2 Chronicles 11 1

2 Chronicles 11:1 kjv

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 Chronicles 11:1 nkjv

Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled from the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

2 Chronicles 11:1 niv

When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered Judah and Benjamin?a hundred and eighty thousand able young men?to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam.

2 Chronicles 11:1 esv

When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

2 Chronicles 11:1 nlt

When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and Benjamin ? 180,000 select troops ? to fight against Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself.

2 Chronicles 11 verses

2 Chronicles 11 1 Meaning

When Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem after the northern tribes' secession, his immediate action was to muster a vast army of elite warriors from the loyal tribes of Judah and Benjamin. His intent was clearly offensive: to wage war against the newly independent northern kingdom of Israel and forcibly re-establish his dominion over all twelve tribes, effectively reversing the kingdom's division.

2 Chronicles 11 1 Context

Chapter 11 of 2 Chronicles follows directly from the preceding events in Chapter 10. Rehoboam, upon succeeding Solomon, foolishly rejected the advice of the elders and adopted a harsh, oppressive stance toward the northern tribes who sought lighter burdens. This led to their widespread rebellion and their decision to make Jeroboam king over them (2 Chr 10:1-19). Adoniram, Rehoboam's officer of forced labor, was stoned to death by the rebellious people. This verse (2 Chr 11:1) captures Rehoboam's reaction to these humiliating events: a return to his capital, Jerusalem, and an immediate, decisive military response. He intends to reclaim his perceived absolute right over the entire kingdom through force. The subsequent verses (2 Chr 11:2-4) dramatically reveal God's direct intervention, forbidding Rehoboam from proceeding with his plan to fight against his "brothers," emphasizing that the kingdom's division was God's doing.

Historically, this event marks the permanent division of the united monarchy of Israel into two distinct entities: the northern kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim) and the southern kingdom of Judah (including Benjamin). Rehoboam's action reflects a typical ancient Near Eastern monarch's response to secession, yet it clashes directly with God's stated purpose for the division.

2 Chronicles 11 1 Word analysis

• "When Rehoboam came": (וַיָּבֹא רְחַבְעָם, vayyāḇōʾ rəḥaḇʿām). The Hebrew vayyāḇōʾ, "and he came/arrived," indicates his direct return to Jerusalem following the national crisis. His presence in the capital signifies a return to the seat of power to strategize a counter-movement.
• "to Jerusalem": (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, yərûšālayim). This was the spiritual and political heart of the Davidic kingdom, remaining the capital of the loyal tribes of Judah and Benjamin. His return here underscores his determination to act from his place of legitimate authority, albeit over a now-divided realm.
• "he assembled": (וַיַּקְהֵל, vayyaqhēl). The verb implies a purposeful gathering or mustering of people. It shows an active and immediate response, indicating that Rehoboam's first inclination was a military solution. This was not a defensive act but preparations for an offensive.
• "one hundred and eighty thousand": (מֵאָה וּשְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף, mēʾāh ûšmōnîm ʾelef). This massive number signifies a truly formidable army for the era. It underscores the scale of Rehoboam's resolve and the seriousness with which he intended to reclaim his full kingdom. Such large numbers in biblical accounts can emphasize divine power (e.g., God delivering against overwhelming odds) or the profound consequences of human action.
• "chosen warriors" or "chosen men of war": (בָּחוּר לַמִּלְחָמָה, bāḥûr lammilḥāmâ). The term bāḥûr means "chosen," indicating selection, strength, and capability. These were not just any men, but trained, fit individuals, specifically prepared "for war" (lammilḥāmâ). This signifies a readiness for intense combat.
• "from Judah and Benjamin": These were the only two tribes that remained loyal to the house of David. Judah, as the tribe of David, and Benjamin, strategically important due to its proximity to Jerusalem and its history of powerful warriors (cf. Jdg 20), formed the remaining core of Rehoboam's kingdom. This highlights the severe extent of the kingdom's division—ten tribes against two.
• "to fight against Israel": (לְהִלָּחֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, ləhillaḥēm bəyiśrāʾēl). This explicitly states Rehoboam's intent to engage in military conflict with the northern tribes. "Israel" here refers to the newly formed northern kingdom under Jeroboam. The implication is of civil war—brother against brother.
• "and to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam": (לְהָשִׁיב אֶת־הַמַּמְלָכָה לִרְחַבְעָם, ləhāšîḇ ʾeṯ-hammamlāḵâ lirḥaḇʿām). This phrase articulates Rehoboam's fundamental motive: to retrieve the sovereign authority he believed was his rightful inheritance over all twelve tribes. It demonstrates his inability to accept the divine hand in the kingdom's division, his focus remaining solely on his perceived political right. This clashes directly with God's previously stated will concerning the division of the kingdom.

2 Chronicles 11 1 Bonus section

• The Chronistic author's account, while parallel to 1 Kings 12, often emphasizes God's direct intervention and the role of the Davidic covenant. This verse sets the stage for Rehoboam's obedience to God's command in the next verses, which the chronicler uses to highlight the significance of trusting God even when it goes against natural human inclination or perceived strategic advantage.
• Rehoboam's failure to recognize or yield to God's plan, despite Jeroboam's explicit divine appointment (1 Kgs 11:29-39), reflects a broader pattern in the Old Testament of kings and nations attempting to thwart the divine will.
• The term "Israel" to refer specifically to the ten northern tribes solidifies their distinct identity and formalizes the separation that began with their rebellion against Rehoboam.

2 Chronicles 11 1 Commentary

2 Chronicles 11:1 encapsulates the natural human response to a profound political crisis, contrasting sharply with the divine orchestration of events. Rehoboam, affronted by the northern tribes' secession and the stoning of his officer, acts swiftly to consolidate his power and violently reclaim what he perceives as his lost dominion. His summoning of an enormous army of "chosen warriors" from his loyal base—Judah and Benjamin—underscores his fierce determination and his intention to achieve his goal through sheer force. This demonstrates a leader relying on human strength and strategy alone, without any indication of seeking divine counsel, thus setting the stage for a critical theological confrontation. The verse, though short, powerfully establishes the dramatic tension: the might of a human king determined to reverse God's decreed will. It previews the massive potential for bloodshed, only to be miraculously averted by direct prophetic intervention in the following verses, thereby highlighting God's ultimate sovereignty over the affairs of human kings and kingdoms.