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Selected Verse: 2 Chronicles 11:5 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
2Ch 11:5 |
Strong Concordance |
And Rehoboam [07346] dwelt [03427] in Jerusalem [03389], and built [01129] cities [05892] for defence [04692] in Judah [03063]. |
|
King James |
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
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 (Kg1 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. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Rehoboam was between two dangers: on the north he might be attacked by Jeroboam, on the south by Jeroboam's ally, Egypt. From this side was the greater peril, and therefore out of the 15 cities fortified, all but three were on the southern or western frontier, where Egypt would be most likely to attack. |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
Rehoboam's measures for the fortifying of his kingdom. - To defend his kingdom against hostile attacks, Rehoboam built cities for defence in Judah. The sing. למצור is used, because the building of cities served for the defence of the kingdom. Judah is the name of the kingdom, for the fifteen fenced cities enumerated in the following verses were situated in the tribal domains of both Benjamin and Judah.
Ch2 11:6
In Judah lay Bethlehem, a small city mentioned as early as in Jacob's time (Gen 35:19), two hours south of Jerusalem, the birthplace of David and of Christ (Mic 5:1; Mat 2:5, Mat 2:11), now Beit-Lahm; see on Jos 15:59. Etam is not the place bearing the same name which is spoken of in Ch1 4:32 and Jdg 15:8, and mentioned in the Talmud as the place where, near Solomon's Pools, the aqueduct which supplied Jerusalem with water commenced (cf. Robins. Pal. sub voce; Tobler, Topogr. v. Jerus. ii. S. 84ff., 855ff.);
(Note: For further information as to the commencement of this aqueduct, see the masterly dissertation of Dr. Herm. Zschokke, "Die versiegelte Quelle Salomo's," in the Tbingen Theol. Quartalschr. 1867, H. 3, S. 426ff.)
nor is it to be looked for, as Robins. loc. cit., and New Bibl. Researches, maintains, in the present village Urts (Arts), for it has been identified by Tobl., dritte Wand. S. 89, with Ain Attn, a valley south-west from Arts. Not only does the name Attn correspond more than Arts with Etam, but from it the water is conducted to Jerusalem, while according to Tobler's thorough conviction it could not have been brought from Arts. Tekoa, now Tekua, on the summit of a hill covered with ancient ruins, two hours south of Bethlehem; see on Jos 15:59.
Ch2 11:7
Beth-zur was situated where the ruin Beth-Sur now stands, midway between Urts and Hebron; see on Jos 15:58. Shoko, the present Shuweike in Wady Sumt, 3 1/2 hours south-west from Jerusalem; see on Jos 15:35. Adullam, in Jos 15:35 included among the cities of the hill country, reckoned part of the lowland (Shephelah), i.e., the slope of the hills, has not yet been discovered. Tobler, dritte Wand. S. 151, conjectures that it is identical with the present Dula, about eight miles to the east of Beit-Jibrin; but this can hardly be correct (see against it, Arnold in Herzog's Realenc. xiv. S. 723. It is much more probable that its site was that of the present Deir Dubban, two hours to the north of Beit-Jibrin; see on Jos 12:15.
Ch2 11:8
Gath, a royal city of the Philistines, which was first made subject to the Israelites by David (Ch1 18:1), and was under Solomon the seat of its own king, who was subject to the Israelite king (Kg1 2:39), has not yet been certainly discovered; see on Jos 13:3.
(Note: C. Schick, Reise in das Philisterland (in "Ausland" 1867, Nr. 7, S. 162), identifies Gath with the present Tel Safieh, "an isolated conical hill in the plain, like a sentinel of a watchtower or fortress, and on that account there was so much struggling for its possession." On the other hand, Konr. Furrer, Wanderungen durch Palstina, Zrich 1865, thinks, S. 133, that he has found the true situation of Gath in the Wady el Gat, northward of the ruins of Askalon.)
