2 Chronicles 12:13

The story of Rehoboam's reign is here concluded, much as the story of the other reigns concludes. Two things especially are observable here: - 1. That he was at length pretty well fixed in his kingdom, Ch2 12:13. His fenced cities in Judah did not answer his expectation, so he now strengthened himself in Jerusalem, which he made it his business to fortify, and there he reigned seventeen years, in the city which the Lord had chosen to put his name there. This intimates his honour and privilege, that he had his royal seat in the holy city, which yet was but an aggravation of his impiety - near the temple, but far from God. Frequent skirmishes there were between his subjects and Jeroboam's, such as amounted to continual wars, (Ch2 12:15), but he held his own, and reigned, and, as it should seem, did not so grossly forsake the law of God as he had done (Ch2 12:1) in his fourth year. 2. That he was never rightly fixed in his religion, Ch2 12:14. He never quite cast off God; and yet in this he did evil, that he prepared not, he engaged not, his heart to seek the Lord. See what the fault is laid upon. (1.) He did not serve the Lord because he did not seek the Lord. He did not pray, as Solomon did, for wisdom and grace. If we prayed better, we should be every way better. Or he did not consult the word of God, did not seek to that as his oracle, nor take directions from it. (2.) He made nothing of his religion because he did not set his heart to it, never minded it with any closeness of application, and never any hearty disposition to it, nor ever came up to a steady resolution in it. What little goodness he had was transient and passed away like the morning cloud. He did evil because he was never determined for that which is good. Those are easily drawn by Satan to any evil who are wavering and inconstant in that which is good and are never persuaded to make religion their business.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

HIS REIGN AND DEATH. (Ch2 12:13-16)

Rehoboam strengthened . . . and reigned--The Egyptian invasion had been a mere predatory expedition, not extending beyond the limits of Judah, and probably, ere long, repelled by the invaded. Rehoboam's government acquired new life and vigor by the general revival of true religion, and his reign continued many years after the departure of Shishak. But

he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord--that is, he did not adhere firmly to the good course of reformation he had begun, "and he did evil," for through the unhappy influence of his mother, a heathen foreigner, he had no doubt received in his youth a strong bias towards idolatry (see on Kg1 14:21).

Next: 2 Chronicles Chapter 13

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(b) SUMMING UP OF THE REIGN (2Ch_12:13-16).

(Comp. 1Ki_14:21-22; 1Ki_14:29; 1Ki_14:31.)

The Syriac and Arabic contain this section.

(13) So king Rehoboam strengthened himself.—After the withdrawal of Shishak. In other words, he regained strength after the crushing blow inflicted by the Egyptian invasion. (Comp. the same word in 2Ch_13:21; 2Ch_1:1.)

And reigned—i.e., reigned on for twelve years longer; for he reigned altogether seventeen years.

Rehoboam was one and forty . . . Naamah an Ammonitess.—Word for word as in 1Ki_14:21. (See the Notes there).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch 12:13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam [was] one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name [was] Naamah an Ammonitess.

Ver. 13. For Rehoboam was one and forty years old.] See 1Ki 14:21.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch 12:13. King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem — He recovered so much strength that he reigned with some authority: or, finding that his fenced cities of Judah did not answer his expectation, he now made it his business to fortify Jerusalem, and render that impregnable. And there he reigned seventeen years, in the city which the Lord had chosen to put his name there.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That is, twelve years after that he had been overcome by Shishak, verse 2.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 13. Was one and forty years old] Houbigant thinks he was but sixteen years old when he began to reign; and brings many and forcible arguments to prove that the number forty-one must be a mistake. That he was young when he came to the throne, is evident from his consulting the young men that were brought up with him, 2Ch 10:8; 2Ch 10:10. They were young men then; and if he was brought up with them, he must have been young then also. Besides, Abijah, in his speech to Jeroboam, 2Ch 13:7, says that at the time Rehoboam came to the throne he was tender-hearted, and therefore could not withstand the children of Belial raised up against him by Jeroboam: but surely at that time no man could be reputed young and tender-hearted - quite devoid of experience, who was above forty years of age. Besides, if this reading were allowed, it would prove that he was born before his father Solomon began to reign, for Solomon reigned only forty years, and Rehoboam immediately succeeded him.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

