2 Chronicles 11 23

2 Chronicles 11:23 kjv

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.

2 Chronicles 11:23 nkjv

He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the territories of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city; and he gave them provisions in abundance. He also sought many wives for them.

2 Chronicles 11:23 niv

He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and took many wives for them.

2 Chronicles 11:23 esv

And he dealt wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the districts of Judah and Benjamin, in all the fortified cities, and he gave them abundant provisions and procured wives for them.

2 Chronicles 11:23 nlt

Rehoboam also wisely gave responsibilities to his other sons and stationed some of them in the fortified towns throughout the land of Judah and Benjamin. He provided them with generous provisions, and he found many wives for them.

2 Chronicles 11 verses

2 Chronicles 11 23 Meaning

This verse details Rehoboam's prudent administrative strategy to secure and stabilize his truncated kingdom after the northern tribes seceded. He demonstrated political wisdom by strategically positioning his sons throughout the fortified cities of Judah and Benjamin, providing them with ample resources, and strengthening their influence through strategic marriages to consolidate loyalty and control over his remaining territory. This ensured a widespread family network that enhanced the security and administration of the Davidic throne in Judah.

2 Chronicles 11 23 Context

2 Chronicles 11:23 stands at a pivotal point in Rehoboam's reign following the devastating division of the kingdom of Israel (2 Chron 10). After losing ten tribes, Rehoboam was divinely commanded not to wage war against his brethren in the north (2 Chron 11:1-4). Instead, the Chronicler focuses on Rehoboam's subsequent actions to secure his diminished kingdom of Judah and Benjamin. He embarked on an ambitious program of fortifying cities (v. 5-12) and received an influx of loyal priests and Levites, along with God-fearing people from the northern tribes, who abandoned their lands and joined him (v. 13-17). This verse describes the strategic internal measures Rehoboam took to consolidate his power further, demonstrating a pragmatic and insightful approach to leadership that stands in stark contrast to his earlier rashness in 2 Chronicles 10. It is a period where he shows a temporary and calculated form of "wisdom" for securing earthly dominion, before eventually succumbing to unfaithfulness later in his reign (2 Chron 12).

2 Chronicles 11 23 Word analysis

• And he dealt wisely (וַיָּבֶן - wayyāven): From the Hebrew root בון (bun), meaning "to discern, understand, perceive, be prudent, wise." This indicates that Rehoboam acted with shrewdness and intelligent foresight in this matter. It's a strategic rather than necessarily God-given wisdom, marking a notable departure from his earlier foolishness regarding the northern tribes' petition. This portrays him as a ruler who could apply political acumen when necessary.

• and dispersed (וַיַּפְצֵל - wayyapṣēl): From the root פצל (pāṣal), which means "to split, divide, branch off, scatter." This isn't just sending his sons away; it implies a deliberate, systematic distribution, assigning them specific roles or territories. It suggests an organized and administrative placement to ensure widespread family control.

• some of his sons: This highlights that not all his sons were given such significant posts. It implies a selection process based on perceived capability or strategic necessity, focusing on placing specific, trusted offspring in positions of power.

• throughout all the districts of Judah and Benjamin: These were the remaining loyal tribal territories under his rule. This shows the geographic scope of his strategic administration, aiming for comprehensive coverage and control within his reduced kingdom.

• to every fortified city (בְּכָל־עָרֵי הַמְצֻר֖וֹת - bĕḵāl-‘ārê hamṃĕṣurōt): These cities, previously mentioned as having been built or reinforced by Rehoboam (2 Chron 11:5-12), served as military, administrative, and economic centers. Placing his sons in these key strongholds ensured strong royal oversight and allegiance, solidifying internal security.

• and he gave them abundant provisions (וַיִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֤ם מָזוֹן֙ לָרֹ֔ב - wayyitēn lāhem māzôwn lārōv): "Provisions" (מָזוֹן - māzôn) refers to food, resources, or sustenance. "Abundant" (לָרֹב - lārōv) signifies ample supply or in plenty. This generous support guaranteed that his sons had the necessary resources to maintain their positions, exercise authority effectively, and command respect, thereby preventing them from having to oppress the local populace for their needs or from seeking external, potentially disloyal, support. It ensured their allegiance and enabled their roles.

• and sought many wives for them (וַיִּדְרׇשׁ לָהֶ֖ם נָשִׁים לָרֹֽב - wayyidrōš lāhem nāšîm lārōv): "Sought" (וַיִּדְרֹשׁ - wayyidrōš) indicates an active search or endeavor. "Many wives" (נָשִׁים לָרֹב - nāšîm lārōv) implies plural marriage, a common practice for royal families in the ancient Near East to form alliances and extend influence. By arranging numerous marriages for his sons, Rehoboam was likely forging connections with powerful local families and clans within Judah and Benjamin, further cementing their loyalty and integrating his royal house into the regional power structure, enhancing political stability. While pragmatic, this echoes the dangerous practice of his father, Solomon, who amassed many wives, which ultimately led him astray (1 Kgs 11:1-8).

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "he dealt wisely and dispersed some of his sons": This phrase highlights a deliberate and intelligent administrative decision. Rehoboam didn't act rashly; he planned strategically by assigning his sons to positions of influence.
  • "throughout all the districts of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city": This emphasizes the strategic breadth and depth of his control. By placing his sons in these strongholds across his domain, he was establishing a robust internal network of command and loyalty, securing his core territory.
  • "he gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them": These two actions together represent Rehoboam's comprehensive approach to securing his sons' positions and consolidating power. Economic stability (provisions) coupled with social integration and alliance-building (wives) created a powerful, self-sustaining system of control that directly linked local leaders to the royal family.

2 Chronicles 11 23 Bonus section

The Chronicler’s inclusion of this detail about Rehoboam's strategic administrative actions, in contrast to the summary accounts in Kings, serves to emphasize the factors contributing to the enduring stability of the southern kingdom of Judah, which remained faithful to the Davidic line. While Rehoboam later faltered spiritually, his shrewd establishment of a decentralized, family-based administrative network, coupled with military fortifications and the ingathering of Levites, provided a robust framework that contributed significantly to Judah's longevity compared to the fragmented and often unstable northern kingdom of Israel. This pragmatic "wisdom" was crucial for survival, highlighting that even human strategies, when applied with foresight, can produce significant results within God's overarching plan for the preservation of the Davidic covenant line.

2 Chronicles 11 23 Commentary

2 Chronicles 11:23 provides a succinct glimpse into Rehoboam's sophisticated strategy for governing the remnants of his kingdom. Following the counsel to avoid war with the north, he channeled his energy into strengthening his existing domain. His actions in this verse reflect political acumen, as he systematically integrated his numerous sons into the administrative and military framework of Judah and Benjamin. By assigning them to fortified cities and ensuring their financial security, he fostered loyalty and deterred local insurrections. The procurement of "many wives" for them, while raising echoes of past biblical warnings (Deut 17:17, 1 Kgs 11:3), was a common ancient Near Eastern tactic to forge powerful alliances and consolidate a dynastic network through intermarriage with influential families. This act underscores Rehoboam's practical approach to establishing a stable, long-lasting presence for the Davidic dynasty within his boundaries, revealing a period where worldly wisdom shaped his policies to a significant extent, ensuring internal strength and longevity for his reign.