2 Crônicas 11
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Crônicas 11
NJB (LXX versing) Rehobaom Reigns Over Judah and Builds Cities The Beginning of the Reign of Rehoboam Shemaiah's Prophecy 11:1-4 11:1-4 11:1-4 11:1-4 11:1-4 Rehoboam Fortifies the Cities Rehoboam Fortifies the Cities 11:5-12 11:5-12 11:5-12 11:5-12 11:5-12 Priests and Levites Move to Judah Priests and Levites Come to Judah The Priests and Levites Migrate to Judah 11:13 11:13-17 11:13-17 11:13-17 11:13-17 Jeroboam Appoints False Priests 11:14-17 Rehoboam's Family The Family of Rehoboam Rehoboam's Family Rehoboam's Family 11:18-23 11:18-23 11:18-23 11:18-23 11:18-23 Etc.
2 Crônicas 11:1-4
11:1 Rehoboam (see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1127-1129) was going to restore his kingdom by military action against the northern tribes. Having to flee in his chariot must have been a terrible embarrassment (cf. 2 Chr. 10:18). "180,000" The issue involved in all large numbers in the OT is the semantic range of the word "thousand." Questioning the numbers is not a matter of not believing the Bible. It is a matter of the original, inspired, ANE author's intent. use of round numbers use of symbolic numbers metaphorical use of large number to communicate importance possible scribal error; the numbering system was difficult to read; each letter of the alphabet stood for a number, to increase the number by ten, a mark was placed over the letter For more information, see SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE Edwin R. Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings John J. David, Biblical Numerology See: SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph) SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE 11:2 "the word of the Lord" This refers to a prophetic revelation. At this period of Israel's history, the word of a prophet replaced the use of the Urim and Thummim of the High Priest. "Shemaiah the man of God" This prophet is mentioned in 2 Chr. 12:5-8,15. For the phrase "man of God" see note at 2 Chr. 8:14. 11:3 "to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin" The word "Israel" can be understood in several ways (see note at 2 Chr. 12:1). descendants of Jacob (i.e., covenant people) Judah is the true Israel northern tribal families living in the southern kingdom Simeon is not mentioned because this tribe became part of Judah early. 11:4 This verse has one IMPERATIVE and possibly two IMPERFECTS used in a JUSSIVE sense. you shall not go up ‒ BDB 748, KB 828, Qal IMPERFECT you shall not fight against ‒ BDB 535, KB 526, Niphal IMPERFECT return every man to his house ‒ BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal IMPERATIVE "for this thing is from Me" The prophecy related to the splitting of the kingdom is in 1 Kgs. 11:26-40. It was because of Solomon's idolatry in his old age. This is alluded to in 2 Chr. 10:15. God is in control of history but human choices have consequences (i.e., Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28).
2 Crônicas 11:5-12
11:5-12 Rehoboam was worried about Jeroboam I's ally, Egypt (cf. 2 Chr. 12:9,13). He was preparing for siege warfare. food, oil, wine, 2 Chr. 11:11 shields, spears, 2 Chr. 11:12 The information in 2 Chr. 11:5-23 is unique to Chronicles. It must be from another written, unnamed source. 11:8 "Gath" Since Gath was one of the five major city-states of the Philistines, it is possible this should be "Moresheth Gath," which was in western Judah and the home of the prophet Micah (cf. Mic. 1:14). 11:13-17 The tribe of Levi (i.e., priests and Levites) supported Judah because of (1) the Davidic seed and (2) the temple. They left the Levitical cities which were located north of Judah. See notes at Joshua 21.
2 Crônicas 11:14-17
11:14 "for Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests" He wanted to start two new temple sites, one at Bethel (just north of Jerusalem) and one in Dan (a city in the far north of Canaan). See the parallel in 1 Kgs. 12:26-33. 11:15 The Chronicler's disgust at Jeroboam's actions can be seen in how he characterizes the worship of the northern tribe. He set up priests of his own (not from the tribe of Levi as Moses required). They served at "high places," which were notorious fertility worship sites (cf. 1 Kgs. 12:30). He asserts the worship was of "satyrs" (BDB 972 III, KB 1341 III). He asserts the worship of the two golden calves (i.e., symbol of fertility, cf 1 Kgs. 12:28-33; 2 Kgs. 10:29; 17:16; 2 Chr. 13:8). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DEMONIC IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 11:16 Some from the north rejected the idolatry of Jeroboam I and faithfully came to Jerusalem to worship and sacrifice. The beautiful phrase, "who set their heart on seeking the Lord God of Israel" denotes the right attitude the right place the right priests the right procedures See note at 2 Chr. 7:14; and NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 723, (vi), (b). 11:17 "for three years" Rehoboam was obedient to God's revelations to David, Solomon, and Moses for this period of time only. This temporary obedience becomes a terrible pattern. Asa ‒ 2 Chr. 16:7-10 Joash ‒ 2 Chr. 24:1-24 Amaziah ‒ 2 Chr. 25:14-24 Uzziah ‒ 2 Chr. 26:16-21 "they walked in the way of David and Solomon" This means he was obedient to God's revealed will but only for a period of three years.
2 Crônicas 11:18-23
11:18-23 These verses denote the palace intrigue (i.e., many wives, favorite wife, many from royal line). Mahalath ‒ David's granddaughter Abihail ‒ Jesse's granddaughter Maacah ‒ Absalom's daughter (possibly granddaughter, i.e., Josephus, Antiq. 8.10.1.) It is never stated where the Chronicler got this information, probably another written source. 11:18 "Jerimoth the son of David" Since this is not one of David's sons mentioned in other texts, he may have been the son of a concubine (Barnes Notes, p. 386). 11:21 "concubines" These were legal, but second level, wives whose children did not inherit. See NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 618. 11:22 Rehoboam wanted the first son of his favorite wife to be king. He was not the first or oldest son. Abijah succeeded his father (cf. 1 Chronicles 13). 11:23 This "acted wisely" is connected to Rehoboam spreading out the royal princes into the fortified cities throughout the country. He tried to placate his other sons by giving them their own city large amounts of royal food many wives "he sought many wives for them" The MT can be understood in two very different ways. This was one of the ways Rehoboam tried to keep all the royal princes happy (see note above). It refers to his wives pulling him into idolatry, just as Solomon's foreign wives did to him (i.e., more, young wives for himself). The phrase "he acted wisely" then must be understood as supporting #1 above or sarcasm