2 Chronicles 10 17

2 Chronicles 10:17 kjv

But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

2 Chronicles 10:17 nkjv

But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

2 Chronicles 10:17 niv

But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

2 Chronicles 10:17 esv

But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah.

2 Chronicles 10:17 nlt

But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.

2 Chronicles 10 verses

2 Chronicles 10 17 Meaning

This verse specifies the immediate aftermath of the kingdom's division, clarifying that while ten northern tribes rebelled and broke away, the people of Israel who resided within the geographical boundaries of the southern kingdom, Judah, continued to acknowledge and remain under the rule of Rehoboam. It highlights the persistence of the Davidic line's authority, albeit over a greatly diminished territory, affirming the nascent formation of the Kingdom of Judah.

2 Chronicles 10 17 Context

Chapter 10 of 2 Chronicles details the critical moment when the united kingdom of Israel fragmented into two separate entities. After Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam ascended to the throne. The people of Israel, burdened by Solomon's heavy taxation and forced labor, appealed to Rehoboam for lighter demands at Shechem. Following the misguided advice of his young counselors instead of the seasoned elders, Rehoboam responded harshly, threatening even greater burdens. This refusal to alleviate the people's oppression triggered a revolt. Ten northern tribes (Israel) separated, choosing Jeroboam as their king, thus fulfilling earlier prophecy. This specific verse (2 Chr 10:17) concludes the narrative of this political schism, identifying the population group that remained loyal to Rehoboam and thus formed the southern kingdom of Judah. This event marked the end of the unified Israelite monarchy, laying the foundation for distinct and often adversarial histories for the Kingdom of Israel (North) and the Kingdom of Judah (South). The historical setting for these events is approximately 931 BCE.

2 Chronicles 10 17 Word analysis

• But as for the children of Israel (וּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל - ūvəné yiśrā’ēl): The phrase literally translates to "and the sons of Israel." Here, "children of Israel" refers to the broader ethnic and religious group descending from Jacob. The use of "But as for" indicates a contrast and distinction from the ten tribes who had just revolted. It highlights that the covenant people of Israel were now politically fractured, yet a segment still remained loyal to the Davidic line. This implies that ethnicity or origin did not entirely dictate political allegiance post-split.

• who lived in the cities of Judah (הַיּוֹשְׁבִ֖ים בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה - hayyošəḇîm bə‘ārê yəhûḏâ): This phrase specifies which "children of Israel" remained loyal. These were not the ten tribes who seceded, but those residing geographically within the territory controlled by the tribe of Judah, and later, the combined tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which constituted the southern kingdom. This includes not just those ethnically of Judah or Benjamin, but potentially Levites who migrated to Judah for the Temple, or other Israelites who chose to remain or relocate due to religious allegiance to the Jerusalem Temple and the legitimate Davidic kingship. It signifies a distinction between tribal origin and current residence/political fealty.

• Rehoboam (רְחַבְעָ֛ם - rəḥaḇ‘ām): The son of Solomon and grandson of King David. His name means "he enlarges the people" or "the people have been enlarged." This name carries a tragic irony, as his reign ushered in the shrinking of the Davidic kingdom rather than its expansion. His lack of wisdom was instrumental in this foundational split.

• reigned over them (מָלַ֥ךְ עֲלֵיהֶֽם - mālak ‘alêhem): The verb "reigned" (mālak) denotes the exercise of royal authority and rule. This direct statement confirms the continued, albeit diminished, sovereignty of Rehoboam. It is a declarative assertion that the Davidic kingship persisted over this remnant, underlining the Chronicler's primary focus on the legitimacy and continuation of this divinely appointed dynasty.

• Grouped analysis: "But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them." This entire phrase encapsulates the political reality established at this pivotal moment. It serves as a concise summary statement following the detailed account of the kingdom's division. The sentence underscores that even after the great schism, Rehoboam did not become a king without a kingdom, nor was the Davidic line entirely severed. A segment of "Israel" remained, cementing the formation of the distinct southern kingdom, which would become known as Judah. This distinction became fundamental to the subsequent biblical narrative, theology, and historical trajectory of the Israelite people.

2 Chronicles 10 17 Bonus section

• This verse implicitly points to God's sovereign hand in fulfilling His word, both regarding the judgment on Solomon's apostasy (by tearing the kingdom away, 1 Kgs 11:9-13) and His covenant faithfulness to David (by preserving a kingdom for his descendant, 2 Sam 7:12-16).
• The Book of Chronicles' focus is largely on the Kingdom of Judah and the Davidic dynasty, as well as the Jerusalem Temple. This verse, therefore, serves a theological purpose for the Chronicler, emphasizing the enduring legitimacy of the southern kingdom as the true continuation of the Davidic legacy.
• The presence of "children of Israel" in Judah suggests a complex and evolving tribal identity in the post-united monarchy era. It implies that tribal affiliation was not exclusively geographical but could also involve political and religious loyalty to the Jerusalem center. Some individuals from the northern tribes may have willingly migrated southward due to their loyalty to the Davidic covenant or to the Temple worship centered in Jerusalem, especially after Jeroboam established rival centers of worship in the North.
• The concept of a "remnant" is echoed here – a smaller, faithful or divinely preserved portion of God's people who continue the covenant line, a theme seen repeatedly throughout the biblical narrative, extending into the New Testament with the concept of spiritual Israel.

2 Chronicles 10 17 Commentary

2 Chronicles 10:17 is a pivotal verse that concludes the narrative of the great schism, succinctly articulating the resulting political reality for Rehoboam and the Davidic dynasty. Following the disastrous decision by Rehoboam to spurn the people's pleas for lighter burdens, the vast majority of the Israelite tribes seceded, forming the northern kingdom under Jeroboam. This verse, however, ensures that the reader understands that not all of Israel rejected Rehoboam. Specifically, those "children of Israel" who inhabited the cities within Judah's boundaries, effectively remained under his kingship. This signifies the immediate formation of the southern kingdom, typically identified as Judah. The divine promise to David that his line would endure (2 Sam 7) finds its limited, yet certain, fulfillment here: a king from David's lineage still reigned over a segment of Israel. This verse not only confirms the continuation of the Davidic dynasty in Jerusalem but also hints at the enduring religious allegiance of a segment of Israel, including potentially Levites and others who preferred the Jerusalem Temple worship, despite the political upheavals. It sets the stage for the centuries of separate national existences of Israel and Judah, distinct in their political structures, religious practices, and ultimate fates.