REIGN OF REHOBOAM (CONTINUED) This chapter repeats the substance of 1 Kings 12:21, and adds much information relating to Rehoboam's buildings, the withdrawal of the Levites from the kingdom of Jeroboam, and Rehoboam's marriages.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUILT CITIES] Of the towns named in the following vv. BETH-LEHEM, TEKOA, BETH-ZUR, ADORAIM, ZIPH, and HEBRON, were in the hill-country of Judah; ETAM, SHOCO, ADULLAM, MARESHAH, AZEKAH, ZORAH and AIJALON, were in the lowlands, whilst GATH (a Philistine city, which in Solomon's reign was independent)... [ Continue Reading ]
CAST THEM OFF] When Jeroboam made priests from all the tribes indifferently, the Levites lost their privileged position as the only legitimate priestly tribe.... [ Continue Reading ]
DEVILS] lit. 'he-goats,' the deities that were worshipped being supposed to assume the forms of these animals, like the Greek Satyrs and the Roman Faunus.... [ Continue Reading ]
JERIMOTH] not included in the list in 1 Chronicles 3:1, so that he was probably the son of a concubine. _And_ ABIHAIL] RV '_and of '_Abi-hail': ABIHAIL being the wife of JERIMOTH and mother of MAHALATH. 20. DAUGHTER] probably 'granddaughter': see 2 Samuel 14:27 and 2 Samuel 13:1. ABIJAH] The 'Abija... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DEALT WISELY] By acting as here described he sought to secure the tranquil succession of the son whom he had chosen as his heir: cp. 2 Chronicles 21:3. DESIRED] probably for his sons.... [ Continue Reading ]