Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 12:13
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.
13 16 (cp. 1Ki 14:21; 1Ki 14:29-31). Summary of Rehoboam’s Reign
13. strengthened himself ] See note on 2Ch 1:1. The immediate reference is to a recovery of strength after the departure of Shishak, the further reference is to 2Ch 11:5.
one and forty years old and he reigned seventeen years ] So read both Heb. and LXX. here and in 1Ki 14:21, but in the additional passage which follows 1Ki 12:14 in LXX. (B, not A) is read, sixteen years old and twelve years he reigned. No importance however can be attached to this variation, for the passage which contains it is plainly Midrashic in character.
the city which the Lord had chosen ] Though the Ten Tribes were lost to the house of David, the Lord kept his oath to David by securing to his seed the possession of the one holy city of Israel.
Naamah an Ammonitess ] R.V. Naamah the Ammonitess.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 13. Was one and forty years old] Houbigant thinks he was but sixteen years old when he began to reign; and brings many and forcible arguments to prove that the number forty-one must be a mistake. That he was young when he came to the throne, is evident from his consulting the young men that were brought up with him, 2Ch 10:8; 2Ch 10:10. They were young men then; and if he was brought up with them, he must have been young then also. Besides, Abijah, in his speech to Jeroboam, 2Ch 13:7, says that at the time Rehoboam came to the throne he was tender-hearted, and therefore could not withstand the children of Belial raised up against him by Jeroboam: but surely at that time no man could be reputed young and tender-hearted – quite devoid of experience, who was above forty years of age. Besides, if this reading were allowed, it would prove that he was born before his father Solomon began to reign, for Solomon reigned only forty years, and Rehoboam immediately succeeded him.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
13, 14. Rehoboam strengthened . . .and reignedThe Egyptian invasion had been a mere predatoryexpedition, not extending beyond the limits of Judah, and probably,ere long, repelled by the invaded. Rehoboam’s government acquired newlife and vigor by the general revival of true religion, and his reigncontinued many years after the departure of Shishak. But
he prepared not his heart toseek the Lordthat is, he did not adhere firmly to the goodcourse of reformation he had begun, “and he did evil,” forthrough the unhappy influence of his mother, a heathen foreigner, hehad no doubt received in his youth a strong bias towards idolatry(see on 1Ki 14:21).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem,…. Fortified that yet more for the defence of himself, after Shishak departed:
and reigned; twelve years more, for he reigned in all seventeen, and this was in his fifth year; of what follows in this verse,
[See comments on 1Ki 14:21].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The length of Rehoboam’s reign, his mother, and the judgment about him. Cf. 1Ki 14:21 and 1Ki 14:22. here, as in 2Ch 13:21, can, in its connection with what precedes, be only understood to mean that Rehoboam, after his humiliation at the hands of Shishak, by which his kingdom was utterly weakened and almost destroyed, again gained strength and power. Cf. also 2Ch 1:1, where is used of Solomon in the beginning of his reign, after he overcame Adonijah, the pretender to the crown, and his party. – As to the age of Rehoboam, etc., see on 1Ki 14:21. , 2Ch 12:14, is defined by the addition, “for he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.” For the expression cf. 2Ch 19:3; 2Ch 30:19; Ezr 7:10.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Jeroboam Defeated by Abijah. | B. C. 965. |
13 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. 14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. 15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
The story of Rehoboam’s reign is here concluded, much as the story of the other reigns concludes. Two things especially are observable here:– 1. That he was at length pretty well fixed in his kingdom, v. 13. His fenced cities in Judah did not answer his expectation, so he now strengthened himself in Jerusalem, which he made it his business to fortify, and there he reigned seventeen years, in the city which the Lord had chosen to put his name there. This intimates his honour and privilege, that he had his royal seat in the holy city, which yet was but an aggravation of his impiety–near the temple, but far from God. Frequent skirmishes there were between his subjects and Jeroboam’s, such as amounted to continual wars, (v. 15), but he held his own, and reigned, and, as it should seem, did not so grossly forsake the law of God as he had done (v. 1) in his fourth year. 2. That he was never rightly fixed in his religion, v. 14. He never quite cast off God; and yet in this he did evil, that he prepared not, he engaged not, his heart to seek the Lord. See what the fault is laid upon. (1.) He did not serve the Lord because he did not seek the Lord. He did not pray, as Solomon did, for wisdom and grace. If we prayed better, we should be every way better. Or he did not consult the word of God, did not seek to that as his oracle, nor take directions from it. (2.) He made nothing of his religion because he did not set his heart to it, never minded it with any closeness of application, and never any hearty disposition to it, nor ever came up to a steady resolution in it. What little goodness he had was transient and passed away like the morning cloud. He did evil because he was never determined for that which is good. Those are easily drawn by Satan to any evil who are wavering and inconstant in that which is good and are never persuaded to make religion their business.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
(b) SUMMING UP OF THE REIGN (2Ch. 12:13-16).
