Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Although Rehoboam prepares to battle Jeroboam, he heeds a prophecy that tells him to desist. He then fortifies the cities of Judah and appoints his family members to positions of power.
II. Photo
Rehoboam favors one of his wives: “Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than his other wives and concubines — for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines; he begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.” (v. 21)
III. Important Verses
vv. 1-4: When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 picked fighting men, to make war with Israel in order to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, the man of God: “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin: Thus said the LORD: You shall not set out to make war on your kinsmen. Let every man return to his home, for this thing has been brought about by Me.” They heeded the words of the LORD and refrained from marching against Jeroboam.
vv. 11-12: He strengthened the fortified towns and put commanders in them, along with stores of food, oil, and wine, and shields and spears in every town. He strengthened them exceedingly; thus Judah and Benjamin were his.
vv. 14-15: The Levites had left their pasturelands and their holdings and had set out for Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had prevented them from serving the LORD, having appointed his own priests for the shrines, goat-demons, and calves which he had made.
IV. Outline
1. Rehoboam prepares for battle
2-4. The Judahites desist because of Shemaiah’s prophecy
5-12. Rehoboam fortifies the Judean cities
13-17. Levites, Priests, and members from other tribes join Rehoboam
18-21. Rehoboam’s family
22-23. Rehoboam appoints his family members to positions of power
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo taken from http://bigpappa.typepad.com/my_weblog/images/love_hands.jpg
