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2CHRONICLES
CHAPTER 11

1 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam's first thought was regaining a unified Israel; even if it meant war. But God sent a prophet who told him it was God's idea to break Israel up.
Now, why would God break Israel up? God knew that the Northern tribes would soon go into idolatry. God's foreknowledge determines grace toward His people! God was preserving Judah, and allowing the Northern tribes (now called Israel) to "do their own thing."

God's WILL is that ALL men be saved (2Peter 3:9). But God KNOWS that some will refuse. And God is always WORKING in history so that the BEST will happen for His people (Romans 8:28).

5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah. 6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, 7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, 8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, 9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, 10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities. 11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine. 12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

So Rehoboam began to concentrate on building Judah for defense and power. He built fortified cities and placed segments of the army in each one. Being smaller necessitates preparedness.
The church of Jesus Christ is fewer than 20% of all the world population today. That means we need to be prepared against the onslaught of evil toward righteousness.
Are you studying and praying so that you will walk in preparedness?

13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. 14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD: 15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. 16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. 17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

Now, Jeroboam had made the two golden calves and placed one in the Northern portion of Israel, and one in the Southern portion. He commanded all the people to worship those idols instead of going to Jerusalem for the feasts that were prescribed by God.
Jeroboam had also begun to use just anybody for the priesthood. This kept him from having to instruct God's priests and Levites in idol worship.
Therefore, the priests of God, and the Levites who desired to do RIGHT, left their possessions and moved to Judah. Their move strengthened Judah and aided Rehoboam's kingdom.
The truly called of God will be in church!
And when God's peole are in church, the kingdom of Christ is strengthened.

18 And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse; 19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. 20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.) 22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king. 23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.

In the last verse of this chapter we see the same problem in Rehoboam that was in his father Solomon: "..he desired many wives."
However, to Rehoboam's credit, he did not marry outside his nation like his father Solomon had done.
In fact, the wives that are mentioned here are cousins. Mahalath was his first cousin and Abihail was his second cousin. Then Maachah was also his first cousin.
Maacha's son, Abijah, was evidently the son that Rehoboam wanted to make king. He used him as "chief" of the sons. And he used ALL his sons as leaders in the nation.
There's an interesting note in Matthew Henry's Commentary on this fact. He says,

"2. In this he was more happy than his father, that he had many sons and daughters; whereas we read not of more than one son that his father had. One can scarcely imagine that he had no more; but, if he had, they were not worth mentioning; whereas several of Rehoboam's sons are here named (v. 19-20) as men of note, and such active men that he thought it his wisdom to disperse them throughout the countries of Judah and Benjamine (v. 23),..." (Matthe Henry Commentary, 2Chronicles 11:13-23 pp17)