And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David ,.... Where David and Solomon were buried, 1 Kings 2:10 and his mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess; which is repeated, that it might be observed as what was the leading step to his idolatry, and the means of his continuing in it: and Abijam his son reigned in his stead ; of whom there is a further account in the following chapter. read more
Naamah an Ammonitess - He was born of a heathen mother, and begotten of an apostate father. From such an impure fountain could sweet water possibly spring? Abijam his son reigned in his stead - Though righteousness cannot be propagated, because it is supernatural, yet unrighteousness may, for that is a genuine offspring of nature. Abijam was the wicked son of an apostate father and heathenish mother. Grace may be grafted on a crab stock; but let none do evil that good may... read more
Unfaithfulness and its rebuke. I. JUDAH 'S SIN . 1 . The nature of the transgression . The grossest idolatry was set side by side with the pure worship of God. The temple and its services were still HIS ( 1 Kings 14:28 ), but on every high hill and under every green tree were the images and altars of the false gods. The preservation of the pure worship of God is no proof that all is yielded which God demands. The heart may be full of the world's idolatries, of its... read more
The Entailments of Sin. During the three first years of his reign in Judah, Rehoboam walked in the steps of Solomon and David, enjoyed peace, and became established in his throne. Afterwards he gave himself up to idolatrous abominations, and brought evil upon himself and upon his people. The entailments of their sin were— I. TROUBLE . 1 . There was continual war between the kingdoms . (3) Thus sinners become God's instruments to punish one another. So it is seen to this day... read more
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers [The same formula as in 1 Kings 2:10 ; 1 Kings 11:43 ; 1 Kings 15:8 , 1 Kings 15:24 , etc. It is used of nearly all the kings of Judah], and was buried with his fathers [These words go to prove, against Gesenius, that the phrase "slept (lit. lay down ) with his fathers" is not to be interpreted of Sheol, but of the grave; see on 1 Kings 2:10 ] in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. [Same words as in 1 Kings... read more
Slept with his fathers and was buried ... - Compare 1 Kings 11:43. The expression is a sort of formula, and is used with respect to all the kings of Judah, except two or three. The writer probably regards the fact, which he records so carefully, as a continuation of God’s mercy to David.His mother’s name ... - The mention of the queen-mother so regularly in the account of the kings of Judah is thought to indicate that she had an important position in the state. There are, however, only two... read more
Rehoboam’s reign in the south (14:21-31)The story returns to the kingdom of Judah. After the division of the kingdom, Rehoboam quickly strengthened the defences on his southern border, for he knew that Egypt was likely to support Jeroboam (cf. 11:40; see 2 Chronicles 11:5-12). For three years Rehoboam carried on the true worship of Yahweh. This was mainly because of the help he received from a large number of priests and Levites from the north who fled to Judah rather than participate in the... read more
3. Rehoboam’s evil reign in Judah 14:21-31"The narrator introduces a new format and style at this point that enables him to state the essence of a king’s reign with an economy of words. The introduction and conclusion of the account of each reign conform to a fixed pattern with only slight variations. The following information is regularly given in the introduction to the reigns of the kings of Judah: (1) date of beginning of reign, (2) age at beginning of reign (not noted consistently at... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 14:21-31
Judah's story and Israel's are intermixed in this book. Jeroboam out-lived Rehoboam, four or five years, yet his history is despatched first, that the account of Rehoboam's reign may be laid together; and a sad account it is. I. Here is no good said of the king. All the account we have of him here is, 1. That he was forty-one years old when he began to reign, by which reckoning he was born in the last year of David, and had his education, and the forming of his mind, in the best days of... read more