2 Chronicles 11 20

2 Chronicles 11:20 kjv

And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

2 Chronicles 11:20 nkjv

After her he took Maachah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

2 Chronicles 11:20 niv

Then he married Maakah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith.

2 Chronicles 11:20 esv

After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

2 Chronicles 11:20 nlt

Later Rehoboam married another cousin, Maacah, the granddaughter of Absalom. Maacah gave birth to Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

2 Chronicles 11 verses

2 Chronicles 11 20 Meaning

2 Chronicles 11:20 details another of King Rehoboam's strategic marriages. It records his union with Maacah, who is identified as the daughter of Absalom, and lists their children: Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. This verse is significant as it highlights Rehoboam's efforts to consolidate his rule and ensure the Davidic succession in the fractured kingdom of Judah by integrating a member from a politically sensitive branch of the royal family. Maacah's direct descendant, Abijah, would later become the next king.

2 Chronicles 11 20 Context

King Rehoboam's reign begins dramatically with the division of the united kingdom of Israel, as ten tribes rebel and follow Jeroboam due to Rehoboam's harsh policies. Restrained by God's command through the prophet Shemaiah, Rehoboam abandons his initial plan to wage war against the northern kingdom. Instead, he focuses on fortifying the remaining cities within Judah and Benjamin (2 Chr 11:5-12) and receiving the priests and Levites who migrate from the northern kingdom (2 Chr 11:13-17). The verses immediately preceding 2 Chronicles 11:20 describe Rehoboam taking several wives and siring many children, notably specifying Abihail and then Maacah, highlighting his efforts to stabilize the monarchy and ensure the succession within the restricted boundaries of his kingdom. His extensive number of wives (18 wives and 60 concubines, 2 Chr 11:21) underscores a common royal practice, often aimed at political alliances and securing multiple heirs for the throne. The mention of Maacah specifically, and her lineage, sets the stage for the next king of Judah, Abijah.

2 Chronicles 11 20 Word analysis

• And after her: This phrase (וְאַחֲרֶ֖יהָ, wə’aḥărēhā) signifies a sequence, meaning Rehoboam took Maacah as a wife subsequent to, but not necessarily replacing, Abihail (mentioned in the preceding verse, 2 Chr 11:18). It indicates a continuation of his practice of taking multiple wives.
• he took: The verb (וַיִּקַּח, wayyiqqaḥ) is a common biblical term for marrying or acquiring a wife. In this royal context, it suggests both personal choice and perhaps strategic acquisition for political stability or lineage strengthening.
• Maacah: (מַעֲכָה, Maʿakhah) A personal name with significance primarily in her lineage. This name connects her to David's broader family network, as Absalom's mother was also named Maacah (2 Sam 3:3), a Gehsrite princess, thus bringing a non-Israelite line into David's family, though Maacah in 2 Chr 11:20 is explicitly linked to Absalom, a son of David.
• the daughter of Absalom: (בַּת־אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם, bat-ʾAbshalôm). This is a crucial and often debated phrase. Given that 2 Samuel 18:18 states Absalom had no son, and also because Absalom died young, it is widely accepted by scholars that "daughter of Absalom" here means "granddaughter of Absalom." Her actual father is identified as "Abishalom" (אֲבִישָׁל֖וֹם, ’Ăbīšālōm) in 2 Chronicles 13:2, which is largely considered an alternative spelling or related name to Absalom, perhaps indicating a male descendant of Absalom. Thus, Maacah would be a daughter of this 'Abishalom' who was himself a son or descendant of Absalom son of David. This lineage connection was likely highly significant, as it tied Rehoboam to Absalom's branch of the Davidic dynasty, possibly seeking to gain political legitimacy and reconcile lingering factions given Absalom's popularity despite his rebellion.
• which bare him: (אֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה לוֹ, ʾăšer yālədâ lô) This phrase highlights Maacah's primary role within the royal household: providing heirs to the throne, continuing the king's lineage.
• Abijah: (אֲבִיָּ֖ה, ʾĂbiyyāh) Meaning "My father is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is my father." He is the most significant son mentioned here, as he would later succeed Rehoboam as king of Judah (1 Ki 15:1; 2 Chr 13:1). His name itself might reflect a measure of piety or acknowledgment of God's role in the lineage.
• and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith: These names are also sons of Rehoboam by Maacah. While they do not play prominent roles in the biblical narrative themselves, their inclusion underscores the chronicler's interest in the fullness of Rehoboam's family and his numerous descendants, ensuring the continuation and strength of the Davidic royal line. This highlights the successful perpetuation of the dynasty.

• "And after her he took Maacah": This phrase shows Rehoboam's continuation of marrying multiple women, a common but ethically questionable practice for Israelite kings given the law in Deuteronomy 17:17, even though his stated intent was likely to fortify his lineage and political standing.
• "Maacah the daughter of Absalom": This specific description is paramount. It emphasizes the strategic value of this marriage. Rehoboam married a woman with direct, though perhaps indirectly descended, ties to David's son Absalom. This connection would have bolstered Rehoboam's claim to the throne by linking him to a different, potentially popular, and established branch of the Davidic family, amidst the recent loss of ten tribes. This political move aimed to unite powerful internal factions within Judah and solidify the Davidic lineage's stability.
• "which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith": The birth of male heirs, especially Abijah, who became king, underlines the success of this union in fulfilling its purpose of succession. The enumeration of sons confirms the fruitfulness of this royal marriage, important for dynastic continuity in a divided kingdom.

2 Chronicles 11 20 Bonus section

The discrepancy between "Absalom" in 2 Chr 11:20 and "Abishalom" in 2 Chr 13:2 (both describing Maacah's father/ancestor) is a point of scholarly discussion. Most scholars conclude that "Abishalom" is a variant spelling of "Absalom," and "daughter" likely implies "granddaughter" due to Absalom son of David's documented lack of male heirs (2 Sam 18:18). This linguistic detail highlights the care the Chronicler took in linking Rehoboam's family line directly to David's, even through a branch (Absalom's) that was previously marked by rebellion. The mention of this particular Maacah and her children also foreshadows her significant role later in the kingdom, as she is depicted exercising considerable power and even engaging in idolatrous practices (1 Ki 15:10, 13; 2 Chr 15:16), requiring her eventual removal from her powerful position by King Asa. This indicates the profound and lasting impact of royal women in the political and religious landscape of ancient Judah.

2 Chronicles 11 20 Commentary

This verse encapsulates a crucial aspect of Rehoboam's strategy to consolidate power in the fledgling kingdom of Judah after the northern tribes seceded. By taking Maacah, a descendant of Absalom, he solidified his lineage within the broad Davidic royal family, potentially co-opting influence from a branch known for its charisma and rebellious popularity. This marriage underscores the importance of securing the line of succession through powerful and strategic marital alliances, especially in a time of political instability and reduced territory. Maacah's position as "favorite wife" (2 Chr 11:21) and the mother of Abijah, Rehoboam's eventual successor, speaks to her prominence and the deliberate nature of this union. Though Rehoboam engaged in widespread polygamy, this specific marriage to Maacah appears to be driven by a keen awareness of political and dynastic needs, highlighting the Chronicler's interest in demonstrating God's preservation of the Davidic line in Judah, even through kings whose personal conduct was often flawed. This also implicitly sets the stage for future narratives, as Maacah's influence extends even into the reign of her grandson, Asa.