2 Chronicles 11:1-12--Rehoboam Secures His Kingdom

2 Chronicles 11:1-12
English Standard Version

Rehoboam Secures His Kingdom
11 When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. 2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: 3 “Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, 4 ‘Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from me.’” So they listened to the word of the LORD and returned and did not go against Jeroboam.

​5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah. 6 He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, fortified cities that are in Judah and in Benjamin. 11 He made the fortresses strong, and put commanders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine. 12 And he put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin.

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Rehoboam was ready to go to war with Jeroboam and the northern 10 tribes that now called themselves the nation of Israel.  It seemed right to him and to his advisors, but the LORD spoke to Rehoboam through the prophet Shemaiah to tell him not to go to war with them, for it was never the will of the LORD for the tribes of Israel to have a civil war with each other.  They had sinned against the LORD and the LORD would be the one to deal with them, and tearing the nation apart was part of God's plan.  Those that were rebellious and wanted to live in sin would do so, and those who wanted to submit themselves to the LORD and the king that He had established and worship Him in His holy Temple would do that.

Rehoboam didn't sit back and do nothing though.  He knew he had a command not to instigate a fight, but he rightly figured that the northern 10 tribes were rebellious and would be more than happy to try to make war with him, so he immediately started fortifying the cities and building towers and other defenses to protect the people and the resources not just from foreign adversaries who would look at this situation and try to take advantage of the army of Israel being weakened, but from the northern 10 tribes that would believe they had strength in their superior numbers.  So, God (through Rehoboam) defended His people and kept them safe and secure from threats without and within.