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11:2 But the Lord <03069> told <01697> Shemaiah <08098> the prophet <0430> <0376>, 11:3 “Say <0559> this to <0413> King <04428> Rehoboam <07346> son <01121> of Solomon <08010> of Judah <03063> and to <0413> all <03605> the Israelites <03478> in Judah <03063> and Benjamin <01144>, 11:4 ‘The Lord <03068> says <0559> this <03541>: “Do not <03808> attack <05927> and make war <03898> with <05973> your brothers <0251>. Each <0376> of you go <07725> home <01004>, for <03588> I have caused this <02088> to happen <01961>.”’” They obeyed <08085> the Lord <03068> and called off <07725> the attack <01980> against <0413> Jeroboam <03379>. 11:5 Rehoboam <07346> lived <03427> in Jerusalem <03389>; he built up <01129> these fortified <04692> cities <05892> throughout Judah <03063>: 11:6 Bethlehem <01035>, Etam <05862>, Tekoa <08620>, 11:7 Beth Zur <01049>, Soco <07755>, Adullam <05725>, 11:8 Gath <01661>, Mareshah <04762>, Ziph <02128>, 11:9 Adoraim <0115>, Lachish <03923>, Azekah <05825>, 11:10 Zorah <06881>, Aijalon <0357>, and Hebron <02275>. These were the fortified <04694> cities <05892> in Judah <03063> and Benjamin <01144>. 11:11 He fortified <02388> these cities <04694> and placed <05414> officers <05057> in them, as well as storehouses <0214> of food <03978>, olive oil <08081>, and wine <03196>. 11:12 In each city <05892> <05892> <03605> there were shields <06793> and spears <07420>; he strongly <03966> <07235> fortified <02388> them. Judah <03063> and Benjamin <01144> belonged <01961> to him. 11:13 The priests <03548> and Levites <03881> who <0834> lived throughout <03605> Israel <03478> supported <03320> him, no matter where they resided <01366>. 11:14 The Levites <03881> even <03588> left <05800> their pasturelands <04054> and their property <0272> behind and came <01980> to Judah <03063> and Jerusalem <03389>, for <03588> Jeroboam <03379> and his sons <01121> prohibited <02186> them from serving as <03547> the Lord’s <03068> priests <03547>. 11:15 Jeroboam appointed <05975> his own priests <03548> to serve at the worship centers <01116> and to lead in the worship of the goat <08163> idols and calf <05695> idols he had made <06213>. 11:16 Those among <0310> all <03605> the Israelite <03478> tribes <07626> who were determined <05414> to worship <01245> the Lord <03068> God <0430> of Israel <03478> followed <0935> them to Jerusalem <03389> to sacrifice <02076> to the Lord <03068> God <0430> of their ancestors <01>. 11:17 They supported <02388> the kingdom <04438> of Judah <03063> and were loyal <0553> to Rehoboam <07346> son <01121> of Solomon <08010> for <03588> three <07969> years <08141>; they followed <01980> the edicts <01870> of David <01732> and Solomon <08010> for three <07969> years <08141>. 11:18 Rehoboam <07346> married <03947> Mahalath <04258> the daughter <01323> of David’s <01732> son <01121> <01121> Jerimoth and of Abihail <032>, the daughter <01323> of Jesse’s <03448> son <01121> Eliab <0446>. 11:19 She bore <03205> him sons <01121> named Jeush <03266>, Shemariah <08114>, and Zaham <02093>. 11:20 He later <0310> married <03947> Maacah <04601> the daughter <01323> of Absalom <053>. She bore <03205> to him Abijah <029>, Attai <06262>, Ziza <02124>, and Shelomith <08019>. 11:21 Rehoboam <07346> loved <0157> Maacah <04601> daughter <01323> of Absalom <053> more than his other <03605> wives <0802> and concubines <06370>. He had <05375> eighteen <06240> <08083> wives <0802> and sixty <08346> concubines <06370>; he fathered <03205> twenty-eight <08083> <06242> sons <01121> and sixty <08346> daughters <01323>. 11:22 Rehoboam <07346> appointed <05975> Abijah <029> son <01121> of Maacah <04601> as the leader <07218> over his brothers <0251>, for <03588> he intended to name him his successor <04427>. 11:23 He wisely <0995> placed <06555> some <03605> of his many <03605> sons <01121> throughout <06555> the regions <0776> of Judah <03063> and Benjamin <01144> in the various <03605> fortified <04694> cities <05892>. He supplied <05414> them with abundant <07230> provisions <04202> and acquired <07592> many <01995> wives <0802> for them.

