2 Chronicles 11:2 kjv
But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
2 Chronicles 11:2 nkjv
But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
2 Chronicles 11:2 niv
But this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:
2 Chronicles 11:2 esv
But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:
2 Chronicles 11:2 nlt
But the LORD said to Shemaiah, the man of God,
2 Chronicles 11 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:1 | The LORD had said to Abram... | God's direct initial call to a patriarch. |
| Exod 3:4 | God called to him from within the bush... | God's direct call to Moses from the burning bush. |
| Num 12:6-8 | "When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions... With him I speak face to face..." | God's direct communication methods with prophets. |
| Deut 18:18 | I will raise up for them a prophet like you... and I will put my words in his mouth. | God promises to raise prophets through whom He speaks. |
| 1 Sam 2:27 | A man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the LORD says..." | Another instance of a "man of God" delivering a divine message. |
| 1 Sam 15:10 | Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel... | God's word directly addressed to His prophet Samuel. |
| 1 Kgs 12:22-24 | But this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: "Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon... 'Do not go up and fight against your fellow Israelites... For this thing is from me.'" | The parallel account in Kings confirming the event and reason. |
| 1 Kgs 13:1 | By the word of the LORD a man of God from Judah came to Bethel... | An example of a prophet, called "man of God," conveying God's message. |
| 1 Kgs 17:24 | Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is true." | Confirmation of a prophet's identity and the truthfulness of God's word. |
| 1 Chr 17:3 | That night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: | God speaking to prophet Nathan regarding David's plan to build a temple. |
| 2 Chr 12:5 | Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the leaders... "This is what the LORD says: ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you...'" | Shemaiah again delivers a divine message to Rehoboam later. |
| 2 Chr 12:7 | When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, his word came to Shemaiah: "They have humbled themselves, so I will not destroy them..." | Shemaiah receiving another divine instruction concerning Rehoboam's reign. |
| Isa 55:11 | so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire... | Emphasizes the power and efficacy of God's word. |
| Jer 1:2 | The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah... | Typical prophetic formula for receiving divine messages. |
| Ezek 33:1 | The word of the LORD came to me: | Standard opening for divine revelation to the prophet Ezekiel. |
| Amos 3:7 | Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. | God's custom of communicating His will through prophets. |
| Psa 33:10-11 | The LORD foils the plans of the nations... but the plans of the LORD stand firm forever. | God's sovereignty over human intentions and His enduring purpose. |
| Psa 76:10 | Surely the wrath of humankind praises you, and the remainder of wrath you will restrain. | God's ability to control and restrain human anger and conflict. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. | God's ultimate control over even the decisions of rulers. |
| Heb 1:1 | In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways... | Affirms the pattern of God speaking through prophets in the Old Testament. |
2 Chronicles 11 verses
2 Chronicles 11 2 Meaning
The second verse of 2 Chronicles chapter 11 asserts the immediate, direct communication from the LORD to Shemaiah, identified as a "man of God." This divine utterance intervenes decisively to halt King Rehoboam's impending military campaign against the newly separated northern tribes, underscoring God's ultimate authority over human conflicts and political outcomes. It highlights God's choice to speak through His chosen messenger to guide the affairs of His people.
2 Chronicles 11 2 Context
Following the catastrophic division of the kingdom in 2 Chronicles 10, King Rehoboam, Solomon's son, returned to Jerusalem. Fueled by national pride and a desire to reclaim the northern tribes that had rebelled and made Jeroboam king, he assembled a massive military force, totaling 180,000 elite warriors, to go to war. The political situation was highly volatile, threatening civil strife on a massive scale. Against this backdrop of human preparation for conflict, 2 Chronicles 11:2 describes the divine intervention. The "word of the LORD" breaking into this moment is significant; it indicates God's sovereignty over historical events, demonstrating that even the immediate aftermath of Rehoboam's folly was under divine supervision, specifically in preventing an internal war that would have further devastated the chosen people. This also indirectly served to confirm the divine nature of the kingdom's division as previously prophesied to Solomon and Jeroboam (1 Kgs 11:11-13, 29-39), despite Rehoboam's stubbornness being the direct trigger.
2 Chronicles 11 2 Word analysis
- "But" (וַיְהִי): This conjunction signifies a turning point or a sudden shift in focus from the military preparations mentioned in the preceding verse (2 Chr 11:1). It highlights a dramatic contrast between Rehoboam's human plans and the unexpected, overriding divine intervention. It draws immediate attention to the paramount importance of what is about to be revealed.
