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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:3

To all Israel in Judah and Benjamin. There is difference of opinion as to who are intended in the expression, "all Israel," already confessedly ambiguous in two other passages. When we consider the mention of Rehoboam personally in the former clause of the verse, it would seem most probable that the meaning is all the people of the nation, resident in the Judah and Benjamin allotments, i.e. the nation called collectively Israel. This will include "the remnant" spoken of in the parallel (... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:4

This thing is from me ; i.e. the punishing disruption; not the precedent causes with the entirety of historical events; this punishing and Wither, sing disruption is not to be "lightly healed" The man who did what caused it, the men who did what caused it, cannot thus each undo what they have done—least of all undo it by the appeal of war. They and theirs will have, long as life lasts, as lives last, to go through the baptism of bitter suffering, and leave a heritage of the same for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:4

Wrought of God. "For this thing is done of me." How much has God to do with the events and issues of our life? Speaking in the idiom of the ancient Hebrew writers, we should say—Everything. Speaking after our modern fashion, we should say—Much; and so much that we are altogether wrong and foolish if we do not take it into account. The words of the text, together with the context, suggest— I. THAT GOD DOES MANY THINGS WHICH , ANTECEDENTLY , WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:5-12

These eight verses tell how Rehoboam, relieved of the responsibility of attempting to reconquer the revolted, wisely betakes himself to strengthening and defending what was left to him. He builds fifteen "fenced cities," or "cities for defence," twelve of them south and west of Jerusalem, for lear of Egypt; he fortifies certain strongholds, officering them, provisioning them, and supplying to them and "every several city" the necessary weapons of warfare and shields. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:5-17

The strengthening of a kingdom. I. THE ERECTION OF FORTRESSES . ( 2 Chronicles 11:5-12 .) 1 . Their object. To defend the frontiers of the kingdom, against both Israel on the north and Egypt on the south, for which last special need existed, considering the friendly relations which had subsisted between Jeroboam and Shishak. Shishak's invasion, which soon followed, showed Rehoboam's apprehensions not to have been baseless. Though wars are seldom justifiable, it is never... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:6

Bethlehem . This was a case not of actual new building of a city, but of restoring and strengthening it. Bethlehem, originally Ephrath ( Genesis 35:16 ; Genesis 48:7 ), was one of the very oldest towns existent in Jacob's time. It was not called Bethlehem till long after the settlement of the tribes. It was six miles from Jerusalem, on the east of the road to Hebron. Etam . A place near Bethlehem; possibly the resort of Samson after his revenge on the Philistines ( 15:8 , 15:11 ).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:7

Beth-zur . About five miles north of Hebron (see Joshua 15:58 ; 1 Chronicles 2:45 ; Nehemiah 3:16 ). Shoco; properly, Socoh, in the Shefelah ( Joshua 15:35 ). According to Jerome and Eusebius, it was about nine miles from Eleutheropolis, on the road to Jerusalem (see also 1 Samuel 17:1 ). Adullam . In the Shefelah ( Joshua 15:35 ). It was an ancient place ( Genesis 38:1 , Genesis 38:12 , Genesis 38:20 ; Joshua 12:15 ; Nehemiah 11:30 ). See also the familiar passages... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:8

Gath . Site still unknown. Some think it may be the Gath-rimmon of Dan ( Joshua 19:45 ). Otherwise it is Gath of the Philistines ( Joshua 13:3 ; 1 Samuel 6:17 ), and of Goliath ( 1 Samuel 17:4 , 1 Samuel 17:23 ). I.L.P in Dr. Smith's 'Bible Dictionary,' 1.656, wishes to find it on a hill now called Tel-es-Safleh, on one side of the Plain of Philistia, about ten miles east of Ashdod and south—east of Ekron. See also "Topographical Index," p. 411, in Conder's ' andbook to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:9

Adoraim . This name is not found anywhere else. The meaning of the word is "two heaps," and very probably describes the physical features of the site. It is probably the modern Dura. Its site is otherwise unknown. Lachish (see Joshua 15:39 ; also Joshua 10:3 ; Joshua 12:11 ); probably the modern Um Lakis, that lies on the road to Gaza. Other interesting references are 2 Kings 14:19 ; 2 Kings 18:14-17 ; 2 Kings 19:8 ; Nehemiah 11:30 ; Micah 1:13 . Azekha (see Joshua 15:35... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:10

Zorah . The people of Zorah, or Zoreah, were the Zareathites of 1 Chronicles 2:53 ; it was the home of Manoah, and the native place of Samson (see Joshua 15:33 ; Joshua 19:41 . Other interesting references are 13:25 ; 16:31 ; 18:2-11 ; Nehemiah 11:29 ). It belonged to the original allotment of Dan, and is constantly named in company with Eshtaol. Aijalon . The modern Jalo ; also originally belonged to allotment of Dan ( Joshua 10:12 ; Joshua 19:42 ; Joshua 21:24 .... read more

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