2 Chronicles 11:3 kjv
Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
2 Chronicles 11:3 nkjv
"Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
2 Chronicles 11:3 niv
"Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,
2 Chronicles 11:3 esv
"Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,
2 Chronicles 11:3 nlt
"Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin:
2 Chronicles 11 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 11:11-13 | "I will surely tear the kingdom from you... only I will give one tribe..." | Prophecy of kingdom division given to Solomon |
| 1 Kgs 12:15 | "The king hearkened not... for the cause was from the LORD..." | God's orchestration of the kingdom split |
| 2 Chr 10:15 | "So the king hearkened not unto them: for the cause was of God..." | Divine origin of the kingdom division |
| 1 Kgs 12:22 | "But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying..." | Shemaiah as God's messenger for this command |
| 2 Chr 11:4 | "Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight..." | Direct command of God in the following verse |
| Deut 18:18-19 | "I will raise them up a Prophet... I will put my words in his mouth..." | Authority and obedience due to God's prophet |
| Isa 55:11 | "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth..." | Efficacy and fulfillment of God's word |
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water..." | God's sovereignty over leaders' decisions |
| Dan 4:17 | "...that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom..." | God's absolute sovereignty in all kingdoms |
| Ps 33:10-11 | "The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought... His counsel..." | God frustrates human plans, establishes His own |
| Acts 4:27-28 | "...for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before..." | God's pre-ordained plan and execution |
| 2 Sam 7:16 | "And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever..." | Davidic Covenant's preservation through Judah |
| Gen 49:10 | "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah..." | Prophecy of Messiah's lineage through Judah |
| Lam 3:37 | "Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth..." | God's word is ultimate authority |
| Ps 105:14 | "He suffered no man to do them wrong..." | God's protection and intervention |
| Joel 2:13 | "...and repenteth him of the evil." | God's restraint of wrath and judgment |
| Jer 3:8 | "...sent her away, and given her a bill of divorce..." | God's judgment leading to separation/division |
| Jn 15:5 | "...without me ye can do nothing." | Humility and dependence on God's direction |
| 1 Pet 3:9 | "not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing..." | Principle of not retaliating, even against injustice |
| Rom 12:19 | "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath..." | Leaving vengeance and outcomes to God |
| Ex 9:16 | "And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power..." | God raises up and casts down to display His power and purposes |
2 Chronicles 11 verses
2 Chronicles 11 3 Meaning
2 Chronicles 11:3 records the specific divine instruction given through the prophet Shemaiah to King Rehoboam and the people of Judah and Benjamin. This verse conveys God's direct command for Rehoboam and his loyal subjects not to engage in warfare against their brethren, the newly formed northern kingdom under Jeroboam. It sets the stage for the following verse, revealing God's sovereignty over the division of the kingdom, which was His decree due to Solomon's apostasy.
2 Chronicles 11 3 Context
This verse is pivotal within the narrative of Rehoboam's reign, immediately following the traumatic division of the kingdom in 2 Chronicles 10. After the northern tribes of Israel rejected Rehoboam due to his harsh words and oppressive policies, they crowned Jeroboam as their king. In response, Rehoboam gathered an army of 180,000 chosen men from Judah and Benjamin with the intent to forcibly reunite the kingdom and fight against "Israel" (referring to the northern ten tribes). At this critical juncture, before a devastating civil war could erupt, God intervenes by sending the prophet Shemaiah. Verse 3 details the specific addressees of God's immediate command to prevent the conflict, laying the groundwork for divine restraint and the confirmation of God's sovereign hand in the kingdom's partition, which was a direct consequence of Solomon's unfaithfulness.
2 Chronicles 11 3 Word analysis
- Speak (דַּבֵּר, dabbēr): A Piel imperative verb, indicating a direct, emphatic command. It signifies an authoritative declaration, particularly suitable for a divine messenger delivering God's very words. It's not a suggestion but a clear instruction that demands attention and obedience.
