Chapter 11

1 Rehoboam raising an army to subdue Israel, is forbidden by Shemaiah. 5 He strengtheneth his kingdom with forts and provision. 13 The priests and Levites, and such as feared God, forsaken by Jeroboam, strengthen the kingdom of Judah. 18 The wives and children of Rehoboam.

1. Judah and Benjamin. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin now constituted the southern monarchy, which is usually called the nation of Judah. The tribe of Benjamin had formerly been more closely allied with the tribe of Ephraim, but it seems that the establishment of the capital at Jerusalem, on the border of Benjamin, was at least one factor influencing Benjamin to cast in its lot with Judah (see on 1 Kings 12:21).

Hundred and fourscore thousand. This is a moderate number, and probably represents the available trained men of war in the two southern tribes. At the time of the entrance into Canaan, Judah had 76,500 men, and Benjamin, 45,600 (Num. 26:22, 41), or a total of 122,100 males of military age. In David’s time Judah had 500,000 men (2 Sam. 24:9). The military forces of the kingdom of Judah as given in Chronicles numbered 400,000 at the time of Abijah (2 Chron. 13:3), 580,000 under Asa (ch. 14:8), and 1,160,000 under Jehoshaphat (ch. 17:14–18).

2. Shemaiah. A prophet of Judah during the reign of Rehoboam (see ch. 12:5–8, 15).

3. All Israel in Judah. The reference here is possibly to members of northern tribes now dwelling in the territory of Judah and Benjamin, but not necessarily (see on 1 Kings 12:17).

4. Done of me. See on 1 Kings 12:15. It was not, of course, God’s will that David’s kingdom should be divided into two monarchies. God’s will was that the Israelites should walk in His ways and continue to grow until by their missionary efforts they had proclaimed His name to all the earth. But when the Israelites walked in their own ways and forsook the Lord, His protecting hand was withdrawn, and forces of disruption inevitably had their way. It was to this extent that the division of the kingdom was from God (see Ed 173–177).

5. Cities for defence. Verses 5–12 deal with Rehoboam’s building of cities of defense in Judah. This material is not found in Kings. The cities mentioned are in the southern and western part of the country, which suggests that they were fortified as a protection against Egypt. Aggressive policies under Shishak (see 2 Chron. 12:2–9; 1 Kings 14:25, 26) were responsible for these defensive measures.

6. Beth-lehem. A town about 5 mi. (8 km.) south of Jerusalem (see on Gen. 35:19).

Etam. A town about 21/2 mi. (4 km.) southwest of Bethlehem.

Tekoa. A town 5 mi. (8 km.) south of Bethlehem (see 1 Chron. 2:24; 4:5; 2 Sam. 14:2, 4, 9; 2 Chron. 20:20; Amos 1:1).

7. Beth-zur. A town in the hill country of Judah (Joshua 15:58), 4 mi. (6.4 km.) north of Hebron.

Shoco. A town about 14 mi. (22.5 km.) west-southwest of Bethlehem (see 2 Chron. 28:18; Joshua 15:35; 1 Sam. 17:1).

Adullam. A fortress, mentioned in the times of David (1 Sam. 22:1), and again at a later period (Neh. 11:30; Micah 1:15). Adullam bordered on the Shephelah.

8. Gath. A city in the Philistine country and usually under Philistine control (1 Kings 2:39–41; Amos 6:2).

Mareshah. A town in the Shephelah (see Joshua 15:44). It was here that Asa defeated Zerah the Ethiopian (see on 2 Chron. 14:9, 10).

Ziph. A place in the south of Judah (see Joshua 15:24).

9. Adoraim. Probably to be identified with DuЖraµ, hill village about 5 mi. (8 km.) west of Hebron.

Lachish. An important town in the lowland of Judah (see Joshua 15:39; 2 Kings 14:19; 18:14; Micah 1:13), about 25 mi. southwest of Jerusalem.

Azekah. A town northeast of Lachish, in the Shephelah of Judah (see Joshua 10:10, 11; 1 Sam. 17:1; Neh. 11:30).