13–16 (cp. 1Ki_14:21; 1Ki_14:29-31). Summary of Rehoboam’s Reign

13. strengthened himself] See note on 2Ch_1:1. The immediate reference is to a recovery of strength after the departure of Shishak, the further reference is to 2Ch_11:5.

one and forty years old … and he reigned seventeen years] So read both Heb. and LXX. here and in 1Ki_14:21, but in the additional passage which follows 1Ki_12:14 in LXX. (B, not A) is read, sixteen years old … and twelve years he reigned. No importance however can be attached to this variation, for the passage which contains it is plainly Midrashic in character.

the city which the Lord had chosen] Though the Ten Tribes were lost to the house of David, the Lord kept his oath to David by securing to his seed the possession of the one holy city of Israel.

Naamah an Ammonitess] R.V. Naamah the Ammonitess.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And he did evil,.... Committed idolatry, relapsed into that, his humiliation not being hearty and sincere:

because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord; by prayer and supplication, and by an attendance on the service and worship of God; for though he did these things outwardly, yet not sincerely and heartily; he did not engage in them seriously and in good earnest, with affection and fervour.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The parallel to the remaining verses of this chapter is found in 1Ki_14:21, 1Ki_14:22, 1Ki_14:29-31. In Jerusalem. Possibly, considering the words of 2Ch_11:5-12, 2Ch_11:17, this may indicate that Rehoboam was brought down to thinking almost more of the safety of Jerusalem and himself than of the kingdom in its length and breadth. One and forty years old (see our note, 2Ch_10:8, towards the end, and compare our 2Ch_13:7, as well as the parallel places. (1Ki_12:8 1Ki_14:21) It cannot be held as conclusively shown that the age of forty-one is incorrect. An Ammonitess. (see 1Ki_11:1-9) Rehoboam"s mother"s name and nationality are noted also, and twice in the parallel. (1Ki_14:21, 1Ki_14:31) Naamah was possibly the daughter of Nahash. (1Ch_19:1-19; 1Ch_20:1-3) The briefness but decidedness of the notifications made as to this mother of Rehoboam leaves us without doubt that there is not lacking significance in them. Schulz (in his "Scholia in Ver. Test.," vol. 3.) says the reason is "quia ca filio idololatriae ansam dedisse videtur;" Keil and Bertheau think that, though there was evidence of this in the case of the mention of Asa"s mother, (1Ki_15:13) the explanation here is that Naamah "appears" to have had, as queen-mother, considerable influence in the government. They do not specify where they find this to "appear" with any marked plainness. It is quite true that, in the successive accounts of the Jewish kings, the name of each mother is mentioned (1Ki_15:2; 2Ch_13:2; 1Ki_22:42; 2Ch_20:32, etc.) We should say it is like the book, so Divine and human, called the Bible, to do so far-seeing and far-reaching a thing as to give the mother"s name; and practically to say that Solomon and Naamah were (in special sense for Judah) a repetition of Adam and Eve. How far Judah and her line of kings may have correctly said, they were answerable for "death and all our woe," the sacred historians say. (1Ki_11:4, 1Ki_11:9-11, 1Ki_11:14, 1Ki_11:23, 1Ki_11:26, 1Ki_11:31, 1Ki_11:33, 36 12:24; 2Ch_11:4)

Vers. 13-16.

The biography of Rehoboam.

I HIS ANCESTRY.

1. The son of Solomon, the son of David.

2. The son of Naamah the Ammonitess, the daughter of Hanun the son of Nahash. (2Ch_10:1)

II HIS KINGDOM.

1. Its extent. Judah, with a portion of Benjamin.

2. Its capital. Jerusalem, the city of the great King.

III HIS REIGN.

1. The beginning of it. When he was forty years of age.

2. The length of it. Seventeen years; short in comparison with that of Solomon.

1. The character of it.

1. Vigorous: "he strengthened himself" (ver. 13).

2. Idolatrous: "he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord" (ver. 14).

3. Troubled: "there were wars continually between him and Jeroboam" (ver. 15).

0. The end of it. Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

IV HIS ACTS.