- unto Rehoboam (אֶל-רְחַבְעָם, ’el Rĕḥab‘ām): Rehoboam means "he enlarges the people." As the son and successor of Solomon, he inherited a vast kingdom, but through his folly and God's sovereign will, his kingdom was significantly reduced. Addressing him specifically highlights his central role and responsibility in the impending conflict and his position as the figurehead for Judah.
- the son of Solomon (בֶן-שְׁלֹמֹה, ben-Šĕlōmōh): Emphasizes his lineage and the burden of the kingdom that was split from his father's vast empire due to divine judgment on Solomon's idolatry (cf. 1 Kgs 11:11-13). It contrasts the legacy of a united, prosperous kingdom under Solomon with the fractured reality under Rehoboam.
- and to all Israel (וְאֶל-כָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל, wə’el kol-Yiśrā’ēl): While "Israel" generally refers to all twelve tribes, in this specific post-split context, the qualification that follows ("in Judah and Benjamin") clarifies that it refers to the loyal remnants of the Israelite nation who remained faithful to the Davidic dynasty. It's addressed to the collective nation residing within the southern kingdom's boundaries.
- in Judah and Benjamin (בִּיהוּדָה וּבִנְיָמִן, biYHûḏāh ûḇiṉyāmîn): These are the two tribes that remained faithful to the house of David. Judah was the largest and royal tribe, while Benjamin, bordering Judah and containing Jerusalem, naturally aligned with it. This demarcation highlights the new geopolitical reality following the schism.
- saying (לֵאמֹר, lē’mōr): A common Hebrew construct used to introduce direct speech or a quotation, emphasizing that the following words are the exact message from God to be conveyed.
Word-group analysis:
- "Speak unto Rehoboam... saying": This phrase underlines the authoritative delivery of a divine message. It shows God’s active communication and intervention in human affairs, especially during a time of national crisis and the potential for a disastrous civil war.
- "Rehoboam the son of Solomon, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin": This precise targeting of the audience highlights the specificity of God's command. It delineates the intended recipients, stressing that the instruction applies to the king and his loyal subjects who were preparing for war. This also confirms the Chronicler's perspective, focusing on the legitimacy of the southern kingdom as the true continuation of David's line.
2 Chronicles 11 3 Bonus section
The intervention recorded in 2 Chronicles 11:3 and the following verses highlights a significant theological truth: God’s justice is tempered with His redemptive purposes. While the kingdom was divided as a consequence of Solomon’s sin (1 Kgs 11:11-13), God graciously prevents the total destruction of Rehoboam’s forces or a prolonged civil war that could have annihilated the nascent southern kingdom. This preservation was vital for the continuity of the Davidic line, from which the Messiah would eventually come. The emphasis on "Judah and Benjamin" establishes the core identity of the remnant of Israel under the covenant. This instance also underscores the Chronicler's unique perspective, often highlighting the theological implications of events, emphasizing God's control, the centrality of the Jerusalem temple worship (which remained in Judah), and the true Israel as represented by those who maintained loyalty to the Davidic king and the God of the temple.
2 Chronicles 11 3 Commentary
2 Chronicles 11:3 is a pivotal declaration of divine authority and restraint, serving as a preamble to God's direct command through the prophet Shemaiah. After the traumatic division of the kingdom, driven by Rehoboam's pride and, more profoundly, by God's judgment upon Solomon's idolatry, Rehoboam prepares to reclaim the northern tribes by force. This verse reveals that God does not permit such humanly orchestrated conflict, directly intervening to prevent fratricidal war among His people. The specificity of the address to "Rehoboam... and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin" underscores God's meticulous governance. He acknowledges the existing political division while actively commanding those who remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty. This act of divine intercession demonstrates His ultimate sovereignty over all human endeavors, reminding the reader that even kingdom-altering events are "from the LORD." It teaches about the importance of listening to and obeying prophetic words, especially when they contradict immediate human desires or perceived political necessities. The purpose is not merely to avoid bloodshed but to ensure the fulfillment of His greater plan concerning the fractured kingdom and the preservation of the lineage of David in Judah.