20140809 Saturday, August 9 2014
2 Chronicles 11: Rehoboam's House of Judah and Benjamin

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"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"

The LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) caused the division of the united kingdom of Israel during the time of King Rehoboam, the son of King Solomon (see Rehoboam's Scorpions). The split was accomplished exactly as the LORD declared that it would - with ten tribes going off on their own. The prophecy was also delivered to Jeroboam - who would be the first king of the ten tribes that composed the separate kingdom of Israel (see The First Kings Of Israel and Judah).

"11:31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:" (1 Kings 11:31 KJV)

So it was then that King Rehoboam was left with his home tribe of Judah, as well as the tribe of Benjamin whose tribal territory included the northern part of Jerusalem (Judah and Benjamin had a very strong geographical incentive to remain together; see Judah's Homeland and The Land Of Benjamin). When Rehoboam began to go to war to force the separated tribes back, the LORD stopped him with the command "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."

"11:1 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.

11:2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 11:3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 11:4 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." (2 Chronicles 11:1-4 KJV)

The Levites had been distributed throughout all of the tribes of Israel (see Cities and Suburbs Of The Levite Clans and The Inheritance Of The Levites), but after the division they all eventually dwelt in the Kingdom of Judah because "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" (see No Levites In The Lost Ten Tribes?).

"11:5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah. 11:6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, 11:7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, 11:8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, 11:9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, 11:10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities. 11:11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine. 11:12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

11:13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. 11:14 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: 11:15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. 11:16 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. 11:17 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." (2 Chronicles 11:5-17 KJV)

The Messianic line of King David continued, as it began (see Prophecy Of King David's Messianic Throne) in the Kingdom of Judah (see Israelite Dynasties).

"11:18 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; 11:19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. 11:20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. 11:21 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.)

11:22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king. 11:23 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." (2 Chronicles 11:18-23 KJV)

Fact Finder: (a) What happened to the northern ten tribes of the Kingdom of Israel in 721 BC? (b) What happened to the Kingdom of Judah in 586 BC?
(a) See Israel In History and Prophecy: The Lost Ten Tribes; also When Will The United Kingdom Be Restored?
(b) See Israel In History and Prophecy: Kingdom Of Judah; also Israel In History and Prophecy: The Return Of Judah