Eighteen wives and threescore concubines - Bad enough, but not so abandoned as his father. Of these marriages and concubinage the issue was twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters; eighty-eight children in the whole, to the education of the whole of whom he could pay but little attention. Numerous families are often neglected; and children by different women, must be yet in a worse state. read more
Made Abijah - the chief - Abijah certainly was not the first-born of Rehoboam; but as he loved Maachah more than any of his wives, so he preferred her son, probably through his mother's influence. In Deuteronomy 21:16 , this sort of preference is forbidden; but Rehoboam had a sort of precedent in the preference shown by David to Solomon. read more
He dealt wisely - It was true policy to disperse his own sons through the different provinces who were not likely to form any league with Jeroboam against their father. He desired many wives - He was much addicted to women; yet we do not find that he formed any heathenish alliances of this nature. And as no particulars are given, we do not know how far he indulged himself in this propensity. He probably strengthened his political connections by these means. read more
He gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin . The parallel ( 1 Kings 12:21 ) says more distinctly, "The house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin." They of Jeroboam ( 2 Chronicles 10:16 ) had flung it at Judah: "Now, David, see to thine own house." Rehoboam, of course, does this very thing. For the first time,formally, Benjamin is now introduced as throwing in its lot with Judah, and the acted prophecy of Ahijah is seen fulfilled; the chiefest of the tribes, and the tribe that came... read more
Fighting against brethren. Rehoboam might have alleged some very strong reasons in defence of the proposed war ( 2 Chronicles 11:1 ). He might have pleaded that the tribes had no constitutional or moral right to revolt and secede, and that their secession would seriously and even fatally weaken Israel, and expose it to the mercy of her powerful and unscrupulous neighbours. But the word of the Lord came authoritatively to him, "Ye shall not go up," etc; and the strife was stayed. These... read more
A warlike expedition hindered. I. THE KING 'S ARMY . 1 . Whence collected. From Judah and Benjamin, or that portion of the latter which adhered to Judah. 2 . Its place of rendezvous. Jerusalem, the metropolis of the southern kingdom. It was intended that the king's forces should proceed from the capital. 3 . The number of its force. A hundred and eighty thousand men—a contingent of the army of Judah. 4 . The character of its soldiers. "Chosen men, which were... read more
The discipline that resulted in obedience, accompanied with right and earnest endeavour. The homiletic treatment of this chapter centres round two suggestions. I. THE SIMPLE AND PROMPT OBEDIENCE OF REHOBOAM , IN CERTAIN RESPECTS , TO THE DIVINE MESSAGE OF PROHIBITION . Of which obedience on the part of Rehoboam we may notice: 1 . That it compared favourably with the conduct of those who, being bidden and encouraged in every way to go up to war, and... read more
Shemaiah the man of God . This is the first historical mention ( 1 Kings 12:22 ) of Shemaiah. The second is found in 2 Chronicles 12:5 , 2 Chronicles 12:7 , on occasion of the invasion of Judah and Jerusalem by Shishak King of Egypt; anti the third, in the same chapter, 2 Chronicles 12:15 , that he wrote a book respecting the acts of Rehoboam. The expression, "man of God," owns to a somewhat unexplained history. It is first found in the added part of Deuteronomy ( Deuteronomy 33:1 ... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 11:20
Maachah the daughter of Absalom - See the note on 1 Kings 15:10 . She is called Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel, 2 Chronicles 13:2 . For this the Targum gives the following reason: "Abijah reigned three years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeatha. She is the same as Michah, the daughter of Absalom; but, because she was an upright woman, her name was changed into the more excellent name Michaiah, and her fathers name into that of Uriel of... read more