# 2 Chronicles 11 š: Rehoboam Strengthens Judah
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
[[#Verse 01.]] When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from Judah and BenjaminĀ to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.Ā
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā But theĀ Lordās message came to the prophetĀ Shemaiah,Ā
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā āSay this to King Rehoboam son of Solomon of Judah and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin,
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā āTheĀ LordĀ says this: āDo not attack and make war with your brothers. Each of you go home, for I have caused this to happen.āāāĀ They obeyed theĀ LordĀ and called off the attack against Jeroboam.
### Rehoboamās Reign
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem; he built up these fortified cities throughout Judah:Ā
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,Ā
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,Ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,Ā
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,Ā
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.Ā
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā He fortified these cities and placed officers in them, as well as storehouses of food, olive oil, and wine.Ā
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā In each city there were shields and spears; he strongly fortified them.Ā Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā The priests and Levites who lived throughout Israel supported him, no matter where they resided.Ā
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā The Levites even left their pasturelands and their property behind and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons prohibited them from serving as theĀ Lordās priests.Ā
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā JeroboamĀ appointed his own priests to serve at the worship centersĀ and to lead in the worship of the goat idols and calf idols he had made.Ā
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā Those among all the Israelite tribes who were determined to worship theĀ LordĀ God of Israel followed them to JerusalemĀ to sacrifice to theĀ LordĀ God of their ancestors.Ā
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā They supportedĀ the kingdom of Judah and were loyal toĀ Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years; they followed the edicts ofĀ David and Solomon for three years.
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā Rehoboam marriedĀ Mahalath the daughter of Davidās son Jerimoth and ofĀ Abihail, the daughter of Jesseās son Eliab.
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā She bore him sons named Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.Ā
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā He later married Maacah the daughter of Absalom. She bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.Ā
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than his other wives and concubines.Ā He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines; he fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
[[#Verse 22.]] Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as the leader over his brothers, for he intended to name him his successor.Ā
[[#Verse 23.]]Ā He wisely placed some of his many sons throughout the regions of Judah and Benjamin in the various fortified cities.Ā He supplied them with abundant provisions and acquired many wives for them.
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Rehoboam gathered 180,000 soldiers to fight the northern tribes (11:1).
2. The prophet Shemaiah stopped the civil war with a word from God (11:2-4).
3. Rehoboam fortified fifteen cities, including Bethlehem, Lachish, and Hebron (11:5-10).
4. Lachish became one of Judah's most important fortress cities, and it has been extensively excavated.
5. Jeroboam rejected the Levites and appointed his own priests (11:14-15).
6. Jeroboam's priests served the goat idols and the calf idols he made (11:15).
7. Many faithful people from the north moved south to worship in Jerusalem (11:16).
8. Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines (11:21), in spite of the warning of Deuteronomy 17:17.
9. Rehoboam's favorite wife was Maacah, described as a daughter of Absalom (11:20-21).
10. Rehoboam made Abijah the chief prince and spread his other sons through the fortified cities (11:22-23).
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the true King to whom faithful worshipers come. Like the faithful from the north who came to Jerusalem to worship the Lord (11:16), people from every place come to Jesus to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. Rehoboam obeyed God's word through Shemaiah and did not attack Israel (11:4). When has obeying God meant letting go of something you wanted?
2. Priests and Levites left their land to stay faithful to the Lord (11:14). What has faithfulness cost people you know?
3. The kingdom was strong for three years while they walked in God's ways (11:17). What does this show about the link between faithfulness and strength?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 4: The Lord tells Rehoboam not to fight his brothers, and he obeys.
- š verse 16: Those who set their hearts to seek the Lord come to Jerusalem.
- š verse 17: Judah is strengthened for three years while walking in the ways of David and Solomon.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[1 Kings 12#Verse 21.|1 Kings 12:21-33]] - The parallel account of Shemaiah's message and Jeroboam's idols.
- š [[Acts 05#Verse 29.|Acts 5:29]] - We must obey God rather than people.
- š [[John 04#Verse 23.|John 4:23-24]] - True worshipers worship in spirit and truth.
- š [[Deuteronomy 17#Verse 17.|Deuteronomy 17:17]] - The king must not multiply wives.
- š [[Psalm 84#Verse 10.|Psalm 84:10]] - A day in God's courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[2 Chronicles 11 - SOAP|Follow God, Not Bad Leaders]]
## š Internal Notes