• 2Ch 11:5--12:16 -- Rehoboam's Reign

• Rehoboam

  [ebd] he enlarges the people, the successor of Solomon on the throne, and apparently his only son. He was the son of Naamah "the Ammonitess," some well-known Ammonitish princess (1 Kings 14:21; 2 Chr. 12:13). He was forty-one year...
  [isbe] REHOBOAM - re-ho-bo'-am (rechabh`am, "the people is enlarged," or perhaps "Am is wide" Rhoboam; "Roboam," Mt 1:7 the King James Version): 1. The Disruption of the Kingdom 2. Underlying Causes of Disruption 3. Shemaiah Forbid...
  [nave] REHOBOAM Successor to Solomon as king, 1 Kin. 11:43; 2 Chr. 9:31. Refuses to reform abuses, 1 Kin. 12:1-15; 2 Chr. 10:1-15. Ten tribes, under leadership of Jeroboam, successfully revolt from, 1 Kin. 12:16-24; 2 Chr. 10:16-...
  

• Israel

  [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...
  

• CHRONICLES, BOOKS OF

  [isbe] CHRONICLES, BOOKS OF - kron'-i-k'-ls (dibhere ha-yamim, "The Words of the Days"; Septuagint paraleipomenon: 1. The Name 2. The Position of Chronicles in the Old Testament 3. Two Books, or One? 4. The Contents 5. Sources Bibl...
  

• Maachah

  [ebd] oppression, a small Syrian kingdom near Geshur, east of the Hauran, the district of Batanea (Josh. 13:13; 2 Sam. 10:6,8; 1 Chr. 19:7). (2.) A daughter of Talmai, king of the old native population of Geshur. She became one of...
  [smith] (oppression). The daughter of Nahor by his concubine Beumah. (Genesis 22:24) The father of Achish who was king of Gath at the beginning of Solomon?s reign. (1 Kings 2:39) The daughter, or more probably granddaughter, of A...
  [nave] MAACHAH 1. Son of Nahor, Gen. 22:24. 2. Called also Maacah. Mother of Absalom, 2 Sam. 3:3; 1 Chr. 3:2. 3. Called also Maoch. Father of Achish, 1 Sam. 27:2; 1 Kin. 2:39. 4. Called also Michaiah. Mother of Abijam and grandm...
  

• JUDAH, TERRITORY OF

  [isbe] JUDAH, TERRITORY OF - (yehudhah): I. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA 1. The Natural Boundaries 2. The Natural Divisions of Judah (1) The Maritime Plain (2) The Shephelah (3) The Hill Country of Judah II. THE TRIBE OF JUDAH AND ITS TERRITO...
  

• Shemaiah

  [isbe] SHEMAIAH - she-ma'-ya, she-mi'-a (shema`yah (in 2 Ch 11:2; 17:8; 31:15; 35:9; Jer 26:20; 29:24; 36:12, shema`yahu), "Jahveh hears"): The name is most frequently borne by priests, Levites and prophets. (1) Codex Vaticanus Sam...
  [smith] (heard by Jehovah). A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam. (1 Kings 12:22; 2 Chronicles 11:2) (B.C. 972.) He wrote a chronicle containing the events of Rehoboam?s reign. (2 Chronicles 12:5,15) The son of Shechaniah, am...
  [nave] SHEMAIAH 1. A prophet in the time of Rehoboam. Prevents Rehoboam from war with Jeroboam, 1 Kin. 12:22-24; 2 Chr. 11:2-4. Prophesies the punishment of Rehoboam by Shishak, king of Egypt, 2 Chr. 12:5, 7. Writes chronicles, 2...
  