Mareshah, the city Marissa, on the road from Hebron to the land of the Philistines, was at a later time very important, and is not represented by the ruin Marash, twenty-four minutes to the south of Beit-Jibrin (Eleutheropolis); see on Jos 15:44, and Tobl. dritte Wand. S. 129, 142f. Ziph is probably the Ziph mentioned in Jos 15:55, in the hill country of Judah, of which ruins yet remain on the hill Ziph, about an hour and a quarter south-east of Hebron; see on Jos 15:55. C. v. Raumer thinks, on the contrary, Pal. S. 222, Anm. 249, that our Ziph, as it is mentioned along with Mareshah and other cities of the lowland, cannot be identified with either of the Ziphs mentioned in Jos 15:24 and Jos 15:55, but is probably Achzib in the lowland mentioned along with Mareshah, Jos 15:44; but this is very improbable.
Ch2 11:9
Adoraim (Ἂδωραΐ́μ in Joseph. Antt. viii. 10. 1), met with in 1 Macc. 13:20 as an Idumean city, Ἄδωρα, and so also frequently in Josephus, was taken by Hyrcanus, and rebuilt by Gabinius (Jos. Antt. xiii. 15. 4, and xiv. 5. 3) under the name Δῶρα, and often spoken of along with Marissa (s. Reland, Palaest. p. 547). Robinson (Pal. sub voce) has identified it with the present Dra, a village about 7 1/2 miles to the westward of Hebron. Lachish, situated in the lowland of Judah, as we learn from Jos 15:39, is probably the present Um Lakis, on the road from Gaza to Beit-Jibrin and Hebron, to the left hand, seven hours to the west of Beit-Jibrin, on a circular height covered with ancient walls and marble fragments, and overgrown with thistles and bushes; see on Jos 10:3, and Pressel in Herz.'s Realenc. viii. S. 157f. Azekah, situated in the neighbourhood of Shoco (Ch2 11:7), and, according to Sa1 17:1, in an oblique direction near Ephes-dammim, i.e., Damm, one hour east to the south of Beit-Nettif,
(Note: Compare the interesting note of Breytenbach (Reybb. des heil. Landes, i. 134) in Tobler, dritte Wand. S. 463: "Thence (from Azekah) three miles is the city Zochot-Jude, not far from Nobah, where David slew Goliath.")
has not been re-discovered; see on Jos 10:10.
Ch2 11:10
Zorah, Samson's birthplace, is represented by the ruin Sura, at the south-west end of the ridge, which encloses the Wady es Surar on the north; see on Jos 15:33. To the north of that again lay Ajalon, now the village Jlo, on the verge of the plain Merj ibn Omeir, four leagues to the west of Gibeon; see on Jos 10:12 and Jos 19:42. Finally, Hebron, the ancient city of the patriarchs, now called el Khalil (The friend of God, i.e., Abraham); see on Gen 23:2. All these fenced cities lay in the tribal domain of Judah, with the exception of Zorah and Ajalon, which were assigned to the tribe of Dan (Jos 19:41.). These two were probably afterwards, in the time of the judges, when a part of the Danites emigrated from Zorah and Eshtaol to the north of Palestine (Jdg 18:1), taken possession of by Benjamites, and were afterwards reckoned to the land of Benjamin, and are here named as cities which Rehoboam fortified in Benjamin. If we glance for a moment at the geographical position of the whole fifteen cities, we see that they lay partly to the south of Jerusalem, on the road which went by Hebron to Beersheba and Egypt, partly on the western slopes of the hill country of Judah, on the road by Beit-Jibrin to Gaza, while only a few lay to the north of this road towards the Philistine plain, and there were none to the north to defend the kingdom against invasions from that side. "Rehoboam seems, therefore, to have had much more apprehension of an attack from the south and west, i.e., from the Egyptians, than of a war with the northern kingdom" (Berth.). Hence we may conclude that Rehoboam fortified these cities only after the inroad of the Egyptian king Shishak.
