2 Chronicles 11
About 2 ChroniclesWritten by AI
Second Chronicles carries Israel's story from Solomon's temple to the fall of Jerusalem, and then one step further, to the decree that let the exiles go home. First and Second Chronicles were once a single book. Jewish tradition credits Ezra as the writer; many scholars simply call the author "the Chronicler," writing for the returned exiles some time after 450 BC.
This is not a copy of Kings. It follows only Judah and David's line, and it keeps asking one question: what happens when God's people seek Him, and what happens when they forsake Him? Watch how often a king is in trouble, humbles himself, and is heard. Chapter 7 gives the pattern: “if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray.”
Watch for the temple, true worship, and repentance. Chronicles gives more room than Kings to reformers like Hezekiah and Josiah, and it tells of wicked Manasseh turning back to God. It ends not in ruin but with an open door.
Before you read 2 Chronicles 11Written by AI
Rehoboam musters an army to win back the north, but the prophet Shemaiah tells him not to fight his brothers, and he listens. He fortifies Judah, and faithful priests, Levites, and worshipers from the north move south to keep seeking the LORD. The chapter ends with his family.
Shemaiah’s Prophecy
When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: “Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for this is My doing.’”
So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam.
Rehoboam Fortifies Judah
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah. He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. He strengthened their fortifications and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine. He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites
Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam. For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD. And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.
Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.
Rehoboam’s Family
And Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab. She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king. Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.