2 Chronicles 11 8

2 Chronicles 11:8 kjv

And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

2 Chronicles 11:8 nkjv

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

2 Chronicles 11:8 niv

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

2 Chronicles 11:8 esv

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

2 Chronicles 11:8 nlt

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

2 Chronicles 11 verses

2 Chronicles 11 8 Meaning

This verse states three cities—Gath, Mareshah, and Ziph—that Rehoboam, King of Judah, fortified and provisioned. It is part of a longer list in 2 Chronicles 11:5-10 detailing the strategic cities Rehoboam built or strengthened after the division of the united kingdom of Israel, establishing a robust defense network for Judah.

2 Chronicles 11 8 Context

Following the death of Solomon and the rejection of his son Rehoboam by ten tribes of Israel, the united kingdom split into Judah (under Rehoboam) and Israel (under Jeroboam). Rehoboam initially assembled a large army to reclaim the northern tribes, but the prophet Shemaiah delivered God's command not to fight against their Israelite brethren. Obeying this, Rehoboam focused on strengthening his own kingdom, Judah. Chapters 11 and 12 of 2 Chronicles outline Rehoboam's initial period of strength and stability, largely attributed to his fortification efforts and the migration of loyal priests and Levites (along with faithful Israelites) from the Northern Kingdom to Judah, providing spiritual and political consolidation. The specific cities listed, including Gath, Mareshah, and Ziph, formed a defensive perimeter and network of strongholds designed to protect Jerusalem and the Judean heartland from potential external threats (like Philistia or Egypt) and internal strife (from Israel to the north). These strategic locations aimed to control key routes and secure fertile lands within Judah's domain.

2 Chronicles 11 8 Word analysis

• and Gath:

  • "and": The Hebrew conjunction "waw" (וְ), connecting "Gath" as another city in the sequence of fortifications. It implies continuity and an expanding network.
  • Gath: (Hebrew: גַּת - Gat, meaning "winepress"). One of the five major Philistine cities, historically a significant enemy and formidable neighbor of Israel. Located in the Shephelah (foothills) bordering Judah. Its inclusion in Rehoboam's list of fortified cities is highly significant. It suggests a claim of dominion or a strong buffer established in a previously contested, and often hostile, area. This fortification demonstrates an aggressive defensive posture by Judah, possibly seizing control from weakening Philistine influence or asserting Judah's presence in crucial border regions, protecting agricultural zones and vital communication routes from the Philistine plain into the Judean highlands.

• and Mareshah:

  • "and": Links Mareshah as another crucial defensive point.
  • Mareshah: (Hebrew: מָרֵאשָׁה - Mare'shah, possibly meaning "head" or "chief place"). A strategic city in the Shephelah of Judah, mentioned in Joshua as part of Judah's inheritance. Its location was critical for controlling approaches from the southwestern lowlands towards Jerusalem. It later gains prominence in 2 Chronicles 14 as the site of King Asa's victory. Fortifying Mareshah indicates Rehoboam's attention to securing the western frontier and key transportation arteries, protecting the agricultural breadbasket of Judah.

• and Ziph:

  • "and": Continues the enumeration of fortified locations.
  • Ziph: (Hebrew: זִיף - Ziyf). Located in the southern Judean wilderness, east of Hebron. Historically known as a place where David hid from Saul. While not a large Philistine city like Gath, Ziph was vital for controlling the movement of people and resources within the more desolate southern regions of Judah and preventing incursions or internal disloyalty. Its fortification points to a thorough and pervasive defensive strategy by Rehoboam, encompassing not just external borders but also securing control over central and internal Judean routes.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph": This grouping, along with the other cities listed in 2 Chronicles 11:6-10, paints a comprehensive picture of Rehoboam's strategic military infrastructure. These particular three cities cover different geographical and historical dimensions:
  • Gath signifies securing a strong western, possibly hostile, border with the Philistine plains.
  • Mareshah represents the strategic defense of the central Shephelah region, protecting fertile lands and crucial access routes.
  • Ziph illustrates the reinforcement of internal security within the southern Judean wilderness, securing transit points and demonstrating a holistic defensive strategy that encompasses both external threats and internal stability for his shrunken kingdom. This sequence underscores Rehoboam's comprehensive, calculated efforts to safeguard Judah.

2 Chronicles 11 8 Bonus section

The Chronicler's detailed account of Rehoboam's fortifications (2 Chr 11:5-10) emphasizes the immediate and practical response to the division of the kingdom. While 1 Kings (1 Kgs 12-14) focuses more on Rehoboam's political and spiritual failings, the book of Chronicles highlights Judah's survival and divine favor, partly by showing Rehoboam's efforts to build up his kingdom's physical infrastructure and the consolidation of religious loyalty from northern Israel into Judah. Archaeological surveys in these regions have sometimes revealed evidence consistent with widespread building or rebuilding activity during the early Iron Age II period, which would correspond to Rehoboam's reign, although attributing specific structures solely to him remains challenging. This building campaign represents Rehoboam attempting to regain a measure of the Solomonic strength, though on a smaller, more defensive scale, symbolizing Judah's commitment to self-preservation in a newly precarious geopolitical landscape.

2 Chronicles 11 8 Commentary

2 Chronicles 11:8 presents three vital cities that were part of Rehoboam's extensive fortification program. After the painful split of the kingdom, Rehoboam diligently turned his focus from reunification by force (as forbidden by God) to strengthening Judah's internal security. The fortification of Gath, Mareshah, and Ziph, alongside others, served multiple strategic purposes: securing vital trade and travel routes, protecting fertile agricultural areas in the Shephelah, establishing strong defensive positions against foreign invasion (especially from the west and south, later demonstrated by Shishak's invasion in 2 Chr 12), and cementing Rehoboam's control over Judah. While these fortifications suggest Rehoboam's prudent kingship in preparing for potential conflict, the Chronicler's narrative later implies that this physical security might have inadvertently led to a false sense of invincibility, causing Rehoboam and Judah to abandon the Law of the Lord.