1. All written. From first to last (ver. 15). What a calamity to any man it would be to have all his deeds recorded on the page of history! Yet first and last every action of every man is being engrossed upon the page of God"s book of remembrance.

2. Where written? In the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and in that of Iddo concerning genealogies. A small honour compared to being written in the book of life. Not so serious a matter to have one"s deeds inscribed upon a perishing page by a human biographer as to have them graven "as with a pen of iron in the rock for ever," by the hand of God"s recording angel upon the tablets of eternity.

V HIS SUCCESSOR.

1. His name. Abijah, or Abijam. (2Ch_13:1)

2. His rotgut. In Rehoboam"s stead. An honour to Rehoboam that he had a son like Abijah; a mercy to Judah that Abijah was better than his father. W.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The length of Rehoboam's reign, his mother, and the judgment about him. Cf. Kg1 14:21 and Kg1 14:22. ויּתחזּק here, as in Ch2 13:21, can, in its connection with what precedes, be only understood to mean that Rehoboam, after his humiliation at the hands of Shishak, by which his kingdom was utterly weakened and almost destroyed, again gained strength and power. Cf. also Ch2 1:1, where יתחזּק is used of Solomon in the beginning of his reign, after he overcame Adonijah, the pretender to the crown, and his party. - As to the age of Rehoboam, etc., see on Kg1 14:21. הרע ויּעשׂ, Ch2 12:14, is defined by the addition, "for he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord." For the expression cf. Ch2 19:3; Ch2 30:19; Ezr 7:10.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

Rehoboam’s Reign and Death

v. 13. So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, having repented of his sins, he could clear his land of the invaders in the course of time, and reigned; for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put His name there, which He had intended for the central Sanctuary for the entire people of Israel. And his mother’s name was Naamah, an Ammonitess, who, by reason of the harem system, had more influence over him than would otherwise have been the case.

v. 14. And he did evil, that was the general impression of his reign, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord, he did not adhere with all strictness and with unvarying sincerity to the reformation which he had begun; he kept his tendency toward idolatry, due chiefly to the influence of his mother.

v. 15. Now, the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the Book of Shemaiah, the prophet, and of Iddo, the seer, concerning genealogies? These were the sources from which the sacred historian, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, got his information. And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually; although there were no battles or armed clashes, they were in a hostile frame of mind toward each other.

v. 16. And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the City of David; and Abijah, his son, selected by his father as his successor, reigned in his stead. Note: Apostasy from God has ever resulted in quarrels, wars. and misfortunes of every kind. Therefore we of these latter days should heed His warnings all the more carefully and serve our Lord with all sincerity of heart.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

forty-one years old ... seventeen years

"41 years old ... 17 years" (See: Numbers)

so that he might put his name there

Possible meanings for the phrase "put his name" are 1) a metonym for "dwell." AT: "so that he might dwell there" or 2) an idiom that refers to ownership. AT: "so that it might belong to him" (See: Metonymy and Idiom)

Naamah

This is the name of a woman. (See: How to Translate Names)

he did not fix his heart to seek Yahweh

Here the word "heart" represents the thoughts and desires. The idiom "fix his heart" means to determine to do something. AT: "he was not committed to seeking Yahweh" (See: Metonymy and Idiom)

to seek Yahweh

Worshiping Yahweh is spoken of as if the person were seeking Yahweh. AT: "to worship Yahweh" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

reign

tribe

Israel

name

Ammon

evil

heart

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

And King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem And he explains why, because when he was first made king, he was forty-one years old; therefore, he had the strength and the power to strengthen himself. He was a year old when David died, for Solomon reigned forty years, and Solomon had not yet reigned when Rehoboam was born. We find that Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he reigned.

the city that the Lord had chosen wherein to place His name, out of all the tribes of Israel but they deteriorated in their deeds, as it is written: “And he did that which was evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord,” and they caused the Shechinah to leave them, and it was as if they were complaining and demonstrating about that.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.