• Levites

  [smith] (descendants of Levi). Sometimes the name extends to the whole tribe, the priests included, (Exodus 6:25; Leviticus 25:32; Numbers 35:2; Joshua 21:3,41) etc; sometimes only to those members of the tribe who were not priests, ...
  [nave] LEVITES The descendants of Levi. Set apart as ministers of religion, Num. 1:47-54; 3:6-16; 16:9; 26:57-62; Deut. 10:8; 1 Chr. 15:2. Substituted in the place of the firstborn, Num. 3:12, 41-45; 8:14, 16-18; 18:6. Religious ...
  

• Abihail

  [ebd] father of might. (1.) Num. 3:35. (2.) 1 Chr. 2:29. (3.) 1 Chr. 5:14. (4.) The second wife of King Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:18), a descendant of Eliab, David's eldest brother. (5.) The father of Esther and uncle of Mordecai (Esthe...
  [isbe] ABIHAIL - ab'-i-hal ('abhichayil; in some manuscripts 'abhihayil, when feminine, but best reading is the former: "father, or cause, of strength"): Five persons in the Old Testament are called by this name: (1) A Levite and t...
  [smith] (father of , i.e. possessing, strength). Father of Zuriel, chief of the Levitical father of Merari, a contemporary of Moses. (Numbers 3:35) (B.C. 1490.) Wife of Abishur. (1 Chronicles 2:29) Son of Huri, of the tribe of Ga...
  [nave] ABIHAIL 1. Father of Esther, Esth. 2:15. 2. The second wife of Rehoboam, 2 Chr. 11:18, 19. 3. Father of Zuriel, Num. 3:35. 4. Wife of Abishur, 1 Chr. 2:29.
  

• PALESTINE, 2

  [isbe] PALESTINE, 2 - III. Palestine in the Historic Books of the Old Testament. 1. Book of Joshua: Joshua is the great geographical book of the Old Testament; and the large majority of the 600 names of places, rivers and mountains...
  

• Polygamy

  [nave] POLYGAMY Forbidden, Deut. 17:17; Lev. 18:18; Mal. 2:14, 15; Matt. 19:4, 5; Mark 10:2-8; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Tit. 1:6. Authorized, 2 Sam. 12:8. Tolerated, Ex. 21:10; 1 Sam. 1:2; 2 Chr. 24:3. Practiced, Job 27:15; by Lamech, Ge...
  

• ABIJAH

  [ebd] father (i.e., "possessor or worshipper") of Jehovah. (1.) 1 Chr. 7:8. (2.) 1 Chr. 2:24. (3.) The second son of Samuel (1 Sam. 8:2; 1 Chr. 6:28). His conduct, along with that of his brother, as a judge in Beer-sheba, to which...
  [isbe] ABIJAH - a-bi'-ja ('abhiyah or 'abhiyahu (2 Ch 13:20,21), "my father is Yahweh," or "Yahweh is father"): The name of six or more men and two women in the Old Testament. (1) The seventh son of Becher the son of Benjamin (1 Ch...
  

• Jeush

  [ebd] assembler. (1.) The oldest of Esau's three sons by Aholibamah (Gen. 36:5, 14, 18). (2.) A son of Bilhan, grandson of Benjamin (1 Chr. 7:10). (3.) A Levite, one of the sons of Shimei (1 Chr. 23:10, 11). (4.) One of the three ...
  [isbe] JEUSH - je'-ush (ye`ush, probably "he protects," "he comes to help"; see HPN, 109; Kethibh is ye`ish, in Gen 36:5,14; 1 Ch 7:10): (1) A "son" of Esau (Gen 36:5,14,18; 1 Ch 1:35). "The name is thought by some to be identical ...
  [smith] (assembler). Son of Esau by Aholiabamah the daughter of Anah, the son of Zebeon the Hivite. (Genesis 36:6,14,18; 1 Chronicles 1:35) (B.C. after 1797.) A Benjamite, son of Bilhah. (1 Chronicles 7:10,11) A Gershonite Lev...
  [nave] JEUSH 1. Son of Esau, Gen. 36:5, 14, 18; 1 Chr. 1:35. 2. A Benjamite, 1 Chr. 7:10. 3. A Gershonite Levite, 1 Chr. 23:10, 11. 4. Son of Rehoboam, 2 Chr. 11:19.
  

