192
This appears clearly from 2 Chronicles 13:2. At the death of Solomon the daughter of Absalom would be
about fifty years of age. In 2 Chronicles 13:2 the name is misspelled Michaiah.
193
Our Authorized Version renders 2 Chronicles 11:23: "he desired many wives," which seems to imply that
Rehoboam sought them for himself. But this is not the case. The original has it, that he "demanded (or
sought)" these alliances for his sons, evidently to strengthen his connection with the noble families of the
land.
194
It must not be thought that there was a formal renunciation in Judah of the worship of Jehovah; but, side
by side with it other services were carried on, which Holy Scripture rightly describes as so inconsistent with
it as to amount to idolatry.
195
The Bamoth would be on the heights, the Baal-and Astarte-worship in the groves.
196
This number is thoroughly consistent with such notices as Exodus 14:7; 1 Kings 10:26, and other well-
ascertained historical instances.
197
These were kept in the guard -house, or "house of the runners," who kept watch at the entrance of the
king's house - and not, as before - in the house of the forest of Lebanon (1 Kings 10:17).
198
And yet the Rabbis speak of the reign of Rehoboam as one of the five brilliant periods (those of David,
Solomon, Rehoboam, Asa, and Abijah, Shem. R. 15). The Rabbinical notices are collated in the Nachalath
Shim., p. 61, cols. c and d. There is a curious legend (Pes. 119, a), that Joseph gathered in Egypt all the gold
and silver of the world, and that the children of Israel brought it up with them from Egypt. On the capture of
Jerusalem, Shishak is said to have taken it, and the possession of this treasure is then traced through
various wars to Rome, where it is said now to be.
199
It has been suggested that the expression (1 Kings 12:28): "the king took counsel," only refers to
deliberation in his own mind. But the view given in the text seems the more rational, consistent, and
accordant with the language of the original.
200
The idea, that these golden calves of Jeroboam were intended as imitations of the cherubim over the ark
(Speaker's Comment.), is manifestly untenable.
201
It has been objected that Jeroboam could not have wished to have recalled to Israel the service of the
golden calf in the wilderness, in view of the punishment which followed that sin. But the words and the fact
clearly point to it; and many ways might be found of either ignorin g or explaining away the consequences of
Israel's conduct at that time.
202
Our Authorized Version renders "the lowest of the people." But this is not implied in the original, which
uses an expression conveying the idea of all ranks and classes, in opposition to the Levites.
203
This is implied in his offering the incense, which was the highest act in worship.
204
So literally, and not "devils," as in our Authorized Version and according to the Rabbis.
205
1 Kings 13:3, not "ashes," as in the Authorized Version, but "fat" - or rather ashes laden with fat.
206
Ver. 1 in the original: "Jeroboam stood upon the altar" -this because "going up" the inclined plane to the
middle of the altar, he would stand on the circuit of the altar, when laying on it either sacrifices or incense.
207
So literally.