2 Chronicles 12 13

2 Chronicles 12:13 kjv

So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

2 Chronicles 12:13 nkjv

Thus King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Now Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king; and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess.

2 Chronicles 12:13 niv

King Rehoboam established himself firmly in Jerusalem and continued as king. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother's name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite.

2 Chronicles 12:13 esv

So King Rehoboam grew strong in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite.

2 Chronicles 12:13 nlt

King Rehoboam firmly established himself in Jerusalem and continued to rule. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from among all the tribes of Israel as the place to honor his name. Rehoboam's mother was Naamah, a woman from Ammon.

2 Chronicles 12 verses

2 Chronicles 12 13 Meaning

2 Chronicles 12:13 details King Rehoboam's re-establishment of power and reign in Jerusalem after a period of humbling. It states his age upon ascending the throne, the total duration of his rule, and highlights Jerusalem's unique status as the city specifically chosen by the LORD for His name to dwell there. The verse concludes by identifying his mother, Naamah, as an Ammonitess, a significant detail contributing to the broader narrative of his character and spiritual vulnerabilities.

2 Chronicles 12 13 Context

Following the Egyptian invasion by Shishak in 2 Chronicles 12:1-12, where Jerusalem and the temple treasury were plundered, King Rehoboam and the leaders of Israel had humbled themselves. The LORD, seeing their repentance, did not destroy them completely, but allowed them to become Shishak's servants. Verse 13 marks a turning point in Rehoboam's personal and political state after this humbling. He now strengthens himself and reasserts his kingship, demonstrating a recovery of royal authority. This strengthening occurs despite his earlier spiritual lapse mentioned in the preceding verses and his overall summary in verse 14 that he "did evil, because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD." The details about Jerusalem as the chosen city and his mother's identity add crucial layers to understanding his reign and its challenges within God's covenant plan.

2 Chronicles 12 13 Word analysis

• So King Rehoboam: Rehoboam (רחבעם, Rechabʻam, meaning "he enlarges the people" or "the people have been enlarged") is the son of Solomon and first king of Judah after the division of the united kingdom. The Chronicler frequently presents him as a contrast to his righteous predecessors, yet still as a figure of God's preserving grace for David's line.
• strengthened himself: (ויתחזק, vayitchazzaq) This is the Hithpael form of the verb חזק (chazaq), meaning "to be strong, seize, make firm, repair." The Hithpael conjugation indicates a reflexive or intensive action, "he himself strengthened" or "he showed himself strong." After the humbling invasion, this signifies an act of his own resolve and initiative to rebuild, reorganize, and restore his authority, politically and militarily. This may be distinct from strengthening by God. It speaks to human agency in recovery.
• in Jerusalem: Jerusalem (ירושלים, Yerushalayim), the capital of Judah and the designated city for God's presence. Rehoboam’s strengthening in Jerusalem emphasizes the renewed stability of the capital after its invasion.
• and reigned: (וימלוך, vayimlok) From the verb מלך (malak), "to reign, rule." This signifies the continuation and re-establishment of his kingship, especially after the perceived weakening from the Egyptian attack.
• for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years: These chronological details confirm Rehoboam's full reign, echoing information found in 1 Kings 14:21. The specific numbers provide historical anchor points and demonstrate the limited duration of his reign, relatively short compared to some predecessors.
• in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen: (אֲשֶׁר־בָּחַר יהוה, asher-bachar Yahweh) This highlights Jerusalem's unique, divinely appointed status. "Chosen" (בחר, bachar) is a theological term signifying God's sovereign and deliberate selection, implying a special relationship and divine purpose. This choice was not contingent on Rehoboam's faithfulness, underscoring God's steadfastness.
• out of all the tribes of Israel to put His name there: (לָשׂוּם שְׁמוֹ שָׁם, lasum shəmo sham) This phrase emphasizes the theological reason for Jerusalem's chosen status. God chose it not for the people, but as a place where His presence (symbolized by His "name") would reside and be invoked. This concept originates from the Deuteronomic theology, highlighting the singularity of the chosen sanctuary (Deut 12). Despite human failures, God's promise to place His Name in Jerusalem remains constant.
• His mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess: (עַמֹּנִית, ʻAmmonît) This crucial detail provides context for Rehoboam's character and reign. Naamah (נעמה, Naʻamah, "pleasant" or "charming") was one of Solomon's foreign wives, specifically from Ammon. According to Deuteronomic law (Deut 23:3), Ammonites were expressly forbidden from entering "the assembly of the LORD" even to the tenth generation, due to their hostility towards Israel. Her foreign, pagan background likely contributed to Rehoboam's early spiritual apostasy and wavering devotion, linking his personal heritage to his religious shortcomings (cf. Solomon's idolatry due to foreign wives, 1 Kgs 11:1-8). This detail acts as an implicit theological critique and explanation.

2 Chronicles 12 13 Bonus section

The mention of Naamah being an "Ammonitess" carries deep significance beyond mere ancestry. Ammonites, along with Moabites, were descendants of Lot's incestuous relationship (Gen 19:38). Furthermore, they showed hostility to Israel during the exodus, failing to provide water and food, and even hiring Balaam to curse them (Deut 23:3-6). Thus, for an Ammonitess to be the mother of the king of Judah signifies a profound breach of covenant principles, foreshadowing the king's wavering heart and explaining his subsequent deviations into idolatry. It underlines that personal heritage and family influences, especially those defying God's explicit commands, can have lasting impacts on leadership and the spiritual direction of a nation. This provides a direct contrast to God's steadfast choice of Jerusalem; human weakness (represented by Rehoboam's background) clashes with divine faithfulness.

2 Chronicles 12 13 Commentary

This verse functions as a pivotal summary after the humbling experience of the Egyptian invasion. Rehoboam, who had recently "humbled himself" (2 Chron 12:7), now strengthens himself. This "strengthening" reflects his renewed resolve to re-establish control after the national crisis. While commendable politically, the Chronicler's subtle language, by stating he "strengthened himself" rather than "the Lord strengthened him," may hint at a restoration rooted in human effort rather than a deeper spiritual renewal, a point underscored by verse 14, "he did evil, because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD." The details of his reign length and age affirm the continuity of the Davidic dynasty in Judah. Crucially, the verse reaffirms Jerusalem's enduring theological significance as "the city which the LORD had chosen... to put His name there." This divine choice and the permanency of God's presence (His name) stand in stark contrast to Rehoboam's inconsistent faithfulness. The concluding detail about his mother, Naamah the Ammonitess, serves as a significant narrative key. It is not a neutral biographical note; it connects Rehoboam to the very influences (foreign wives leading to idolatry) that corrupted his father Solomon's reign and hints at the spiritual instability characteristic of his own. This intermarriage, forbidden by the Mosaic Law, subtly explains his propensity for abandoning the law of the Lord mentioned earlier in the chapter.