- "the word of the LORD" (דְבַר יְהוָה - Devar Yahweh): This is a powerful and authoritative theological phrase throughout the Old Testament.
- "word" (davar): More than mere sound or utterance; it often denotes an effective, creative, and executive pronouncement. God's davar is inherently active and potent, carrying the authority to establish or command (e.g., Psa 33:6, 9; Isa 55:11).
- "of the LORD" (Yahweh): Refers to the personal, covenantal name of God, revealing His self-existent, faithful, and sovereign nature. The phrase together signifies that the message originated from the one true, living God, possessing ultimate power and unwavering purpose. Its origin guarantees its truthfulness, immutability, and efficacy.
- "came" (וַיְהִי - va'y'hi): Implies an active, deliberate impartation by God. It indicates a supernatural event, a divine initiative where God actively reaches out to humanity. It’s not something discovered by human reason but revealed by divine will.
- "to Shemaiah" (אֶל-שְׁמַעְיָהוּ - 'el Sh'ma'yahu): The specific individual chosen by God. Shemaiah's name itself can mean "heard by Yah" or "Yah has heard," ironically highlighting that he is the one God speaks to, or perhaps, the one through whom God is "heard." His being specifically named indicates that the message is directed through an authorized and recognized prophet, lending credence to its validity.
- "the man of God" (אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים - 'ish ha'Elohim): This is an honorific and weighty title in ancient Israel, bestowed upon a person particularly dedicated to God's service and endowed with prophetic authority. It identifies Shemaiah not merely as a person but as one divinely appointed to speak on God's behalf.
- "man" ('ish): A strong individual, but here it specifies his human nature.
- "of God" (ha'Elohim): Referring to God, implying ownership or devotion to God. It confirms that his mission and message are from the Almighty and carries His backing, deserving the immediate attention and obedience of those who hear it, including King Rehoboam. Other prominent figures called "man of God" include Moses, Elijah, and Elisha.
- "saying" (לֵאמֹר - le'mor): This is a standard Hebrew formula introducing a direct speech or divine revelation. It signals that the following words are the verbatim message conveyed by the LORD through Shemaiah, directly relevant to the political and military situation at hand.
2 Chronicles 11 2 Bonus section
The immediate and absolute submission of Rehoboam and the people to "the word of the LORD" delivered by Shemaiah, despite their impressive military mobilization (180,000 picked men in verse 1), is a profound demonstration of the perceived authority of God's word in ancient Israel. This account, paralleled almost identically in 1 Kings 12:22-24, serves to underscore the consistency of God's historical record and His unchanging nature. It also subtly emphasizes God's providence, ensuring the preservation of the Davidic line (Southern Kingdom of Judah), which would eventually lead to the Messiah, even as His judgment concerning the kingdom's division was carried out. The message itself ("This thing is from me") conveyed through Shemaiah indicated that the kingdom's division, while painful, was part of God's decreed plan due to Solomon's previous unfaithfulness, demonstrating that human disobedience, even when causing suffering, can align with larger divine purposes.
2 Chronicles 11 2 Commentary
2 Chronicles 11:2 presents a pivotal moment, showcasing God's active involvement and sovereignty even amidst human folly and impending conflict. King Rehoboam, filled with earthly determination, marshaled vast resources for war, but his plans were swiftly and definitively overridden by a single divine pronouncement delivered through His chosen messenger. This verse profoundly underscores that ultimate authority does not rest with kings or armies but with the "word of the LORD." It highlights God's strategic intervention to prevent a fratricidal war, not because Rehoboam's initial actions were righteous, but to fulfill His wider covenant purposes concerning the divided kingdom. God chooses a prophet, "the man of God," Shemaiah, whose title confirms divine accreditation and authority, ensuring that the message would be recognized as truly from Yahweh Himself. The instant obedience to this word, as seen in the following verses, is a testament to the recognized power and authority of divine revelation delivered by a faithful servant.
Examples:
- It teaches the importance of pausing our immediate human desires and plans when confronted with clear divine guidance.
- It illustrates how God can redirect national or personal courses of action for His greater purposes, even when they seem counterintuitive or challenging.
- It highlights the enduring significance of prophetic ministry as a channel for God's voice in human history.