2 Chronicles 11:11

And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) And he fortified.—Literally, strengthened, i.e., put them in an efficient condition for defence, by providing commandants and stores of arms and food.

The strong holds.—Metsûrôth; the word in last verse.

Captains.—Negîdîm; leaders, princes (1Chronicles 9:11). Here it means commandants.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:1-12 A few good words might have prevented the rebellion of Rehoboam's subjects; but all the force of his kingdom cannot bring them back. And it is in vain to contend with the purpose of God, when it is made known to us. Even those who are destitute of true faith, will at times pay some regard to the word of God, and be kept by it from wrong actions, to which they are prone by nature.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The site of Adoraim is uncertain. For Lachish, see Joshua 10:3; Azekah, Joshua 10:10; Zorah, Joshua 15:33; Aijalon, Joshua 10:12; Hebron, Joshua 14:15. No one of the cities was really within the limits of the tribe of Benjamin. The writer uses the phrase "Judah and Benjamin" merely as the common designation of the southern kingdom (compare 2 Chronicles 11:12 and 2 Chronicles 11:23).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5-11. built cities for defence in Judah—This is evidently used as the name of the southern kingdom. Rehoboam, having now a bitter enemy in Israel, deemed it prudent to lose no time in fortifying several cities that lay along the frontier of his kingdom. Jeroboam, on his side, took a similar precaution (1Ki 12:25). Of the fifteen cities named, Aijalon, now Yalo, and Zorah, now Surah, between Jerusalem and Jabneh [Robinson], lay within the province of Benjamin. Gath, though a Philistine city, had been subject to Solomon. And Etham, which was on the border of Simeon, now incorporated with the kingdom of Israel, was fortified to repel danger from that quarter. These fortresses Rehoboam placed under able commanders and stocked them with provisions and military stores, sufficient, if necessary, to stand a siege. In the crippled state of his kingdom, he seems to have been afraid lest it might be made the prey of some powerful neighbors.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he fortified the strong holds,.... Of these and other cities:

and put captains in them; garrisons of soldiers, with captains over them to defend them:

and store of victual, and of oil and wine; that they might be able to hold out a siege, should they be attacked.

Geneva Study Bible

And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

2 Chronicles 11:11

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

"And he made strong the fortresses, and put captains in them," etc.; i.e., he increased their strength by placing them in a thoroughly efficient condition to defend themselves against attacks, appointing commandants (נגידים), provisioning them, and (2 Chronicles 11:12) laying up stores of all kinds of arms. In this way he made them exceedingly strong. The last clause, 2 Chronicles 11:12, "And there were to him Judah and Benjamin," corresponds to the statement, 2 Chronicles 10:19, that Israel revolted from the house of David, and forms the conclusion of the account (vv. 1-17a) of that which Rehoboam did to establish his power and consolidate his kingdom. There follows hereupon, in