• Jeroboam

  [isbe] JEROBOAM - jer-o-bo'-am (yarobh`am; Septuagint Hieroboam, usually assumed to have been derived from riyb and `am, and signifying "the people contend," or, "he pleads the people's cause"): The name was borne by two kings of I...
  [nave] JEROBOAM: 1. First king of Israel after the revolt. Promoted by Solomon, 1 Kin. 11:28. Ahijah's prophecy concerning, 1 Kin. 11:29-39; 14:5-16. Flees to Egypt to escape from Solomon, 1 Kin. 11:26-40. Recalled from Egypt by...
  

• Lachish

  [isbe] LACHISH - la'-kish (lakhish; Septuagint Lachis (Josh 15:39), Maches): 1. Location: A town in the foothills of the Shephelah on the border of the Philistine plain, belonging to Judah, and, from the mention of Eglon in connect...
  [smith] (invincible), a city lying south of Jerusalem, on the borders of Simeon, and belonging to the Amorites, the king of which joined with four others, at the invitation of Adonizedek king of Jerusalem, to chastise the Gibeonites ...
  [nave] LACHISH A city. King of, besieges Gibeon, Josh. 10:5. Captured by Joshua, Josh. 10:31, 32. Allotted to Judah, Josh. 15:39. Fortified by Rehoboam, 2 Chr. 11:9. Assassination of Amaziah at, 2 Kin. 14:19. Besieged by Seach...
  

• Zorah

  [ebd] place of wasps, a town in the low country of Judah, afterwards given to Dan (Josh. 19:41; Judg. 18:2), probably the same as Zoreah (Josh. 15:33). This was Samson's birthplace (Judg. 13:2, 25), and near it he found a grave (1...
  [isbe] ZORAH - zo'-ra (tsor`ah; Saraa): A city on the border of Dan, between Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh (Josh 19:41); the birthplace of Samson (Jdg 13:2,25); near here too he was buried (Jdg 16:31); from here some Danites went to spy o...
  [smith] (hornet), a town in the allotment of the tribe of Dan, (Joshua 19:41) It is previously mentioned ch. (Joshua 15:33) in the catalogue of Judah, among the places in the district of the Shefelah (Authorized Version "Zoreah"), It...
  [nave] ZORAH, called also Zareah and Zoreah. A city of Dan or Judah, Josh. 15:33; 19:41. The city of Samson, Judg. 13:2, 24, 25; 16:31. Representatives of the tribe of Dan sent from, to spy out the land with a view to its conquest...
  

• Jerimoth

  [ebd] heights. (1.) One of the sons of Bela (1 Chr. 7:7). (2.) 1 Chr. 24:30, a Merarite Levite. (3.) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:5). (4.) A Levitical musician under Heman his father (1 Chr. 25:4). (5....
  [isbe] JERIMOTH - jer'-i-moth (see JEREMOTH, (c)): (1) A Benjamite (1 Ch 7:7). (2) A Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag, or perhaps a Judean (1 Ch 12:5 (Hebrew 6)). (3) In 1 Ch 24:30 = JEREMOTH, (4) (which see). (4) A Levite musi...
  [smith] (heights). Son or descendant of Bela. (1 Chronicles 7:7) He is perhaps the same as who joined David at Ziklag. (1 Chronicles 12:5) (B.C. 1055.) A son of Beecher, (1 Chronicles 7:8) and head of a Benjamite house. Son...
  [nave] JERIMOTH Called also Jeremoth. 1. Son of Bela, 1 Chr. 7:7. 2. Son of Becher, 1 Chr. 7:8. 3. A defecting Israelite, who denounced Saul and joined David at Ziklag, 1 Chr. 12:5. 4. Son of Mushi, 1 Chr. 23:23; 24:30. 5. Son ...
  

