2 Chronicles 11:1

11:1-12 A few good words might have prevented the rebellion of Rehoboam's subjects; but all the force of his kingdom cannot bring them back. And it is in vain to contend with the purpose of God, when it is made known to us. Even those who are destitute of true faith, will at times pay some regard to the word of God, and be kept by it from wrong actions, to which they are prone by nature.

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and {a} Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against {b} Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. (a) That is, the half tribe of Benjamin for the other half went after Jeroboam. (b) Meaning the ten tribes who rebelled.

Verse 1. - 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 of the youngest and most petted of old Jacob's sons, are now wedded to the end. The tribe of Benjamin lay hemmed in between Ephraim, to which it had once much leaned, and to which (as Benjamin was the blood-uncle of Ephraim) it was more closely related, and Judah, with which it had once been at variance ( 2 Samuel 2:12-32 ; 2 Samuel 3:1-27 ; 2 Samuel 20:1 ). But exactly on the border-line of Judah and Benjamin rose the city Jerusalem and the temple ( Joshua 15:8 ; Joshua 18:16 ; Jeremiah 20:2 ); and, beyond doubt, this fact had helped to bring about the much more friendly feeling, if not absolutely close union, that now for some time had existed between these two tribes in their contiguous allotments. A hundred and four-score thousand chosen men, which were warriors. According to Joab, in David's time the men able to bear arms of Judah alone were five hundred thousand ( 2 Samuel 24:9 ).

Compare the numbers in the next reign ( 2 Chronicles 13:3 ), and, later on still, in Jehoshaphat's ( 2 Chronicles 17:14-18 ). Both of these show that Abijah and Jehoshaphat respectively had improved the time given to training much larger armies, whereas now Rehoboam was taken by surprise. 2 Chronicles 11:1

CHAPTER 11 2Ch 11:1-17. Rehoboam, Raising an Army to Subdue Israel, Is Forbidden by Shemaiah. 1-4. Rehoboam … gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin … to fight against Israel—(See 1Ki 12:21-24).Rehoboam raising an army to subdue Israel, is forbidden by Shemaiah, 1 Chronicles 11:1-4. He strengtheneth his kingdom with forts and provision, 2 Chronicles 11:5-12. The priests and Levites, and such as feared God, forsaken by Jeroboam, who turneth idolater, strengthen the kingdom of Judah, 2 Chronicles 11:13-17. The wives and children of Rehoboam, 2 Chronicles 11:18-23. Of this verse, and verses 2-4, See Poole "1 Kings 12:21".

Rehoboam's attitude to the ten rebel tribes. Cf. 1 Kings 12:21-24 . - Rehoboam's purpose, to subdue these tribes by force of arms, and bring them again under his dominion, and the abandonment of this purpose in consequence of the command of the prophet Shemaiah, belong in a certain measure to the history of the revolt of the ten tribes from the house of David; for the revolt only became an accomplished fact when the prophet Shemaiah proclaimed in the name of the Lord that the matter was from the Lord. 2 Chronicles 11:3 . Of Jahve was the thing done; He had ordained the revolt as a chastisement of the seed of David for walking no more in His ways. Solomon had, by allowing himself to be seduced by his many foreign wives into departing from the Lord, exposed himself to the divine displeasure, and his successor Rehoboam increased the guilt by his impolitic treatment of the tribes dissatisfied with Solomon's rule, and had, if not brought about the revolt, yet hastened it; but yet the conduct of these tribes was not thereby justified. Their demand that the burdens laid upon them by Solomon should be lightened, flowed from impure and godless motives, and at bottom had its root in discontent with the theocratic rule of the house of David (see on 1 Kings 12:21 .).

The expression, "to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin," is deeper than "the whole house of Judah and Benjamin and the remnant of the people," i.e., those belonging to the other tribes who were dwelling in the tribal domains of Judah and Benjamin ( 1 Kings 12:23 ); for it characterizes all who had remained true to the house of David as Israel, i.e., those who walked in the footsteps of their progenitor Israel (Jacob).

Talia secla, suis dixerunt, currite, fusis Concordes stabili fatorum numine Parcae. Virg. Ecl. iv., ver. 46. "God's firm decree, by which this web was spun, Shall ever bless the clue, and bid it smoothly run." Labitur, et labetur in omne volubilis Aevum. Horat. Epist., l. i., c. 2, v. 43. "Still glides the river, and shall ever glide." Amen! Amen! [ 2 Chronicles 11 ]2 CHRONICLES 2CHRONICLES 11: 1 When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. Rehoboam raises an array, purposing to reduce the ten tribes; but is prevented by Shemaiah the prophet, 2 Chronicles 11:1-4. He builds several cities of defense, and fortifies others, 2 Chronicles 11:5-12. The priests and Levites being turned out by Jeroboam, come to Rehoboam, 2 Chronicles 11:13, 2 Chronicles 11:14. Jeroboam's gross idolatry, 2 Chronicles 11:15. The pious of the land join with Judah, and strengthen the kingdom of Rehoboam, 2 Chronicles 11:16, 2 Chronicles 11:17. His wives, concubines, and numerous issue, 2 Chronicles 11:18-21. He places his own sons for governors in the different provinces, 2 Chronicles 11:22, 2 Chronicles 11:23.