2. Chronik 10:7 Kommentar

This chapter is copied almost verbatim from 1 Kings 12:1-19, where it was opened at large. Solomon's defection from God was not repeated, but the defection of the ten tribes from his family is, in this chapter, where we find, I. How foolish Rehoboam was in his treating with them (Ch2 10:1, Ch2 10:5-14). II. How wicked the people were in complaining of Solomon (Ch2 10:2-4). and forsaking Rehoboam (Ch2 10:16-19). III. How just and righteous God was in all this (Ch2 10:15). His counsel was thereby fulfilled. With him are strength and wisdom; both the deceived and the deceiver (the fool and the knave) are his (Job 12:16), that is, are made use of by him to suit his purposes.

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 10 This chapter is not only in sense the same, but is expressed almost in the selfsame words as First Kings chapter twelve, verses one through nineteen, so there needs not anything to be added to the notes there, which the reader is referred to. See Gill on Kg1 12:1.

The people apply to Rehoboam to ease them of their burdens, Ch2 10:1-4. Rejecting the advice of the aged counsellors, and following that of the young men, he gives them an ungracious answer, Ch2 10:5-14. The people are discouraged, and ten tribes revolt, Ch2 10:15-17. They stone Hadoram, who went to collect the tribute; and Rehoboam but barely escapes, Ch2 10:18, Ch2 10:19.

REHOBOAM REFUSING THE OLD MEN'S GOOD COUNSEL. (Ch2 10:1-15) Rehoboam went to Shechem--(See on Kg1 12:1). This chapter is, with a few verbal alterations, the same as in 1Ki. 12:1-19.

If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them--In the Book of Kings [Kg1 12:7], the words are, "If thou wilt be a servant unto this people, and wilt serve them." The meaning in both is the same, namely, If thou wilt make some reasonable concessions, redress their grievances, and restore their abridged liberties, thou wilt secure their strong and lasting attachment to thy person and government.

IV. The History of the Kingdom of Judah Until Its Fall - 2 Chronicles 10-36. After giving an account of the revolt of the ten tribes of Israel from the divinely chosen royal house of David (2 Chron 10), the author of the Chronicle narrates the history of the kingdom of Judah - to which he confines himself, to the exclusion of the history of the kingdom of the ten tribes - at much greater length than the author of the books of Kings has done. This latter portrays the development of both kingdoms, but treats only very briefly of the history of the kingdom of Judah, especially under its first rulers, and characterizes the attitude of the kings and people of Judah to the kingdom of Israel and to the Lord only in the most general way. The author of the Chronicle, on the other hand, depicts the development of Judah under Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, and Jehoshaphat much more thoroughly, by communicating a considerable number of events which are omitted in the book of Kings. As we have already proved, the purpose of the chronicler was to show, according to the varying attitude of the kings of the house of David to the Lord and to His law, how, on the one hand, God rewarded the fidelity of the kings and of the people to His covenant with prosperity and blessing, and furnished to the kingdom of Judah, in war with its enemies, power which secured the victory; and how, on the other, He took vengeance for every revolt of the kings and people, and for every fall into idolatry and superstition, by humiliations and awful judgments. And more especially from the times of the godless kings Ahaz and Manasseh does our author do this, pointing out how God suffered the people to fall ever deeper into feebleness, and dependence upon the heathen world powers, until finally, when the efforts of the pious kings Hezekiah and Josiah to bring back the people, sunk as they were in idolatry and moral corruption, to the God of their fathers and to His service failed to bring about any permanent repentance and reformation, He cast forth Judah also from His presence, and gave over Jerusalem and the temple to destruction by the Chaldeans, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah to be led away into exile to Babylon.