Explanation: 2 Chronicles 11 describes how Rehoboam consolidated his power and increased the size of his family. The first painting is of a highly favored wife, suggestive of Rehoboam's favorite wife, Maachah. The second painting suggests another aspect of Rehoboam's family life -- multiple wives and concubines and multiple children. [Traditional Patriarchal Timeline. Judges Period Chronology. Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: 1 Kings 12:20-33; 1 Kings 13; 1 Kings 14:1-21].
     After Jeroboam's rebellion, Rehoboam (who was now King of Judah) gathered an army out of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and prepared to fight to bring the Kingdom of Israel back to himself. But God sent Shemaiah, a prophet, to command them to return home because the division of the kingdom was from the LORD. So they obeyed and returned home (1-4). Afterward, Rehoboam fortified 15 cities as a defense against the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and others (5-12). Many priests and Levites gathered to Rehoboam, because Jeroboam had put them out of their office and ordained pagan priests for idolatrous worship. Among other idols, Jeroboam erected golden calves and claimed that these gods brought the people out of Egypt (1 Kings 12:20-33). An unnamed prophet rebuked Jeroboam while he and others were worshiping one of these calves in Bethel; and the LORD withered the hand of Jeroboam when he lifted it against the prophet; and He split the altar apart (1 Kings 13:1-10). But the prophet who spoke against Jeroboam died for staying in the land overnight, when the LORD told him to depart immediately (1 Kings 13:11-32). In the face of these signs from the LORD, and, repelled by this kind of evil by Jeroboam and his followers, the priests and Levites left their towns and possessions and came to Rehoboam in Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD in the Temple. Others who sought the LORD came also. These refugees strengthened Rehoboam; and for three years they walked in the ways of David and Solomon (13-17). And Rehoboam took 18 wives and 60 concubines. His favorite wife was Maachah the daughter of Absalom. And he prepared their son Abijah (sometimes called Abijam) to be king after he died; and Abijah succeeded him (18-23). However, a son of Jeroboam (who, like Rehoboam's son, was called Abijah) died prematurely, but peacefully, 1 Kings 14:1-18), unlike the rest of Jeroboam's family, many of whom died horrible deaths. A different son (Nadab) succeeded Jeroboam.

     ¹⁸ And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse; ¹⁹ Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. ²⁰ And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. ²¹ And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.) ²² And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king. ²³ And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.

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