Ch2 11:11-12
"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 (Ch2 11:12) laying up stores of all kinds of arms. In this way he made them exceedingly strong. The last clause, Ch2 11:12, "And there were to him Judah and Benjamin," corresponds to the statement, Ch2 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 |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Built - Repaired, enlarged, and fortified them. They were built before. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
And built cities for defense in Judah - He was obliged to strengthen his frontiers against the encroachments of the men of Israel; and Jeroboam did the same thing on his part to prevent the inroads of Judah. See Kg1 12:25. |
25 Then Jeroboam [03379] built [01129] Shechem [07927] in mount [02022] Ephraim [0669], and dwelt [03427] therein; and went out [03318] from thence, and built [01129] Penuel [06439].
19 And Israel [03478] rebelled [06586] against the house [01004] of David [01732] unto this day [03117].
12 And in every several city [05892] he put shields [06793] and spears [07420], and made them exceeding [07235] [03966] strong [02388], having Judah [03063] and Benjamin [01144] on his side.
12 And in every several city [05892] he put shields [06793] and spears [07420], and made them exceeding [07235] [03966] strong [02388], having Judah [03063] and Benjamin [01144] on his side.
11 And he fortified [02388] the strong holds [04694], and put [05414] captains [05057] in them, and store [0214] of victual [03978], and of oil [08081] and wine [03196].
12 And in every several city [05892] he put shields [06793] and spears [07420], and made them exceeding [07235] [03966] strong [02388], having Judah [03063] and Benjamin [01144] on his side.
1 In those days [03117] there was no king [04428] in Israel [03478]: and in those days [03117] the tribe [07626] of the Danites [01839] sought [01245] them an inheritance [05159] to dwell in [03427]; for unto that day [03117] all their inheritance [05159] had not fallen [05307] unto them among [08432] the tribes [07626] of Israel [03478].
41 And the coast [01366] of their inheritance [05159] was Zorah [06881], and Eshtaol [0847], and Irshemesh [05905],
2 And Sarah [08283] died [04191] in Kirjatharba [07153]; the same is Hebron [02275] in the land [0776] of Canaan [03667]: and Abraham [085] came [0935] to mourn [05594] for Sarah [08283], and to weep [01058] for her.
42 And Shaalabbin [08169], and Ajalon [0357], and Jethlah [03494],
12 Then spake [01696] Joshua [03091] to the LORD [03068] in the day [03117] when the LORD [03068] delivered up [05414] the Amorites [0567] before [06440] the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and he said [0559] in the sight [05869] of Israel [03478], Sun [08121], stand thou still [01826] upon Gibeon [01391]; and thou, Moon [03394], in the valley [06010] of Ajalon [0357].
33 And in the valley [08219], Eshtaol [0847], and Zoreah [06881], and Ashnah [0823],
10 And Zorah [06881], and Aijalon [0357], and Hebron [02275], which are in Judah [03063] and in Benjamin [01144] fenced [04694] cities [05892].
10 And the LORD [03068] discomfited [02000] them before [06440] Israel [03478], and slew [05221] them with a great [01419] slaughter [04347] at Gibeon [01391], and chased [07291] them along the way [01870] that goeth up [04608] to Bethhoron [01032], and smote [05221] them to Azekah [05825], and unto Makkedah [04719].
1 Now the Philistines [06430] gathered together [0622] their armies [04264] to battle [04421], and were gathered together [0622] at Shochoh [07755], which belongeth to Judah [03063], and pitched [02583] between Shochoh [07755] and Azekah [05825], in Ephesdammim [0658].
