Verses 1-23

Reign of Rehoboam (continued)

This chapter repeats the substance of 1 Kings 12:21-24, and adds much information relating to Rehoboam's buildings, the withdrawal of the Levites from the kingdom of Jeroboam, and Rehoboam's marriages.

5. Built cities] Of the towns named in the following vv. Beth-lehem, Tekoa, Beth-zur, Adoraim, Ziph, and Hebron, were in the hill-country of Judah; Etam, Shoco, Adullam, Mareshah, Azekah, Zorah and Aijalon, were in the lowlands, whilst Gath (a Philistine city, which in Solomon's reign was independent) and Lachish were in the maritime plain. The fortification of these places was intended to guard the Judæan frontier on the side of Egypt, with which country Jeroboam had had friendly relations: 2 Chronicles 10:2.

14. Cast them off] When Jeroboam made priests from all the tribes indifferently, the Levites lost their privileged position as the only legitimate priestly tribe.

15. Devils] lit. 'he-goats,' the deities that were worshipped being supposed to assume the forms of these animals, like the Greek Satyrs and the Roman Faunus.

18. Jerimoth] not included in the list in 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, so that he was probably the son of a concubine. And Abihail] RV 'and of 'Abi-hail': Abihail being the wife of Jerimoth and mother of Mahalath. 20. Daughter] probably 'granddaughter': see 2 Samuel 14:27 and 2 Samuel 13:1.

Abijah] The 'Abijam' of 1 Kings 15:1.

23. He dealt wisely] By acting as here described he sought to secure the tranquil succession of the son whom he had chosen as his heir: cp. 2 Chronicles 21:3. Desired] probably for his sons.