whatever he might bid them do, would not serve his gods, nor worship the golden image which he had set up.
    • 2. They thereupon left their suburbs and possessions, v. 14. Out of the lot of each tribe the Levites had cities allowed them, where they were comfortable provided for and had opportunity of doing much good. But now they were driven out of all their cities except those in Judah and Benjamin. One would think their maintenance well settled, and yet they lost it. It was a comfort to them that the law so often reminded them that the Lord was their inheritance, and so they should find him when they were turned out of their house and possessions. But why did they leave their possessions?
      • (1.) Because they saw they could do no good among their neighbours, in whom (now that Jeroboam set up his calves) the old proneness to idolatry revived.
      • (2.) Because they themselves would be in continual temptation to some base compliances, and in danger of being drawn insensibly to that which was evil. If we pray, in sincerity, not to be led into temptation, we shall get and keep as far as we can out of the way of it.
      • (3.) Because, if they retained their integrity, they had reason to expect persecution from Jeroboam and his sons. The priests they made for the devils would not let the Lord's priests be long among them. No secular advantages whatsoever should draw us thither, or detain us there, where we are in danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.
    • 3. They came to Judah and Jerusalem (v. 14) and presented themselves to Rehoboam, v. 13, margin. Where should God's priests and Levites be, but where his altar was? Thither they came because it was their business to attend at the times appointed.
      • (1.) It was a mercy to them that they had a place of refuge to flee to, and that when Jeroboam cast them off there were those so near that would entertain them, and bid them welcome, and they were not forced into the lands of the heathen.
      • (2.) It was an evidence that they loved their work better than their maintenance, in that they left their suburbs and possessions in the country (where they might have lived at ease upon their own), because they were restrained from serving God there, and cast themselves upon God's providence and the charity of their brethren in coming to a place where they might have the free enjoyment of God's ordinances, according to his institution. Poverty in the way of duty is to be chosen rather than plenty in the way of sin. Better live upon alms, or die in a prison, with a good conscience, than roll in wealth and pleasure with a prostituted one.
      • (3.) It was the wisdom and praise of Rehoboam and his people that they bade them welcome, though they crowded themselves perhaps to make room for them. Conscientious refugees will bring a blessing along with them to the countries that entertain them, as they leave a curse behind them with those that expel them. Open the gates, that the righteous nation, which keepeth truth, may enter in; it will be good policy. See Isa. 26:1, 2.
    • 4. When the priests and Levites came to Jerusalem all the devout pious Israelites of every tribe followed them. Such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, that made conscience of their duty to God and were sincere and resolute in it, left the inheritance of their fathers and went and took houses in Jerusalem, that they might have free access to the altar of God and be out of the temptation to worship the calves, v. 16. Note,
      • (1.) That is best for us which is best for our souls; and, in all our choices, advantages for religion must take place of all outward conveniences.
      • (2.) Where God's faithful priests are his faithful people should be. If Jeroboam cast off God's ministers, every true-born Israelite will think himself obliged to own them and stand by them. Forsake not the Levite, the out-cast Levite, as long as thou livest. When the ark removes do you remove and go after it, Jos. 3:3.
    • 5. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah (v. 17), not only by the addition of so many persons to it, who, it is likely, brought what they could of their effects with them, but by their piety and their prayers they procured a blessing upon the kingdom which was a sanctuary to them. See Zec. 12:5. It is the interest of a nation to protect and encourage religion and religious people, and adds more than any thing to its strength. They made him and his people strong three years; for so long they walked in the way of David and Solomon, their good way. But when they forsook that, and so threw themselves out of God's favour and protection, the best friends they had could no longer help to strengthen them. We retain our strength while we cleave to God and our duty, and no longer.
  • II. How Rehoboam was weakened by indulging himself in his pleasures. He desired many wives, as his father did (v. 23), yet,
    • 1. In this he was more wise than his father, that he does not appear to have married strange wives. The wives mentioned here were not only daughters of Israel, but of the family of David; one was a descendant from Eliab, David's brother (v. 18), another from Absalom, probably that Absalom who was David's son (v. 20), another from Jerimoth, David's son.
    • 2. In this he was more happy than his father, that he had many sons and daughters; whereas we read not of more than one son that his father had. One can scarcely imagine that he had no more; but, if he had, they were not worth mentioning; whereas several of Rehoboam's sons are here named (v. 19, 20) as men of note, and such active men that he thought it his wisdom to disperse them throughout the countries of Judah and Benjamin (v. 23), either,
      • (1.) That they might not be rivals with his son Abijah, whom he designed for his successor, or rather,
      • (2.) Because he could repose a confidence in them for the preserving of the public peace and safety, could trust them with fenced cities, which he took care to have well victualled, that they might stand him in stead in case of an invasion. After-wisdom is better than none at all; nay, they say, "Wit is never good till it is bought;' though he was dearly bought with the loss of a kingdom.