2 Chronicles 11:6

_HE BUILT EVEN BETHLEHEM, AND ETAM, AND TEKOA,_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

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....

See Joshua 15 and notes at Joshua 15:33, notes; Joshua 15:48, notes; Joshua 15:58, notes. For Adullam see 1 Samuel 22:1 note. It was in the near neighborhood of Socoh Joshua 15:35; but its site cannot be actually fixed. It was a place of great antiquity Genesis 38:1....

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 ...

HE BUILT EVEN BETHLEHEM,.... The place of our Lord's birth, about six miles from Jerusalem: AND ETAM; another city in the tribe of Judah; see 1 Chronicles 4:32, there was a rock of this name, Judges 15:8 and a fountain from whence waters were conveyed into the pool at Jerusalem, spoken of in Jewish writings b: AND TEKOAH; of which place Amos the prophet was, and which was about twelve miles from Jerusalem. Rauwolff c speaks of it as a fortified place now; he says it has a strong and mighty castle, built on a great and high hill. b Cippi Heb. p. 10. c Travels, par. 3. c. 22. p. 321. Ed. Ray....

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,

The Prosperity of Rehoboam This section has no corresponding section in 1 Kin. On the other hand the Chronicler omits three important sections of 1 Kings 12:25-33 (the setting up of the golden calves), 2 Chronicles 13:1-22 (the episode of the prophet who cried against the altar in Beth-el) and 2 Chronicles 14:1-15 (the death of the son of Jeroboam)....

2. THE REIGN OF REHOBOAM (11-12) TEXT 2 Chronicles 11:1. And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, that were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. 2. But the word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah the man of God saying, 3. Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4. -Thus saith Jehovah, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house; for this thing is of me.-' So they hearkened unto the words of Jehovah, and returned from going against Jeroboam. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah. 6. He built Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa. 7. and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam, 8. and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, 9. and Adorai