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2 Chronicles 11 · a question people ask

Did Rehoboam start well?

In the text

For three years, the chapter says: they "made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon" (11:17). Of his sons it says, "He dealt wisely" (11:23). Then comes the turn: "When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the LORD’s law, and all Israel with him" (12:1), and "In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against the LORD" (12:2). The text says when he turned, and what he didn't do: "he didn’t set his heart to seek the LORD" (12:14). It doesn't say more about why.

The verses

“So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.”
2 Chronicles 11:17 · World English Bible
“He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city. He gave them food in abundance; and he sought many wives for them.”
2 Chronicles 11:23 · World English Bible
“When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the LORD’s law, and all Israel with him. In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against the LORD,”
2 Chronicles 12:1-2 · World English Bible
“He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek the LORD.”
2 Chronicles 12:14 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Chronicles 11

2 Chronicles 11: Set their hearts to seek

2 Chronicles tells what 1 Kings doesn't: when Jeroboam cast off the Levites, they "left their pasture lands and their possessions" for Judah (11:14), and after them came people "out of all the tribes of Israel" who set their hearts to seek the LORD (11:16). The kingdom had split in two, but seeking the LORD still brought people from every tribe to Jerusalem.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions