2 CHRONICLES LESSON 11
We will begin this lesson in II Chronicles 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."
The 180,000 men of war were those who were well-trained in war.
Rehoboam was about to begin a civil war with his brethren, the
Israelites. The prophecy of Ahijah had been fulfilled. Judah and
Benjamin had sided against the other ten tribes.
II Chronicles 11:2 "But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the
man of God, saying," II Chronicles 11:3 "Speak unto Rehoboam the son
of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,
saying," II Chronicles 11:4 "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."
Rehoboam had it in his mind to go and fight against Jeroboam and
the ten tribes, but we see in this that the LORD stopped them. God
stopped the battle by sending a message to both sides by Shemaiah, the
man of God. After they had heard the message from God, all of the men
went home to their own houses. God reminded all of these tribes that
they were their brethren. They would not go against the will of God.
There would be no war.
II Chronicles 11:5 "And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built
cities for defence in Judah." II Chronicles 11:6 "He built even Beth-
lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa," II Chronicles 11:7 "And Beth-zur, and
Shoco, and Adullam," II Chronicles 11:8 "And Gath, and Mareshah, and
Ziph," II Chronicles 11:9 "And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,"
II Chronicles 11:10 "And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which [are]
in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities."
All of these cities were surrounding Jerusalem. The enemy would
have to pass through these cities, before they could get to Jerusalem.
Out of the 15 cities of defense he built, 12 were south and west of
Jerusalem to defend against any attack from Egypt. These cities were
built with walls around them and fortified with weapons of defense.
Bethlehen had been called Ephrath. It was one of the oldest cities in
the area. It was re-built, instead of being built entirely. It is less
than 5 miles out of Jerusalem. Many of these cities are still in
existence today. All of Rehoboam' s efforts were turned to Judah and
Benjamin, since he did not have to fight a war.
II Chronicles 11:11 "And he fortified the strong holds, and put
captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine."
He had prepared these cities to withstand a long battle, if
necessary. The food, and oil, and wine would keep them from starving,
if someone surrounded them. There were many chariots and horses that
Solomon had gathered. They were a very well-equipped army.
II Chronicles 11:12 "And in every several city [he put] shields
and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin
on his side."
The weapons of war, that Solomon had gathered, still belonged to
Rehoboam. Most of them had been located in and around Jerusalem. Judah
and Benjamin would have been hard to separate, because Jerusalem was
in the hands of Judah, and the immediate area around it belonged to
Benjamin. Soon, both Judah and Benjamin would be spoken of as Judah.
II Chronicles 11:13 "And the priests and the Levites that [were]
in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts."
The priests were associated with the temple in Jerusalem. They
could not separate themselves from the worship in the temple in
Jerusalem, so they came to Judah and Benjamin. They could not accept
the golden calves that were the symbol of worship in Israel.
II Chronicles 11:14 "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:"
Jeroboam would not let them come to Jerusalem for worship. They
just left, because they could not participate in the worship of the
false gods that Jeroboam erected. The two golden calves were an
abomination, as far as the priests and Levites were concerned.
II Chronicles 11:15 "And he ordained him priests for the high
places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made."
Jeroboam chose men of the tribes, who were not Levites, and
anointed them to work in the places of worship.
II Chronicles 11:16 "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."
This is speaking of those who refused to be associated with the
worship of false gods.
II Chronicles 11:17 "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."
For three years, it seems that Rehoboam and the people followed
the way of the LORD and prospered. They tried to live as David and
Solomon had taught them in the beginning.
II Chronicles 11:18 "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;"
Mahalath was the first of 18 wives of Rehoboam. Mahalath was the
grand-daughter of David, then. Abihail was the niece of David.
II Chronicles 11:19 "Which bare him children; Jeush, and
Shamariah, and Zaham."
Most scholars give these three children to Abihail. It is
possible, however that some could belong to Mahalath. Since it is not
extremely important which they belong to, we will go on.
II Chronicles 11:20 "And after her he took Maachah the daughter
of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and
Shelomith."
Maachah was, probably, the grand-daughter of Absalom by his
daughter, Tamar.
II Chronicles 11:21 "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.)"
We see that Rehoboam had 18 wives. He had 60 concubines. From
these wives and concubines, he had 28 sons and 60 daughters. It is
interesting that he loved Maachah above all these other ladies. The
following Scripture speaks against having many wives. Deuteronomy
17:17 "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn
not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and
gold."
II Chronicles 11:22 "And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah
the chief, [to be] ruler among his brethren: for [he thought] to make
him king."
This is very similar to David choosing Solomon, of all of his
brothers, to rule in his stead. David had several sons older than
Solomon. He loved Bathsheba more than his other wives and made her son
king in his stead. Rehoboam made Abijah king in his stead, because he
loved Maachah more than the other wives.
II Chronicles 11:23 "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."
This dispersing of his children in the cities was so the cities
would stay loyal to him. By providing separate places for his
children, there would be less jealousy between each other, as well. He
was very rich from Solomon's wealth, so he provided abundantly for
them all.
2 Chronicles 11 Questions
1. How many men of war did Rehoboam gather in Jerusalem?
2. What tribes were they from?
3. What prophecy had been fulfilled?
4. A Word of prophecy came for these people from what man of God?
5. What was the prophecy?
6. What effect did that have on Rehoboam's plans?
7. What did God remind all of these tribes of?
8. Where did Rehoboam live?
9. Name the cities he built for defense.
10. How many cities were there?
11. Where were most of them built?
12. What was an earlier name for Bethlehem?
13. What did he put in the cities?
14. What were the weapons of war?
15. Soon, Benjamin and Judah would be spoken of as ________.
16. What did the priests and the Levites do?
17. Who did Jeroboam choose for priests?
18. Verse 16 is speaking of whom?
19. What happened to the kingdom of Judah?
20. How many years did Rehoboam do right in God's sight?
21. Who was Rehoboam's first wife?
22. How many wives did he have?
23. How many concubines did he have?
24. How many sons were born to him?
25. How many daughters did he have?
26. Quote Deuteronomy chapter 17 verse 17.
27. Which of Rehoboam's sons did he make chief?
28. Where did his families live?
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