2 Chronicles 11

ANd when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin Of this verse and v. 2, 3, 4. see the Notes on 1 King. 12. 21. &c. an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriours, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

But the word of the LORD came to Shemajah the man of God, saying,

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

Thus says 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.

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities i. e. Repaired, and enlarged, and fortified them: as building is oft used in Scripture as has been formerly proved: For these Cities, or divers of them, were built before, as appears from Ios. 10. 10. & 12. 15. & 15. 24, 33, 35, 58. & 19. 42. for defence in Judah.

He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

And Gath, and Maresha, and Ziph,

And Adoraim, Lachish, and Azekah,

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

And he... ortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victuals, and oyl, and wine.

And in every several city To wit, so fortified, as he said v. 11. he put shields, and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

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

(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 priests office unto the LORD They would not suffer them to instruct and assist the Israelites in the worship and service of God, nor to go up to Jerusalem to worship in their Courses: and these Priests would not joyn with them in the Worship of the Calves, as they were desired and commanded to do; and therefore they willingly forsook all their Patrimonies and Possessions for Gods Sake..

And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves Or, for the high places, both for the Devils (i. e. the Baals or false gods, which divers of his People worshipped, whom he permitted and encouraged to do so, giving them liberty to do any thing to serve God at Jerusalem) and for the Calves. So he erected two sorts of High places, some for Baal, and some for the True God, whom he pretended and would be thought to worship in and by the Calves. which he had made.)

And after them out of all the Tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the LORD God of Israel Such as loved and feared God in truth and with their whole Heart., came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.

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 This honourable mention of Solomon as a Pattern of Piety is a considerable Evidence of his true Repentance before his death: of which see more on 1 King. 11. 43..

And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab He declared him his Successor and gave him the Dominion over his Brethren: wherein (if he was not the First-born, as it seems to be implyed because this is mentioned as an Effect of his Superlative Love to his Mother) he transgressed that Law, Deut. 21. 15, 16. unless God was pleased to dispence with it at this time. the son of Jesse:

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

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

And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubins: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubins, and begat twenty and eight sons and threescore daughters.)

And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren Lest his other Sons should after his death unite their Counsels and Forces together against Abijah, he wisely dispersed them into several and distant Places, and under pretence of honouring them with the Government of them, he made them Prisoners in a sort, appointing several persons to observe their motions and prevent their Combinations.: for he thought to make him king.

And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city Agreeable to their Quality, that their Restraint might be more easie to them.: and he gave them victuals in abundance: and desired many wives Either 1. for his Children: Or rather 2. for himself, by comparing this with v. 21..