King James Version

What Does 2 Chronicles 11:21 Mean?

2 Chronicles 11:21 in the King James Version says “And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, ...” — study this verse from 2 Chronicles chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.)”

2 Chronicles 11:21 · KJV

Love

Context

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. many wives: Heb. a multitude of wives

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.)

This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Initial faithfulness giving way to compromise. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him face judgment. This pattern provides instruction for the post-exilic community on the conditions for God's blessing.

The account demonstrates God's covenant faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. Even in judgment, God preserves a remnant and offers restoration through repentance. The repeated cycle of apostasy, judgment, and restoration reveals both human sinfulness and divine mercy. References to the temple, proper worship, and priestly service emphasize the Chronicler's concern for correct religious observance.

Theologically, these accounts point beyond immediate history to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line. Despite repeated failures, God preserves David's dynasty, anticipating the perfect King who will reign in righteousness. The pattern of judgment for sin and restoration through repentance prefigures the gospel message of salvation through Christ.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This passage occurs during the divided monarchy period when Judah existed separately from northern Israel. The Chronicler writes from a post-exilic perspective, addressing the restored community in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (539 BCE onward). His emphasis on temple worship, proper religious observance, and God's covenant faithfulness speaks directly to the needs of his audience who had just rebuilt the temple and were reestablishing their identity as God's people.

The historical context demonstrates both God's judgment on persistent sin and His readiness to restore those who genuinely repent. The Chronicler omits most northern kingdom material, focusing on Judah and the Davidic line to emphasize God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Lachish, Beersheba, and Jerusalem corroborate the biblical accounts of various kings' reigns and building projects.

Understanding the Chronicler's post-exilic perspective is crucial—he's not merely recording history but applying past lessons to his contemporary audience, showing that the same principles of seeking God, maintaining proper worship, and covenant faithfulness that determined blessing or judgment in the past still apply.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse illustrate the principle of divine retribution (blessing for obedience, judgment for sin)?
  2. What specific applications does this passage have for maintaining spiritual faithfulness in contemporary Christian life?
  3. How does this account point to God's ultimate purposes through the Davidic line and the coming Messiah?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַיֶּֽאֱהַ֨ב1 of 22

“loved”

H157

to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)

רְחַבְעָ֜ם2 of 22

“And Rehoboam”

H7346

rechabam, an israelite king

אֶת3 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

מַֽעֲכָ֣ה4 of 22

“Maachah”

H4601

maakah (or maakath), the name of a place in syria, also of a mesopotamian, of three israelites, and of four israelitesses and one syrian woman

בָּנֽוֹת׃5 of 22

“daughters”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם6 of 22

“of Absalom”

H53

abshalom, a son of david; also (the fuller form) a later israelite

מִכָּל7 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

נָשִׁ֤ים8 of 22

“above all his wives”

H802

a woman

וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖ים9 of 22

“and his concubines”

H6370

a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour

כִּ֠י10 of 22
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

נָשִׁ֤ים11 of 22

“above all his wives”

H802

a woman

וּשְׁמוֹנָ֛ה12 of 22

“and eight”

H8083

a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal) eighth

עֶשְׂרֵה֙13 of 22
H6240

ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth

נָשָׂ֔א14 of 22

“for he took”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖ים15 of 22

“and his concubines”

H6370

a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour

וְשִׁשִּׁ֥ים16 of 22

“and threescore”

H8346

sixty

וַיּ֗וֹלֶד17 of 22

“and begat”

H3205

to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage

עֶשְׂרִ֧ים18 of 22

“twenty”

H6242

twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth

וּשְׁמוֹנָ֛ה19 of 22

“and eight”

H8083

a cardinal number, eight (as if a surplus above the 'perfect' seven); also (as ordinal) eighth

בָּנִ֖ים20 of 22

“sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

וְשִׁשִּׁ֥ים21 of 22

“and threescore”

H8346

sixty

בָּנֽוֹת׃22 of 22

“daughters”

H1323

a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Chronicles 11:21 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Chronicles 11:21 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 8:301 Kings 11:3Deuteronomy 17:172 Samuel 5:132 Samuel 3:2-52 Chronicles 11:23

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