Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 11

And when Rehoboam. — And Rehoboam came ... and he gathered. The chronicler omits 1 Kings 12:20, which relates the call of Jeroboam to the throne of Israel. The present verse is a slightly abridged form of 1 Kings 12:21.

The kingdom. — Mamlâkâh. In Kings: m’lûkâh.

The Lord. —Kings has “God” twice. The chronicler does not always avoid the name Jehovah.

Shemaiah. —So Kings. The chronicler writes the longer form, Shemayâhu; and so Ahiyâhu in 2 Chronicles 10:15.

King of Judah. —By this significant expression, accomplished facts receive at the outset the seal of Divine assent.

All Israel in Judah and Benjamin.

—The Book of Kings has “all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the remnant of the people;” where the second phrase seems to define the first, for the house of Judah and Benjamin was the remnant of Israel that continued loyal to David. In that case, the chronicler’s phrase is a mere abbreviation, denoting whatever of Israel was comprised in the two faithful tribes (Compare 2 Chronicles 10:17).

However, there may be a hint that Judah and Benjamin were the true Israel, and that the apostate North had forfeited its right to that honorable name. Others suppose this refers to members of Northern tribes dwelling in the territory of Judah and Benjamin.

The Syriac version reads, “to Rehoboam ... and to the house of Benjamin, and to all Israel, and to the remnant of the people.” The Septuagint simply has, “to all Judah and Benjamin.”

Thus says the Lord.—The words of the prophecy are reported as in 1 Kings 12:24, omitting “the sons of Israel” after “your brethren.”

This thing is done of me.—Literally, from me became (arose) this matter; namely, of the revolt of the ten tribes. (Compare to 2 Chronicles 10:15: For the cause was of God.)

Words.—The term is “Word” in Kings and the versions here, no doubt rightly, as this is the usual phrase. But compare to 1 Samuel 15:1.

From going against Jeroboam.—In Kings, the phrase is “To go away, according to the word of the Lord”—a tautology which the chronicler has avoided. The rest of the chapter is missing in the Syriac and Arabic Versions, which have instead 1 Kings 12:25–30; 1 Kings 13:34; and 1 Kings 14:1–9, where they break off abruptly, without finishing Ahijah’s prophecy.

REHOBOAM STRENGTHENS THE DEFENCES OF HIS KINGDOM (2 Chronicles 11:5–12).

This section is peculiar to the chronicler.

(5) Dwelt in Jerusalem.—As the capital.

Cities for defence.—(‘Arîm l’mâçôr = ‘arê mâçôr; 2 Chronicles 8:5), “embattled cities;” LXX., πόλεις τειχήρεις.

In Judah.—Not the territory of the tribe, but the kingdom is intended, for some of the fortresses were in Benjamin (2 Chronicles 11:10).