7 And Bethzur [01049], and Shoco [07755], and Adullam [05725],
3 Wherefore Adonizedek [0139] king [04428] of Jerusalem [03389] sent [07971] unto Hoham [01944] king [04428] of Hebron [02275], and unto Piram [06502] king [04428] of Jarmuth [03412], and unto Japhia [03309] king [04428] of Lachish [03923], and unto Debir [01688] king [04428] of Eglon [05700], saying [0559],
39 Lachish [03923], and Bozkath [01218], and Eglon [05700],
9 And Adoraim [0115], and Lachish [03923], and Azekah [05825],
44 And Keilah [07084], and Achzib [0392], and Mareshah [04762]; nine [08672] cities [05892] with their villages [02691]:
55 Maon [04584], Carmel [03760], and Ziph [02128], and Juttah [03194],
24 Ziph [02128], and Telem [02928], and Bealoth [01175],
55 Maon [04584], Carmel [03760], and Ziph [02128], and Juttah [03194],
55 Maon [04584], Carmel [03760], and Ziph [02128], and Juttah [03194],
44 And Keilah [07084], and Achzib [0392], and Mareshah [04762]; nine [08672] cities [05892] with their villages [02691]:
3 From Sihor [07883], which is before [06440] Egypt [04714], even unto the borders [01366] of Ekron [06138] northward [06828], which is counted [02803] to the Canaanite [03669]: five [02568] lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430]; the Gazathites [05841], and the Ashdothites [0796], the Eshkalonites [0832], the Gittites [01663], and the Ekronites [06139]; also the Avites [05761]:
39 And it came to pass at the end [07093] of three [07969] years [08141], that two [08147] of the servants [05650] of Shimei [08096] ran away [01272] unto Achish [0397] son [01121] of Maachah [04601] king [04428] of Gath [01661]. And they told [05046] Shimei [08096], saying [0559], Behold, thy servants [05650] be in Gath [01661].
1 Now after this [0310] it came to pass, that David [01732] smote [05221] the Philistines [06430], and subdued [03665] them, and took [03947] Gath [01661] and her towns [01323] out of the hand [03027] of the Philistines [06430].
8 And Gath [01661], and Mareshah [04762], and Ziph [02128],
15 The king [04428] of Libnah [03841], one [0259]; the king [04428] of Adullam [05725], one [0259];
35 Jarmuth [03412], and Adullam [05725], Socoh [07755], and Azekah [05825],
35 Jarmuth [03412], and Adullam [05725], Socoh [07755], and Azekah [05825],
58 Halhul [02478], Bethzur [01049], and Gedor [01446],
7 And Bethzur [01049], and Shoco [07755], and Adullam [05725],
59 And Maarath [04638], and Bethanoth [01042], and Eltekon [0515]; six [08337] cities [05892] with their villages [02691]:
8 And he smote [05221] them hip [07785] and [05921] thigh [03409] with a great [01419] slaughter [04347]: and he went down [03381] and dwelt [03427] in the top [05585] of the rock [05553] Etam [05862].
32 And their villages [02691] were, Etam [05862], and Ain [05871], Rimmon [07417], and Tochen [08507], and Ashan [06228], five [02568] cities [05892]:
59 And Maarath [04638], and Bethanoth [01042], and Eltekon [0515]; six [08337] cities [05892] with their villages [02691]:
11 And [2532] when they were come [2064] into [1519] the house [3614], they saw [2147] [1492] the young child [3813] with [3326] Mary [3137] his [846] mother [3384], and [2532] fell down [4098], and worshipped [4352] him [846]: and [2532] when they had opened [455] their [846] treasures [2344], they presented [4374] unto him [846] gifts [1435]; gold [5557], and [2532] frankincense [3030], and [2532] myrrh [4666].
5 And [1161] they said [2036] unto him [846], In [1722] Bethlehem [965] of Judaea [2449]: for [1063] thus [3779] it is written [1125] by [1223] the prophet [4396],
1 Now gather [01413] thyself in troops [01416], O daughter [01323] of troops [01416]: he hath laid [07760] siege [04692] against us: they shall smite [05221] the judge [08199] of Israel [03478] with a rod [07626] upon the cheek [03895].
19 And Rachel [07354] died [04191], and was buried [06912] in the way [01870] to Ephrath [0672], which is Bethlehem [01035].
6 He built [01129] even Bethlehem [01035], and Etam [05862], and Tekoa [08620],
25 Then Jeroboam [03379] built [01129] Shechem [07927] in mount [02022] Ephraim [0669], and dwelt [03427] therein; and went out [03318] from thence, and built [01129] Penuel [06439].