2 Chronicles 11:3

Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) King of Judah.—By this significant expression accomplished facts receive at the outset the seal of Divine assent.

All Israel in Judah and Benjamin.—Kings, “all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the remnant of the people;” where the second phrase seems to define the first, for the house of Judah and Benjamin was the remnant of Israel that continued loyal to David. In that case, the chronicler’s phrase is a mere abbreviation, denoting whatever of Israel was comprised in the two faithful tribes. (Comp. 2Chronicles 10:17.) But there may be a hint that Judah and Benjamin were the true Israel, and that the apostate North had forfeited its right to that honourable name. Others suppose a reference to members of Northern tribes dwelling in the territory of Judah and Benjamin. Syriac, “to Rehoboam . . . and to the house of Benjamin, and to all Israel, and to the remnant of the people.” LXX., “to all Judah and Benjamin” simply.

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 11:3. Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon — Intimating that this was determined for the sin of Solomon, and therefore could not be reversed. But for all explanation of this paragraph, see notes on 1 Kings 12:21-24.

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 narrative of Kings (marginal reference) is repeated with only slight verbal differences.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 11

2Ch 11:1-17. Rehoboam, Raising an Army to Subdue Israel, Is Forbidden by Shemaiah.

1-4. Rehoboam … gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin … to fight against Israel—(See 1Ki 12:21-24).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem,.... After he had been at Shechem, and had given his answer to the request of the men of Israel, upon which they revolted from him: this and the three following verses are the same with 1 Kings 12:21. See Gill on 1 Kings 12:21.

Geneva Study Bible

Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3. to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin] The Chronicler does not hesitate to use the term “Israel” in speaking of Judah. Thus the princes of the Southern Kingdom are called “the princes of Israel” (2 Chronicles 12:6; 2 Chronicles 21:4), the populace as a whole is called “Israel” (2 Chronicles 12:1; 2 Chronicles 15:17), Jehoshaphat and Ahaz are each called “king of Israel” (2 Chronicles 21:2; 2 Chronicles 28:19), and the sepulchres of the kings at Jerusalem are called the “sepulchres of the kings of Israel” (2 Chronicles 28:27). (Cp. Driver, Joel, p. 9 note, for a similar use of the word.) Israel in Chron. then = the covenant-people. In Kings on the contrary Israel generally means the Northern Kingdom.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - To all Israel in Judah and Benjamin. There is difference of opinion as to who are intended in the expression, "all Israel," already confessedly ambiguous in two other passages. When we consider the mention of Rehoboam personally in the former clause of the verse, it would seem most probable that the meaning is all the people of the nation, resident in the Judah and Benjamin allotments, i.e. the nation called collectively Israel. This will include "the remnant" spoken of in the parallel (1 Kings 12:23, compared with 17). 2 Chronicles 11:3

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Rehoboam's attitude to the ten rebel tribes. Cf. 1 Kings 12:21-24. - Rehoboam's purpose, to subdue these tribes by force of arms, and bring them again under his dominion, and the abandonment of this purpose in consequence of the command of the prophet Shemaiah, belong in a certain measure to the history of the revolt of the ten tribes from the house of David; for the revolt only became an accomplished fact when the prophet Shemaiah proclaimed in the name of the Lord that the matter was from the Lord. 2 Chronicles 11:3. Of Jahve was the thing done; He had ordained the revolt as a chastisement of the seed of David for walking no more in His ways. Solomon had, by allowing himself to be seduced by his many foreign wives into departing from the Lord, exposed himself to the divine displeasure, and his successor Rehoboam increased the guilt by his impolitic treatment of the tribes dissatisfied with Solomon's rule, and had, if not brought about the revolt, yet hastened it; but yet the conduct of these tribes was not thereby justified. Their demand that the burdens laid upon them by Solomon should be lightened, flowed from impure and godless motives, and at bottom had its root in discontent with the theocratic rule of the house of David (see on 1 Kings 12:21.). The expression, "to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin," is deeper than "the whole house of Judah and Benjamin and the remnant of the people," i.e., those belonging to the other tribes who were dwelling in the tribal domains of Judah and Benjamin (1 Kings 12:23); for it characterizes all who had remained true to the house of David as Israel, i.e., those who walked in the footsteps of their progenitor Israel (Jacob).