God Stops the Civil War
Study note
Rehoboam gathered 180,000 warriors from Judah and Benjamin to attack the northern tribes and reunite the kingdom by force. But God sent the prophet Shemaiah with a message: 'Do not go to war against your own brothers. Go home, for this is my doing.' The people obeyed the Lord and went home.
1 When Rehoboam got back to Jerusalem, he brought together 180,000 of the best fighting men from Judah and Benjamin. He wanted to go to war against Israel and take back the kingdom. 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.
2 But the Lord gave a message to Shemaiah, a man who spoke for God. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3 God said, "Give this word to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah. Share it with all of Judah and Benjamin." Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4 "The Lord says: 'Do not go fight against your own relatives. Everyone go back home, because I am the one who made this happen.'" They obeyed what the Lord said and turned back instead of attacking Jeroboam. 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.
Rehoboam Builds Defense Cities
Study note
Instead of fighting, Rehoboam focused on fortifying fifteen cities throughout Judah and Benjamin. He put commanders in each city and stored weapons and supplies there. These fortified cities formed a defensive ring around Judah, protecting the kingdom from invasion from the south and west.
5 Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem. He made several cities in Judah stronger and ready for war. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
6 He built up the defenses of Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. All of these became walled cities in the lands of Judah and Benjamin. And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11 He made their walls stronger and placed military leaders in each one. He also stored up food, olive oil, and wine there. And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
12 He put shields and spears in every city, making them very well defended. So Judah and Benjamin stayed under his control. And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
Priests and Levites Move to Judah
Study note
When Jeroboam set up his own religion in the north with golden calves and his own non-Levite priests, the real priests and Levites left their homes and moved to Judah and Jerusalem. People from all the tribes who wanted to worship the Lord also came to Judah to offer sacrifices. This strengthened Rehoboam's kingdom for three years.
13 Priests and Levites from all across Israel came to join Rehoboam. And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
14 The Levites gave up their pastures and land and moved to Judah and Jerusalem. They did this because Jeroboam and his sons had fired them from serving as priests to the Lord. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:
15 Jeroboam had picked his own priests to serve at the hilltop worship places. He set up idols shaped like goats and golden calves for people to worship. And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
16 People from every tribe who truly wanted to worship Israel's God followed the Levites to Jerusalem. They came to offer gifts to the Lord, the God of their fathers. And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.
17 These faithful people made Judah stronger and helped Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years. During that time, they followed the good example of David and Solomon. 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.
Rehoboam's Family
Study note
Rehoboam married women from the royal family, including Maachah, the granddaughter of Absalom, whom he loved most. He had 18 wives and 60 concubines, and fathered 28 sons and 60 daughters. He wisely appointed his son Abijah as the chief prince, making him heir to the throne, and spread his other sons throughout the fortified cities of Judah and Benjamin.
18 Rehoboam married Mahalath. She was the daughter of Jerimoth, who was a son of David. Her mother was Abihail, the daughter of Eliab son of Jesse. And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
19 She gave Rehoboam three sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
20 After that, he married Maacah, who was a granddaughter of Absalom. She gave him four children: Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
21 Rehoboam loved Maacah more than all his other wives and concubines. In all, he had 18 wives and 60 concubines, and they gave him 28 sons and 60 daughters. And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)
22 Rehoboam chose Abijah, Maacah's son, to be the leading prince among his brothers, because he planned to make him the next king. And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
23 Rehoboam was smart about spreading his sons throughout the lands of Judah and Benjamin. He put them in charge of the walled cities and gave them plenty of food and many wives. And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.