This chapter recounts a small portion of 1 Kings 12, and then it highlights Rehoboam’s efforts to fortify Judah to protect themselves from their own relatives. The chapter begins, “When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the armies of Judah and Benjamin – 180,000 select troops – to fight against the army of Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself. But the Lord said to Shemaiah, the man of God, “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin: ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing’” (Yes, Lord! Do you know the things God is doing on your behalf? Are you recognizing his hand in your life? If not, maybe we need to increase our time and communication with Him.) So they obeyed the message of the Lord and did not fight against Jeroboam.
Rehoboam Fortifies Judah
Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and fortified various cities for the defense of Judah. He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These became the fortified cities of Judah and Benjamin. Rehoboam strengthened their defenses and stationed commanders in them. In each of them, he stored supplies of food, olive oil, and wine. He also put shields and spears in these towns as a further safety measure. So only Judah and Benjamin remained under his control.
But all the priests and Levites living among the northern tribes of Israel sided with Rehoboam. The Levites even abandoned their homes and property and moved to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons would not allow them to serve the Lord as priests. (Nice! Don’t let anyone or anything keep you from serving the Lord!) Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve at the pagan shrines, where they worshiped the goat and calf idols he had made. From all over Israel, those who sincerely wanted to worship the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem, where they could offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. This strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they supported Rehoboam son of Solomon and earnestly sought to obey the Lord as they had done during the reigns of David and Solomon.” (Yes!) (2 Chronicles 11:1-17)
The rest of the chapter discusses Rehoboam’s family, identifying the number of wives, concubines, sons, and daughters he had.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Thank you for standing in the gap, ordering our steps, intervening in our lives, and protecting us when needed. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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