• Aholah

  [ebd] she has her own tent, a name used by Ezekiel (23:4, 5, 36, 44) as a symbol of the idolatry of the kingdom of Israel. This kingdom is described as a lewdwoman, an adulteress, given up to the abominations and idolatries of the...
  

• Ziza

  [ebd] splendour; abundance. (1.) A Simeonite prince (1 Chr. 4:37-43). (2.) A son of Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:20).
  [isbe] ZIZA - zi'-za (ziza', probably a childish reduplicated abbreviation or a term of endearment (Curtis, Chron., 369, quoting Noldeke in EB, III 3294)): (1) A Simeonite chief (1 Ch 4:37). (2) A son of King Rehoboam, his mother b...
  [smith] (shining). Son of Shiphi, a chief of the Simeonites in the reign of Hezekiah. (1 Chronicles 4:37) (B.C. about 725.) Son of Rehoboam by Maachah the granddaughter of Absalom. (2 Chronicles 11:20) (B.C. after 973.)
  [nave] ZIZA 1. A Simeonite, 1 Chr. 4:37. 2. Son of Rehoboam, 2 Chr. 11:20.
  

• Mahalath

  [ebd] a lute; lyre. (1.) The daughter of Ishmael, and third wife of Esau (Gen. 28:9); called also Bashemath (Gen. 36:3). (2.) The daughter of Jerimoth, who was one of David's sons. She was one of Rehoboam's wives (2 Chr. 11:18).
  [isbe] MAHALATH - ma'-ha-lath (machalath): (1) In Gen 28:9 the name of a wife of Esau, daughter of Ishmael, and sister of Nebaioth, called in 36:3, BASEMATH (which see). The Samaritan Pentateuch, however, throughout Genesis 36 reta...
  [smith] (stringed instrument) one of the eighteen wives of King Rehoboam, apparently his first. (2 Chronicles 11:18) only. She was her husband?s cousin, being the daughter of King David?s son Jerimoth.
  [nave] MAHALATH 1. Called also Bashemath. Daughter of Ishmael, Gen. 28:9; 36:3. 2. A granddaughter of David, 2 Chr. 11:18. 3. See: Music.
  

• Etam

  [ebd] eyrie. (1.) A village of the tribe of Simeon (1 Chr. 4:32). Into some cleft ("top," A.V.,; R.V., "cleft") of a rock here Samson retired after his slaughter of the Philistines (Judg. 15:8, 11). It was a natural stronghold. It...
  [isbe] ETAM - e'-tam `eTam; Codex Alexandrinus, Apan, Codex Vaticanus, Aitan): (1) Mentioned in Septuagint along with Tekoa, Bethlehem and Phagor (Josh 15:59). In 2 Ch 11:6 it occurs, between Bethlehem and Tekoa, as one of the citi...
  [smith] (lair of wild beasts). A village of the tribe of Simeon, specified only in the list in (1 Chronicles 4:32) comp. Josh 19:7 A place in Judah, fortified and garrisoned by Rehoboam. (2 Chronicles 11:6) Here, according to ...
  [nave] ETAM 1. A village of Simeon, 1 Chr. 4:32. 2. A city in Judah, 2 Chr. 11:6. 3. A name in list of Judah's descendants, but probably referring to No. 2, 1 Chr. 4:3. 4. A rock where Samson was bound and delivered to the Phili...
  

• Rehoboam's Government

  

• What is the significance of firstborn in the Bible?
  I'm going to copy some articles on this subject, but let me give you my summation of all of them. In the Old Testament, the firstborn son was the one who normally received a double inheritance, and was the one who would inher...

Biblical Polygamists

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