BOOK 14 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

2 Chronicles 11

2 Chronicles book home•Chapter 11 of 36•23 verses

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2 Chronicles 11 Overview

Rehoboam gathers an army to recover the northern kingdom, but the prophet Shemaiah tells him not to fight his brothers because the division is from God. Rehoboam obeys, turns back, and fortifies cities in Judah. Priests and Levites from throughout Israel migrate to Judah because Jeroboam has rejected them and established his own priests and idol worship. For three years these faithful worshipers strengthen Rehoboam’s kingdom. The chapter also records Rehoboam’s large royal household and succession planning.

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Before you read 2 Chronicles 11

Coming from

Chapter 10 ended with the northern tribes rejecting Rehoboam’s rule.

In this chapter

Civil war is stopped by prophetic command, Judah is fortified, and faithful priests and Levites leave the northern kingdom for Jerusalem-centered worship.

Leads into

Chapter 12 shows that after Rehoboam becomes strong, he forsakes God’s law and faces Shishak’s invasion.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Chronicles emphasizes the religious effects of the division. Jeroboam’s alternative priesthood and worship system drive Levites and others who seek the LORD toward Judah. The three-year note is important: the strengthening is genuine but does not guarantee Rehoboam’s later faithfulness.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Obedience to God’s word prevents an immediate civil war.

Truth 2

Faithfulness sometimes requires leaving a corrupt religious system despite personal cost.

Truth 3

A strong beginning does not guarantee continued faithfulness.

Truth 4

Political fortification and spiritual strengthening occur side by side.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

First Kings 12:25-33 explains Jeroboam’s calves, unauthorized priesthood, and altered feast system.

Connection 2

Deuteronomy 12 requires Israel to worship at the place God chooses rather than inventing rival sanctuaries.

Connection 3

Second Chronicles 13 will continue describing conflict between the divided kingdoms.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not use the migration of Levites as a simplistic rule that believers must always relocate geographically when leaders are corrupt; the issue here is the Mosaic temple system and an unauthorized rival priesthood.

Keep this clear 2

Rehoboam’s obedience in this chapter does not erase his later apostasy.

Keep this clear 3

The condemnation of Jeroboam’s worship concerns covenant idolatry, not merely a preference for different worship styles.

Read 2 Chronicles 11 watching for…

God’s command against fighting the northern tribes.

The cities Rehoboam fortifies.

Why priests and Levites leave the north.

The three-year period of strengthening.

The contrast between spiritual strength and Rehoboam’s later vulnerability.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-4The LORD stops Rehoboam from fighting the northern tribes 5-12Rehoboam strengthens fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin 13-17Priests, Levites, and those who seek the LORD come to Jerusalem and strengthen Judah 18-23Rehoboam’s family grows, and he prepares Abijah to succeed him

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah 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 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.

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

He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

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

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

And in every several city 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 priest's office unto the LORD:

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

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.

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.

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;

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 concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; 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: 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: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.

STUDY THIS VERSE

2 Chronicles 11:2

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