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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Second Chronicles, Chapter XI].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We are here going on with the history of Rehoboam.
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I. His attempt to recover the ten tribes he has lost, and the letting
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fall of that attempt in obedience to the divine command,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. His successful endeavours to preserve the two tribes that remained,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:5-12">ver. 5-12</A>.
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III. The resort of the priests and Levites to him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:13-17">ver. 13-17</A>.
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IV. An account of his wives and children,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:18-23">ver. 18-23</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Rehoboam Forbidden to Make War.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 975.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the
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house of Judah and Benjamin a hundred and fourscore thousand
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chosen <I>men,</I> which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that
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he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
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2 But the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came to Shemaiah the man of God,
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saying,
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3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to
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all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
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4 Thus saith the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against
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your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is
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done of me. And they obeyed the words of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and returned
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from going against Jeroboam.
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5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence
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in Judah.
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6 He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
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7 And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
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8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
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9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
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10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which <I>are</I> in Judah and
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in Benjamin fenced cities.
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11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them,
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and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
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12 And in every several city <I>he put</I> shields and spears, and
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made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his
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side.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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How the ten tribes deserted the house of David we read in the foregoing
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chapter. They had formerly sat loose to that family
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+20:1,2">2 Sam. xx. 1, 2</A>),
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and now they quite threw it off, not considering how much it would
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weaken the common interest and take Israel down from that pitch of
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glory at which it had arrived in the last reign. But thus the
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<I>kingdom</I> must be corrected as well as the <I>house</I> of David.
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1. Rehoboam at length, like a bold man, raises an army, with a design
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to reduce the revolters,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Judah and Benjamin were not only resolved to continue their allegiance
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to him, but ready to give him the best assistance they could for the
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recovery of his right. Judah was his own tribe, that owned him some
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years before the rest did; Benjamin was the tribe in which Jerusalem,
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or the greatest part of it, stood, which perhaps was one reason why
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that tribe clave to him.
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2. Yet, like a conscientious man, when God forbade him to prosecute
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this design, in obedience to him he let it fall, either because he
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reverenced the divine authority or because he knew that he should not
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prosper if he should go contrary to God's command, but instead of
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retrieving what was lost would be in danger of losing what he had. It
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is dangerous undertaking any thing, but especially undertaking a war,
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contrary to the will of God. God calls him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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<I>Rehoboam the son of Solomon,</I> to intimate that this was
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determined for the sin of Solomon, and it would be to no purpose to
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oppose a decree that had gone forth. They <I>obeyed the words of the
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Lord;</I> and though it looked mean, and would turn to their reproach
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among their neighbours, yet, because God would have it so, they laid
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down their arms.
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3. Like a discreet man, he fortified his own country. He saw it was to
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no purpose to think of reducing those that had revolted. A few good
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words might have prevented their defection, but now all the forces of
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his kingdom cannot bring them back. The think is done, and so it must
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rest; it is his wisdom to make the best of it. Perhaps the same young
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counsellors that had advised him to answer them roughly urged him to
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fight them, notwithstanding the divine inhibition; but he had paid
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dearly enough for being advised by them, and therefore now, we may
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suppose, his aged and experienced counsellors were hearkened to, and
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they advised him to submit to the will of God concerning what was lost,
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and to make it his business to keep what he had. It was probably by
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their advice that,
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(1.) He fortified his frontiers, and many of the principal cities of
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his kingdom, which, in Solomon's peaceable reign, no care had been
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taken for the defence of.
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(2.) He furnished them with good stores of victuals and arms,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
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Because God forbade him to fight, he did not therefore sit down
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sullenly, and say that he would do nothing for the public safety if he
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might not do that, but prudently provided against an attack. Those that
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may not be conquerors, yet may be builders.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch11_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Priests Adhere to Rehoboam.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 974.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And the priests and the Levites that <I>were</I> in all Israel
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resorted to him out of all their coasts.
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14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and
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came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast
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them off from executing the priest's office unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>:
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15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the
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devils, and for the calves which he had made.
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16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set
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their hearts to seek the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to
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sacrifice unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of their fathers.
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17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam
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the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they
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walked in the way of David and Solomon.
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18 And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the
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son of David to wife, <I>and</I> Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son
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of Jesse;
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19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
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20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which
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bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
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21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all
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his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and
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threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and
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threescore daughters.)
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22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, <I>to
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be</I> ruler among his brethren: for <I>he thought</I> to make him king.
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23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children
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throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every
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fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he
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desired many wives.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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See here,</P>
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<P>
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I. How Rehoboam was strengthened by the accession of the priests and
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Levites, and all the devout and pious Israelites, to him, even all that
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were true to their God and their religion.</P>
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<P>
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1. Jeroboam cast them off, that is, he set up such a way of worship as
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he knew they could not in conscience comply with, which obliged them to
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withdraw from his altar, and at the same time he would not allow them
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to go up to Jerusalem to worship at the altar there; so that he totally
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<I>cast them off from executing the priest's office,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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And very willing he was that they should turn themselves out of their
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places, that room might be made for those mean and scandalous persons
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whom he <I>ordained priests for the high places,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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Compare
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+12:31">1 Kings xii. 31</A>.
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No marvel if he that cast off God cast off his ministers; they were not
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for his purpose, would not do whatever he might bid them do, would not
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<I>serve his gods, nor worship the golden image which he had set
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up.</I></P>
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<P>
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2. They thereupon <I>left their suburbs and possessions,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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Out of the lot of each tribe the Levites had cities allowed them, where
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they were comfortable provided for and had opportunity of doing much
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good. But now they were driven out of all their cities except those in
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Judah and Benjamin. One would think their maintenance well settled, and
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yet they lost it. It was a comfort to them that the law so often
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reminded them that the <I>Lord was their inheritance,</I> and so they
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should find him when they were turned out of their house and
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possessions. But why did they leave their possessions?
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(1.) Because they saw they could do no good among their neighbours, in
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whom (now that Jeroboam set up his calves) the old proneness to
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idolatry revived.
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(2.) Because they themselves would be in continual temptation to some
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base compliances, and in danger of being drawn insensibly to that which
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was evil. If we pray, in sincerity, not to be led into temptation, we
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shall get and keep as far as we can out of the way of it.
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(3.) Because, if they retained their integrity, they had reason to
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expect persecution from Jeroboam and his sons. The priests they made
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for the devils would not let the Lord's priests be long among them. No
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secular advantages whatsoever should draw us thither, or detain us
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there, where we are in danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good
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conscience.</P>
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<P>
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3. They <I>came to Judah and Jerusalem</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>)
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and <I>presented themselves to Rehoboam,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>,
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<I>margin.</I> Where should God's priests and Levites be, but where his
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altar was? Thither they came because it was their business to attend
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at the times appointed.
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(1.) It was a mercy to them that they had a place of refuge to flee to,
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and that when Jeroboam cast them off there were those so near that
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would entertain them, and bid them welcome, and they were not forced
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into the lands of the heathen.
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(2.) It was an evidence that they loved their work better than their
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maintenance, in that they <I>left their suburbs and possessions in the
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country</I> (where they might have lived at ease upon their own),
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because they were restrained from serving God there, and cast
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themselves upon God's providence and the charity of their brethren in
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coming to a place where they might have the free enjoyment of God's
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ordinances, according to his institution. Poverty in the way of duty is
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to be chosen rather than plenty in the way of sin. Better live upon
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alms, or die in a prison, with a good conscience, than roll in wealth
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and pleasure with a prostituted one.
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(3.) It was the wisdom and praise of Rehoboam and his people that they
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bade them welcome, though they crowded themselves perhaps to make room
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for them. Conscientious refugees will bring a blessing along with them
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to the countries that entertain them, as they leave a curse behind them
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with those that expel them. <I>Open the gates, that the righteous
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nation, which keepeth truth, may enter in;</I> it will be good policy.
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See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+26:1,2">Isa. xxvi. 1, 2</A>.</P>
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<P>
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4. When the priests and Levites came to Jerusalem all the devout pious
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Israelites of every tribe followed them. Such as <I>set their hearts to
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seek the Lord God of Israel,</I> that made conscience of their duty to
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God and were sincere and resolute in it, left the inheritance of their
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fathers and went and took houses in Jerusalem, that they might have
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free access to the altar of God and be out of the temptation to worship
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the calves,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
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Note,
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(1.) That is best for us which is best for our souls; and, in all our
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choices, advantages for religion must take place of all outward
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conveniences.
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(2.) Where God's faithful priests are his faithful people should be. If
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Jeroboam cast off God's ministers, every true-born Israelite will think
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himself obliged to own them and stand by them. <I>Forsake not the
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Levite,</I> the out-cast Levite, <I>as long as thou livest.</I> When
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<I>the ark removes do you remove and go after it,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:3">Josh. iii. 3</A>.</P>
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<P>
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5. They <I>strengthened the kingdom of Judah</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
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not only by the addition of so many persons to it, who, it is likely,
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brought what they could of their effects with them, but by their piety
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and their prayers they procured a blessing upon the kingdom which was a
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sanctuary to them. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+12:5">Zech. xii. 5</A>.
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It is the interest of a nation to protect and encourage religion and
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religious people, and adds more than any thing to its strength. They
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made him and his people <I>strong three years;</I> for so long they
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<I>walked in the way of David and Solomon,</I> their <I>good</I> way.
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But when they forsook that, and so threw themselves out of God's favour
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and protection, the best friends they had could no longer help to
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strengthen them. We retain our strength while we cleave to God and our
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duty, and no longer.</P>
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<P>
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II. How Rehoboam was weakened by indulging himself in his pleasures. He
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<I>desired many wives,</I> as his father did
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
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yet,
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1. In <I>this</I> he was more wise than his father, that he does not
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appear to have married strange wives. The wives mentioned here were not
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only daughters of Israel, but of the family of David; one was a
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descendant from Eliab, David's brother
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
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another from Absalom, probably that Absalom who was David's son
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
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another from Jerimoth, David's son.
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2. In <I>this</I> he was more happy than his father, that he had many
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sons and daughters; whereas we read not of more than one son that his
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father had. One can scarcely imagine that he had no more; but, if he
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had, they were not worth mentioning; whereas several of Rehoboam's sons
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are here named
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>)
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as men of note, and such active men that he thought it his wisdom to
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<I>disperse them throughout the countries of Judah and Benjamin</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
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either,
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(1.) That they might not be rivals with his son Abijah, whom he
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designed for his successor, or rather,
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(2.) Because he could repose a confidence in them for the preserving of
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the public peace and safety, could trust them with fenced cities, which
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he took care to have well victualled, that they might stand him in
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stead in case of an invasion. After-wisdom is better than none at all;
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nay, they say, "Wit is never good till it is bought;" though he was
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dearly bought with the loss of a kingdom.</P>
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