Chapter One
2 Chronicles 10-36
The kings of Judah
The dates and length of reign of each king
are given in the parallel sections of 1 and 2
Kings. Many of them include a period of coregency
with a predecessor, so there is
often some overlap. See 'Unravelling the
chronology of the kings', and 'Kings of
Israel and Judah' chart.
The Chronicler does not recognize the
kings of Israel. Only David's descendants
are the nation's true kings. From the time
of the split he therefore largely ignores the
northern kingdom, and frequently refers to
Judah as 'Israel'. Even so, the ten tribes are
still considered part of the Israelite nation,
and contain elements which continue loyal
to God and to the rightful king.
10 Rehoboam: the kingdom divides
See also 1 Kings 12.
Rehoboam inherits from Solomon a
wealthy kingdom beginning to show signs
of weakness. By the time of his death only a
fraction of that land and income are left to
be handed down to his successor.
* In Egypt (2) See 1 Kings 11:26f.
* Verse 15 'The will of the Lord . this is why':
one event many places in the Old Testament where
an event is attributed directly to God without
reference to human freedom of choice. See on
1 Chronicles 10:14, etc. 'The word spoken by
Ahijah': see 1 Kings 11:30-39.
* Verse 18 Hadoram = Adoram (Adoniram) of
Kings.
11 Rehoboam fortifies Judah
A timely word from Shemaiah averts civil
war (1-4). Instead, Rehoboam concentrates
on fortifying his tiny kingdom
against attack from her larger and stronger
neighbours, particularly Israel and Egypt.
Refugee priests flock to Judah from Israel
following Jerboam's measures to break
the religious ties with Jerusalem (see 1
Kings 12:26-33).
* Shemaiah (2) See 12:5, 7, 15.
* Satyrs (15, Revised Standard Version) The
goat-like desert-demons of the old nature
worship.
* Abijah (20) The Abijan of Kings.
* Daughter of Absalom (20) The Old
(Continues.)
