1-4 Rehoboam raising an army to subdue Israel, is forbidden by Shemaiah 5-12 He strengthens his kingdom with forts and provisions 13-17 The priests and Levites, and such as feared God, forsaken by Jeroboam, strengthen the kingdom of Judah 18-23 The wives and children of Rehoboam

when Rehoboam 1Ki 12:21

an hundred Ps 33:10,16 Pr 21:30,31

2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

to Shemaiah 2Ch 12:5,7,15 1Ki 12:22-24

the man 2Ch 8:14 De 33:1 1Sa 2:27 1Ti 6:11

3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

to all Israel Ge 49:28 Ex 24:4 2Ki 17:34 Php 3:5 Re 7:4-8

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.

against Ge 13:8 2Sa 2:26 Ac 7:26 1Co 6:5-8 Heb 13:1 1Pe 3:8 1Jo 3:11-13

return 2Ch 10:16 1Ki 22:36

for this thing 2Ch 10:15 Ge 50:20 1Ki 11:29-38 Ps 33:11 Ho 8:4

they obeyed 2Ch 25:7-10 28:9-15

5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

A.M. 3029-3032 B.C. 975-972
built 2Ch 8:2-6 14:6,7 16:6 17:12 26:6 27:4 Isa 22:8-11

6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

Beth-lehem Bethlehem, called Bethlehem Judah (Jud. 17:7) to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in Zebulun, (Jos 19:15) and also Ephratah, (i.e. fruitful,) and by the Arabs, Bait-el-lahm, is situated on a rising ground on the southern side of a deep and extensive valley, and reclining from E. to W. not quite six miles S. of Jerusalem. Ge 35:19 1Sa 17:12 Mt 2:5,6

Etam Jud 15:8 1Ch 4:32

Tekoa 2Ch 20:20 2Sa 14:2 Ne 3:5,27 Jer 6:1 Am 1:1

7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

Beth-zur Jos 15:58

Shoco Jos 15:35

Socoh
Adullam Jos 12:15 15:35 1Sa 22:1 2Sa 23:13 Mic 1:15

8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

Gath 1Ch 18:1

Mareshah Jos 15:44

Ziph Jos 15:24 1Sa 23:14,19 Ps 54:1

9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

Lachish 2Ch 32:9 Jos 10:5,11 15:35,39

10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.

zorah Jos 15:33

Zoreah
Ajalon
Hebron Ge 23:2 Nu 13:22 Jos 14:14 20:7 2Sa 2:11

11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

he fortified Isa 22:10,11

captains 2Ch 11:23 17:19

12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

he put shields 2Ch 26:14,15 32:5 2Sa 13:19,22

having Judah 2Ch 11:1

13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.

A.M. 3030 B.C. 974
resorted to him [heb] presented themselves to him

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:

suburbs Nu 35:2-5 Jos 21:20-42 1Ch 6:66-81

their possession Le 27:30-34 Nu 18:21-28

Jeroboam 2Ch 13:9 1Ki 12:28-33 13:33

15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

for the devils The word, seirim literally signifies hairy ones, or goats see Note on Le 17:7 De 32:17 1Co 10:20,21 1Ti 4:1 Re 16:14

for the calves Ex 32:4-8,31 1Ki 12:28 14:9 Ps 106:19,20 Ho 8:5,6 13:2

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.

And after 2Ch 15:9 30:11,18,19 Jos 22:19 Ps 84:5-7

set Ex 9:21 De 32:46 1Sa 7:3,4 1Ch 22:19 Job 34:14 Ps 62:10 108:1 Da 6:14 Ho 4:8 Hag 1:5 Ac 11:23

to sacrifice De 12:5,6,11,13,14 1Ch 16:29 22:1

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.

A.M. 3029-3032 B.C. 975-972
strengthened 2Ch 12:1

three years 2Ch 1:12 7:17-19 8:13-16 Ho 6:4 Mt 13:20,21

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;

A.M. 3029-3046 B.c. 975-958
daughter Eliab was David's eldest brother; and more than eighty years had elapsed since David, at the age of thirty, began to reign: Abigail must therefore have been grand-daughter to eliab; and this shows the latitude in which the words {son} and {daughter} are used in Scripture.

Eliab 1Sa 16:6 17:13,28 1Ch 2:13 27:18

Elihu

19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

Maachah 2Ch 11:21 13:2

Michaiah the daughter of Uriel
Absalom 1Ki 15:2

Abishalom
Abijah 2Ch 12:16 1Ki 15:1

Abijam Mt 1:7

Abia

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.)

eighteen wives 2Ch 11:23 De 17:17 Jud 8:30 2Sa 3:2-5 5:13 1Ki 11:3 1Ch 3:1-9 So 6:8,9

22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

made Abijah De 21:15-17 1Ch 5:1,2 29:1

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.

he dealt 2Ch 10:8-15 Lu 16:8

dispersed 2Ch 21:3 Ge 25:6 1Ki 1:5,6

every fenced city 2Ch 11:11

many wives [heb] a multitude of wives 2Ch 11:21