1 Chronicles 11
2 Chronicles 11 covers the situation right after Solomon’s son Rehoboam took the throne and immediately following the split of the kingdom of Israel into the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel. In this chapter, it records how Rehoboam tried to bring the nation back together, the process of stopping the war in obedience to God’s word, the formation of the southern kingdom of Judah centered on the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and the event in which people from the Levite tribe and godly people moved from North Israel to South Judah.
1verseThen all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
2verseIn times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. The LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’”
3verseSo all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD. They anointed David king over Israel, according to the LORD’s word by Samuel.
4verseDavid and all Israel went to Jerusalem (also called Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.
5verseThe inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is David’s city.
6verseDavid had said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.
7verseDavid lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it David’s city.
8verseHe built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
9verseDavid grew greater and greater, for the LORD of Armies was with him.
10verseNow these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the LORD’s word concerning Israel.
11verseThis is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.
12verseAfter him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.
13verseHe was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
14verseThey stood in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great victory.
15verseThree of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
16verseDavid was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem at that time.
17verseDavid longed, and said, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
18verseThe three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, took it, and brought it to David; but David would not drink any of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
19verseand said, “My God forbid me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
20verseAbishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
21verseOf the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain; however he wasn’t included in the three.
22verseBenaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.
23verseHe killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
24verseBenaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things and had a name among the three mighty men.
25verseBehold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three; and David set him over his guard.
26verseThe mighty men of the armies also include Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27verseShammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28verseIra the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
29verseSibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30verseMaharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31verseIthai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32verseHurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33verseAzmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34versethe sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,
35verseAhiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
36verseHepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37verseHezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38verseJoel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,
39verseZelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite (the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah),
40verseIra the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41verseUriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42verseAdina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites), and thirty with him,
43verseHanan the son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44verseUzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45verseJediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46verseEliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
47verseEliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
Structure and Flow
- Verses 1–4: Rehoboam gathers troops.
To bring North Israel under his control again, Rehoboam summons Judah and Benjamin and gathers a large army. - Verses 5–12: Build fortified cities.
Following the message from God’s prophet, Shemaiah, he stops the war and builds defensive strongholds in various places throughout Judah, centered on Jerusalem. - Verses 13–17: The migration of Levites and godly people to South Judah.
In Judah under Rehoboam, Levites from North Israel and godly people who seek God come down, strengthening the faith community even further. - Verses 18–23: Rehoboam’s family and reign.
The narrative continues with Rehoboam’s wives and children and the scene in which he places his sons in each city, establishing order in the nation.
The Meaning and Message of the Whole Chapter
In this chapter, Rehoboam’s attitude of obeying God’s word amid a situation of political division is shown, highlighting how important it is that the center of faith remains with Jerusalem and before the Lord. The decision to stop the war according to God’s will, and the sight of faithful people gathering from North Israel, emphasize that God’s guidance remains at the center even in the community’s time of crisis.
Points to Ponder
- When I make a decision, is God’s will given priority over external forces or logic?
- Where does a true faith community and leadership originate?
- How does the dedication of the Levites and godly people who moved according to their faith at that time challenge our lives today?
Applying It to Me
- Remember that obeying God in the way He wants—though it may sometimes look like a loss in reality—can ultimately be the path to safety and peace.
- I will commit myself to putting my effort into practicing a life of serving by putting God’s will first in the home, faith community, and society where I am currently found.
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