2 Crônicas 10
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Crônicas 10
NJB (LXX versing) Rehoboam's Reign of Folly The Revolt Against Rehoboam The division of the Kingdom The Northern Tribes Revolt The Schism 10:1-5 10:1-5 10:1-5 10:1-4 10:1-5 10:5 10:6-11 10:6-11 10:6-11 10:6 10:6-16a 10:7 10:8-9 10:10-11 10:12-15 10:12-15 10:12-15 10:12-15 10:16-19 (16b) 10:16-19 (16b) 10:16-19 (16b) 10:16 (16a) 10:16b-19 10:17 10:18-19 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This begins the Chronicler's account of the "Divided Monarchy" (cf. 2 Chr. 10:1-36:23). He almost completely ignores the northern kingdom (i.e., Israel). He views it as a rebellious house that rejected the Davidic covenant (cf. 2 Chr. 10:19). He focuses on Judah, the temple, and the Davidic seed. Much of this material is unique and not covered by Kings. The Chronicler used many sources for his historical record. The Chronicler adopts the history of the Davidic Monarchy to encourage and strengthen the post-exilic faith community in restored Judah. See SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM.
2 Crônicas 10:1-5
10:1 "Rehoboam" This is Solomon's oldest son. The summary of his reign is in 2 Chr. 12:13-16. His name (BDB 932) is a word play on the verb "to grow wide" or "grow large" (BDB 931). "Shechem" This is the name of the ridge between Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim. This was the site where Joshua placed the stones from the Jordan (cf. Deut. 27:4). It was the site of a covenant renewal ceremony just after Israel entered Canaan. It is similar to the curses and blessings of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. The Levites divided and went up on the two mountains. One pronounced the covenant blessing for obedience and the other group the curses for disobedience (cf. Deut. 11:29; 27:13; Josh 8:30-35). The parallel of this event is in 1 Kgs. 12:1-20. 10:2 Jereboam, the exiled Ephraimitic labor, heard of Rehoboam's inauguration and returned from Egypt to organize a revolt (cf. 1 Kgs. 11:26-40). The problems were the royal taxation burden (cf. 2 Chr. 9:14) forced labor quotas (cf. 1 Kgs. 5:13; 11:28) support for the royal table (cf. 2 Chr. 9:4) See NIDOTTE, vol. 4, p. 733, #1. 10:4 Israel collectively expresses her problems with Solomon's reign (i.e., "hard yoke," see above). reduce the forced labor quotas reduce the taxation 10:5 Rehoboam asked for three days to review their requests. 2 Chronicles 10:6-11 describes the advice he received from the counselors of Solomon (2 Chr. 10:6-7) his peers at court (2 Chr. 10:8-10)
2 Crônicas 10:6-11
10:7-8 Here is the advice of Solomon's counselors. be kind to them please them speak good to them if #1-3, then they will be faithful to you 10:10 This is the advice of his royal peers and courtiers his own age. do not give in to their requests make your demands even stronger thigh/loins vs. little finger whips vs. scorpions i.e., "show them who is boss!" "My little finger" This is the MT noun "little" (BDB 882, cf. 1 Kgs. 12:10). "Finger" is just speculation. 10:11 "scorpion" This (BDB 785) may refer to a type of whip. The term is used literally in Deut. 18:15 symbolically in Ezek. 2:6 (i.e., enemies) for a whip in 1 Kgs. 12:11,14 Josephus, Antiq. 8.8.2., says that it refers to a shrub with thorns a kind of whip
2 Crônicas 10:12-15
10:15 The king's hardened position was from the Lord. The splitting of the kingdom was a direct result of Solomon's idolatry in his old age (cf. 1 Kgs. 11:26-40). It is obvious that several bad choices were made by Solomon by Rehoboam by Jeroboam I but behind them all was the will of God (cf. 1 Kgs. 12:15; 2 Chr. 11:4). History is in His hand but humans are still responsible for their choices and the consequences! SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD HARDENED
2 Crônicas 10:16-19
10:16 This was a formal repudiation of Rehoboam Solomon David This was a symbolic rejection of YHWH's promises to David, cf. 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17. 2 Chronicles 10:19 expresses this terrible reality. "to your tents" This is a Hebraic idiom for returning to one's home. Here, it denotes "leaving" the Davidic seed for the Ephraimitic seed (i.e., Jeroboam I). This same phrase was used in the rejection of David in 2 Sam. 20:1-2. 10:17 The tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, and most of Levi remained with Rehoboam and the temple. The Levites who lived in the north relocated to the southern kingdom (cf. 2 Chr. 11:13-17). After Rehoboam became disobedient, the priests rejected him (cf. 2 Chr. 11:17). 10:18 The tribes' anger can be seen in their stoning Hadoram, who was over the forced labor of Rehoboam. In 1 Kings he is called "Adoniram" (cf. 1 Kgs. 4:6; 5:14) or "Adoram" (1 Kgs. 12:18). A man by the same name was appointed by David to the same post (cf. 2 Sam. 20:24). This may be a family name. "stoned him" See Special Topics: SPECIAL TOPIC: STONE TO DEATH SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DEATH PENALTY IN ISRAEL 10:19 "to this day" See note at 2 Chr. 5:9.