What I Noticed Today (2 Chronicles 10-13)
2 Chronicles 10-12
The reign of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam.
2 Chronicles 10
Rehoboam begins his reign, and the nation of Israel divides.
Note: Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, became king when he was 41 years old.
In verse 1, Rehoboam went to Shechem in northern Israel to be coronated as king of Israel.
Note: Shechem was the unofficial capital of northern Israel. It is where Joshua had reconfirmed the Mosaic covenant (Joshua 24:1-28).
In verses 2-11, Jeroboam, who had fled to Egypt from Solomon, returned to Israel when he heard that Solomon had died.
- Jeroboam and the people confronted Rehoboam asking that hard labor and taxes imposed by Solomon be reduced.
- Rehoboam told Jeroboam and the people of Israel to return to him in three days for an answer.
- Rehoboam consulted with the elders (some translations say “old men”), and they told him that if he lightened the load on the people, they would love him and be loyal to him.
- Rehoboam also consulted with the young men (actually his peers, men in their 40’s) who said to tax the people even more.
- Rehoboam rejected the counsel of the elders in favor of the counsel of his friends.
- He told the people my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips (some translations say “scorpions,” but “barbed whips” is more accurate).
In verses 12-16, when Rehoboam rejected the counsel of the elders, the people of the ten tribes of northern Israel sided with Jeroboam and abandoned Rehoboam.
In verses 17-19, Rehoboam was now king of only Judah. Rehoboam sent Hadoram (also spelled Adoniram) to talk to the Israelites, but they stoned him to death. When Rehoboam realized he had lost control of the tribes of Israel, he fled back to Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 11
In verses 1-4, Rehoboam gathered the army and was ready to set out against Jeroboam, but God told him “no.” Rehoboam obeyed God and returned home with his army.
In verses 5-12, Rehoboam began rebuilding and strengthening 15 of the cities in Judah and Benjamin.
In verses 13-17, the priests of Israel returned to Jerusalem because Jeroboam refused to let them worship Yahweh.
- Jeroboam turned away from God by building high places and making golden calves for the people to worship.
- He even appointed his own priests.
- The Levites abandoned their lands in Israel (the northern kingdom), and fled to Judah (the southern kingdom) to be with Rehoboam and the temple of God in Jerusalem.
In verses 18-23, Rehoboam married Mahalath and Maacah.
- Mahalath bore him three sons.
Note: Mahalath was from the Davidic line on both her father and mother’s side.
- Then Rehoboam married Maacah, daughter of Absalom (possibly the granddaughter).
- Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines and fathered 28 sons and 60 daughters.
Note: The accumulation of wives was a violation of Deuteronomy 17:16-17.
- Rehoboam appointed his son, Abijah, son of Maacah, leader planning to make him king.
- Rehoboam sent his other sons throughout the region of Judah and Benjamin and provided for them.
2 Chronicles 12
Egypt attacks Jerusalem.
In verses 1-4, by his fifth year, Rehoboam was well established as king, and he turned away from God as the people of Israel had done.
- Shishak, the king of Egypt, came up against Rehoboam and conquered many of the southern cities of Judah.
- God warned them through the prophet Shemaiah, that if you abandon me, I will abandon you.
- The people repented and humbled themselves, so the Lord did not allow Shishak to destroy them, but they became his servants.
- Shishak pressed on into Jerusalem and took all the treasures in the house of the Lord and the king’s house, but left the people there.
In verses 13-16, Rehoboam reigned a total of 17 years, died when he was 58-years old, and his son Abijah reigned in his place.
2 Chronicles 13
Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, reigns in Judah.
In verses 1-2, Abijah became king over Judah in the 18th year of Israel’s king Jeroboam.
- Abijah reigned only three years from Jerusalem.
In verses 2b-12, during that time, there was a war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
- Although outnumbered 2:1 Abijah called out to God for help.
- Abijah asserted God’s promise of the Davidic line and the rebellion of Jeroboam.
- Abijah recalled how Jeroboam had rejected God and turned away the Levites and priests to appoint his own priests and made golden calves to worship.
In verses 13-20, Jeroboam ambushed the army of Rehoboam, but Rehoboam cried out to God for help.
- God defeated Jeroboam. 500,000 men of Israel were killed in the battle.
- Abijah pursued Jeroboam and recovered some of the northern cities of Judah.
- Jeroboam was unable to maintain his power during the reign of Abijah. The lord struck Jeroboam, and he died.
- Meanwhile, Abijah grew strong, acquired 14 wives, and had 22 sons and 16 daughters.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- So often we see these kings and other leaders who begin with a faithful heart following God, turn away when they have achieved some measure of success. We see the same progression today. God’s people are happy to have God help them achieve some measure of success, but after a while, they turn away from God. Inevitably their fall is not far behind.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