10. Zorah. A town in Dan (see Joshua 15:33; 19:41; Judges 13:2, 25; 16:31; 18:2, 11; Neh. 11:29).

Aijalon. A town 14 mi. (22.4 km.) northwest of Jerusalem. It was originally assigned to Dan (Joshua 19:42), and was designated as a Levitical city for the Kohathites (Joshua 21:20, 24).

Hebron. An important city about 19 mi. (30.4 km.) south-southwest of Jerusalem (see Gen. 23:2; 1 Chron. 3:1; 6:55, 57; 11:1).

11. Store of victual. Not only were these cities fortified: they were supplied with stores of food so as to be ready to withstand a prolonged siege.

13. Priests and the Levites. Evicted from their office, the priests and Levites forsook the northern kingdom and made their way to the south, where they could participate in the worship of Jehovah in His Temple.

14. Suburbs. That is, the grazing lands around the cities (see Lev. 25:34; Num. 35:2–5, 7; see on Joshua 14:4).

Their possession. Compare Lev. 25:29–34.

Cast them off. As a matter of policy Jeroboam established a service of religion, with centers of worship, that would be entirely distinct from the service of Jehovah in Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:26–33). Thus he hoped to wean his subjects away from their attachment to the capital in the south.

15. Ordained him priests. By the appointment of priests of his own, Jeroboam cut off the Levites from their services in connection with the worship of Jehovah and struck a direct blow at the Levitical order and all that it stood for in helping to maintain the worship of God (see PK 101).

High places. Dan and Bethel were the two chief centers of worship in the northern kingdom (1 Kings 12:29–31), but there were also high places throughout the land where the rites of the new religion were carried on (see 1 Kings 13:32).

For the devils. God regards the base forms of idol worship as the worship of demons (see Deut. 32:17; Ps. 106:37, 38; 1 Cor. 10:20). Jeroboam’s religious policy opened the way for corrupt forms of idolatry to be introduced into Israel which debased the people and led them even further away from God.

16. After them. That is, after the priests and Levites who went to Judah and Jerusalem (vs. 13, 14).

Came to Jerusalem. These people moved their residence to Judah. Their purpose in leaving Israel and going to Judah was that they might have the opportunity of worshiping at Jerusalem. It was Jeroboam’s policy to prevent visits to Jerusalem for purposes of worship. At the time of Asa there again was a migration of faithful worshipers of Jehovah to the southern kingdom (ch. 15:9).

17. Strengthened the kingdom. The influx of the priests and of devout worshipers of God into Judah doubtless had the effect of bringing about a greater earnestness in the religious life of the southern kingdom, and contributed to the moral strength of the nation.

Three years. The exodus of worshipers of Jehovah from the northern kingdom took place during the first three years of Rehoboam’s reign, while he was faithful to the principles of right (see ch. 12:1).

18. Jerimoth. He is not elsewhere named among the sons of David’s wives (2 Sam. 3:2–5; 5:14–16; 1 Chron. 3:1–9; 14:4–7). But he may have been the son of one of David’s concubines (1 Chron. 3:9).

Daughter of Eliab. Probably the granddaughter. The Hebrew word for daughter may also stand for more distant descendants (see on 1 Chron. 2:7). The daughter of David’s eldest brother (1 Sam. 17:13) could hardly have become the wife of David’s grandson.

20. Daughter of Absalom. Maachah was probably the granddaughter (see on v. 18) of Absalom, since Tamar was his only daughter (see on 1 Kings 15:2).

23. Dealt wisely. By dispersing his sons throughout Judah, where they no doubt filled positions of responsibility and developed local interests apart from the throne, Rehoboam wisely furthered the interests of his realm.

Desired many wives. A numerous harem was regarded as one of the marks of royalty and wealth. It was nevertheless disapproved of God (Deut. 17:17).

Ellen G. White comments

1–17PK 91–93

5 PK 92

11, 12, 16, 17 PK 93