Rehoboam Ready to Fight II Chronicles 11

II Chronicles 11:1 "And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam." (I Kings 12:21)

In the aftermath of Rehoboam's speech to the people, where he spoke meanly to them, the people separated themselves from him. He now assemblies an army to forcefully bring them back under his rule. It was not to be so.

v2 "But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying v3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying:

v4 "Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house; for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD and returned from going against Jeroboam."

Thus the kingdom is divided. Rehoboam fortified Judah and Jeroboam set up camp in Shechem.

Shechem was therefore the first capitol of the ten tribes that rebelled, now called Israel. So, for now we refer to the ten tribes as Israel and the rest as Judah located in Jerusalem. It is also where Joseph was buried.

Jeroboam cared little for the correct worship (remember he had been in Egypt) so he ordained his own priests to worship images in the high places. The Levites then left their homes and went to Jerusalem.

v14 "For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:"

For a while (three years) Rehoboam followed the LORD, until his kingdom was established. See next chapter. In the mean time he is marrying, a lot. He wanted many wives and had many children. One of this children was Abijah, the son of the wife he loved the most. He made him chief hoping he would be king someday.

v22 "And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren, for he thought to make him king."

In the next chapter, his downfall.

Proverbs 3:1-2 "My son, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days and long life, and peace shall they add to thee."

Rehoboam reigns over Judah. Jeroboam reigns over the ten tribes.