(Comp. 1Ki. 14:21-22; 1Ki. 14:29; 1Ki. 14:31.)
The Syriac and Arabic contain this section.
(13) So king Rehoboam strengthened himself.After the withdrawal of Shishak. In other words, he regained strength after the crushing blow inflicted by the Egyptian invasion. (Comp. the same word in 2Ch. 13:21; 2Ch. 1:1.)
And reignedi.e., reigned on for twelve years longer; for he reigned altogether seventeen years.
Rehoboam was one and forty . . . Naamah an Ammonitess.Word for word as in 1Ki. 14:21. (See the Notes there).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Rehoboam’s Reign and Death
v. 13. So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, v. 14. And he did evil, v. 15. Now, the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the Book of Shemaiah, the prophet, and of Iddo, the seer, concerning genealogies? v. 16. And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the City of David; and Abijah, his son,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
2Ch 12:13. Rehoboam was one-and-forty years old when he began to reign Was sixteen years old. Houbigant. As also in the parallel place of Kings.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ch 12:13 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.
Ver. 13. For Rehoboam was one and forty years old. ] See 1Ki 14:21 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
had chosen. Compare 2Ch 6:6 and 1Ki 12:25-33.
an = the.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ch 12:13-16
2Ch 12:13-16
CONCLUSION OF REHOBOAM’S EVIL REIGN
“So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Jehovah had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: and his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. And he did that which was evil, because he set not his heart to seek Jehovah.
“Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, after the manner of genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.”
“And he did that which was evil” (2Ch 12:14). The Chronicler did not dwell unnecessarily upon the details of Rehoboam’s wickedness, but it was very great indeed. His wickedness exceeded anything that his fathers had done before him. The sodomites were brought into the land; the high places were built; and Israel even sinned beyond that of the ancient Canaanites who preceded Israel in Palestine. A fuller account of all this is in 1Ki 14:21-24.
God had forbidden the Israelites to intermarry with foreigners; but Rehoboam’s mother was an Ammonitess.
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 12:13-14. This is a general summing up of the life of Rehoboam, covering the short period of his good rule, and the rest of the period when he forsook God.
2Ch 12:15. There were books written by various persons that are not included in our Bible. They were not inspired in all cases, but were good histories. Those who wished more details than were given in the Biblical account could consult the said books. Rehoboam and Jeroboam started their reigns at the same time, and as long as both lived they were in a state of war with each other.
2Ch 12:16. Slept with his fathers is explained at 1Ki 2:10.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
am 3029-3046, bc 975-958
for Rehoboam: 2Ch 13:7, 1Ki 14:21
the city: 2Ch 6:6, Psa 48:1-3, Psa 78:68, Psa 78:69
to put: Exo 20:24, Deu 12:5, Deu 12:11, Eze 48:35
an Ammonitess: Deu 23:3, 1Ki 11:1, Neh 13:1, Neh 13:26
Reciprocal: Deu 12:21 – to put 2Ch 12:1 – when Rehoboam
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 12:13. King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem He recovered so much strength that he reigned with some authority: or, finding that his fenced cities of Judah did not answer his expectation, he now made it his business to fortify Jerusalem, and render that impregnable. And there he reigned seventeen years, in the city which the Lord had chosen to put his name there.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
12:13 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 {g} 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.
(g) That is, twelve years after he had been overcome by Shishak, 2Ch 12:2.