2 Chronicles 11:22

And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(22) And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah . . . brethren.—Rather, And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maachah for head—to wit, for prince (nagîd)—among his brethren. The expression “head” is explained by the following clause.

For he thought to make him king.—This gives the sense of the brief Hebrew phrase, “for—for making him king.” In making Abijah heir to the throne, it does not appear that Rehoboam infringed the law of Deuteronomy 21:15-17, as the Speaker’s Commentary suggests. The right of the firstborn was only a double share of a man’s property. (Comp. 1Kings 1:35 for a precedent.)

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 11:22. Rehoboam made Abijah ruler among his brethren — He declared him his successor, and gave him the dominion over his brethren.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:13-23 When the priests and Levites came to Jerusalem, the devout, pious Israelites followed them. Such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, left the inheritance of their fathers, and went to Jerusalem, that they might have free access to the altar of God, and be out of the temptation to worship the calves. That is best for us, which is best for our souls; in all our choices, religious advantages must be sought before all outward conveniences. Where God's faithful priests are, his faithful people should be. And when it has been proved that we are willing to renounce our worldly interests, so far as we are called to do so for the sake of Christ and his gospel, we have good evidence that we are truly his disciples. And it is the interest of a nation to protect religion and religious people.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Jeush was probably the oldest of Rehoboam's sons, and should naturally and according to the provisions of the Law Deuteronomy 21:15-17 have been his heir. But Rehoboam's affection for Maachah led him to transgress the Law.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

22. made Abijah … chief … ruler among his brethren—This preference seems to have been given to Abijah solely from the king's doting fondness for his mother and through her influence over him. It is plainly implied that Abijah was not the oldest of the family. In destining a younger son for the kingdom, without a divine warrant, as in Solomon's case, Rehoboam acted in violation of the law (De 21:15).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

To be ruler among his brethren; he declared him his successor, and gave him the dominion over his brethren; wherein (if he was not the first-born, as it seems to be implied, because this is mentioned as an effect of his superlative love to his mother) he transgressed that law, Deu 21:15,16, unless God was pleased to dispense with it at this time.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maacah the chief,.... The chief of all his sons, head over them, being the son of his most beloved wife, and her firstborn however, and perhaps might be of a greater capacity than the rest of his children:

to be ruler among his brethren; or over them; gave him greater authority, and intrusted him with more power, set him above them, and treated him as heir apparent to the crown: for he thought

to make him king; either to take him into partnership in the throne with him in his lifetime, or to appoint and declare him to be his successor.

Geneva Study Bible

And Rehoboam made {g} Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

(g) Called also Abijam, who reigned three years, 1Ki 15:2.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

22. the chief, to be ruler] R.V. to be chief, even the prince. “Ruler,” Heb. nâgîd is translated “chief ruler” (“prince” R.V.) in 1 Chronicles 5:2.

for he thought] R.V. for is was minded.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 22. - Cancel in this verse the italics "to be." Rehoboam again offends against the "Law" (see Deuteronomy 21:15-17). He cannot justly plead as a precedent the instance of David and Solomon, as in 1 Chronicles 23:1; for this was only justified by the express Divine ordinance, as in 1 Chronicles 23:9; 1 Chronicles 29:1. 2 Chronicles 11:22

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Only these wives with their children are mentioned by name, though besides these Rehoboam had a number of wives, 18 wives and 60 (according to Josephus, 30) concubines, who bore him twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. Rehoboam trod in his father's footsteps in this not quite praise-worthy point. The eldest son of Maachah he made head (לראשׁ), i.e., prince, among his brethren; להמליכו כּי, for to make him king, scil. was his intention. The infin. with ל is here used in the swiftness of speech in loose connection to state with what further purpose he had appointed him נגיד; cf. Ew. 351, c, at the end.