2 Chronicles 11:17

_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._ They strengthened the kingdom of Judah. The innovating measures of Jeroboam were not introduced all at once. But as the were developed, the secession of the most excellent of his subjects began, and continuing to increase for three years, lowered the tone of religion its his kingdom, while it proportionally quickened its life and extended its influence in that of Judah....

13-23 When the priests and Levites came to Jerusalem, the devout, pious Israelites followed them. Such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, left the inheritance of their fathers, and went to Jerusalem, that they might have free access to the altar of God, and be out of the temptation to worship the calves. That is best for us, which is best for our souls; in all our choices, religious advantages must be sought before all outward conveniences. Where God's faithful priests are, his faithful people should be. And when it has been proved that we are willing to renounce our worldly interests, so far as we are called to do so for the sake of Christ and his gospel, we have good evidence that we are truly his disciples. And it is the interest of a nation to protect religion and religious people....

Verse 2 Chronicles 11:17. _FOR THREE YEARS THEY WALKED IN THE WAY OF DAVID_] During this time he prospered; but for _fourteen_ years after this he and the people were unfaithful to the Lord, except at such intervals as the hand of God's judgments was upon them....

THREE YEARS - i. e., during the first three years of Rehoboam’s reign. In the fourth year an apostasy took place, which neutralized all the advantages of the immigration (marginal reference). In the fifth the apostasy was punished by the invasion and success of Shishak 2 Chronicles 12:2....

EXPOSITION The first four verses of this chapter would have been better placed as the conclusion of the previous chapter. They correspond with 1 Kings 12:21-11; and they tell how Rehoboam was restrained from making bad worse, in a hopeless attempt to recover the seceding ten tribes, by war that would have been as bloody as foredoomed to failure. "The word of the Lord" to this intent came to the Prophet Shemaiah, and through him to Rehoboam. The remaining verses of the chapter are new matter, and belong to Chronicles alone. They tell how Rehoboam set to work to fortify his towns, or rather many of them (1 Kings 12:5); how he received priests and others from the kingdom of the ten tribes ...

SO THEY STRENGTHENED THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH,.... Made it more numerous, and in a better condition to defend itself: AND MADE REHOBOAM SON OF SOLOMON STRONG THREE YEARS; established him on the throne, strengthened the government in his hands, and were the means of preserving him in the pure worship of God for the space of time mentioned, the reason of which follows: FOR THREE YEARS THEY WALKED IN THE WAY OF DAVID AND SOLOMON; in their good ways, which were according to the rule of the divine word; and which, as they refer to the whole of David's life and reign, some particular actions excepted, so to the former part of Solomon's reign, before he fell into idolatry, and to the latter part of it after his repentance; for that he did repent is by some concluded from hence, and may be more strongly from the book of Ecclesiastes, written by him in his old age. This is to be understood both of...

Let us read, for our instruction, part of the story of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. 2 Chronicles 11:1. _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 Sheniuiah 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._ So far, so good. There was some degree of the fear of God in the minds of men when, at the bidding of a single prophet, a king would disband his

III. THE HISTORY OF THE KINGS OF JUDAH:EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE CAPTIVITY 1. Decline and Apostasy under Rehoboam, Abijah and Asa CHAPTER 11 Rehoboam's Reign _ 1. The forbidden war (2 Chronicles 11:1)_ 2. The national defence (2 Chronicles 11:5) 3. Jeroboam's wickedness and Rehoboam's strength (2 Chronicles 11:13) 4. Rehoboam's family (2 Chronicles 11:18) The provocation to go to war with the tribes which had revolted was great. Rehoboam was ready to start the civil war. He gathered 180,000 men of Judah and Benjamin to fight against Israe

SHEMAIAH RESTRAINS REHOBOAM FROM ATTACKING JEROBOAM (see notes on 1 Kings 12:21). The variations between the two records are unimportant. 2 CHRONICLES 11:5. REHOBOAM ESTABLISHES HIMSELF IN JERUSALEM. There is nothing corresponding to this section in 1 K. 2 Chronicles 11:5. Rehoboam's cities of defence. Although these are not enumerated in 1 K. there is no reason to doubt that the Chronicler got the list of them from an authentic source. 2 Chronicles 11:13. This account of how the priests and Levites joined Rehoboam was probably inserted by the Chronicler,

THREE YEARS. See note on 2 Chronicles 12:2; 2 Chronicles 12:1...