The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 141

Me.he.lath was probably the first wedded of Rehoboam'e epousee. (2) "Maachah, the daughter of Absalom." Called also "Micaiah, the daughter of Urie! of Gibeah" (eh. xiii. 2), or of Abiahahm (1 Kings xv. 2), Maachah was probably the daughter of Tame.r, whose husband wae the above Urie! or Abishalom, and whose father was Absalom (2 Sam. xiv. 27). If Mahalath was the first of Rehoboam's wives Maachah was the favourite, probably on account of beauty and fascinating manner~ inherited from her grandfather (2 Sam. xiv. 25; xv. 6). II. REHOBOAM'B CHILDREN. 1. The number of his sons. Twenty-eight, among whom were (1) the sons of Maha.lath, nowhere else mentioned, "Jeush, Shamariah and Zaham," men not distinguished for their own sakes, and hardly worthy of further ~otice for their father's sake; and (2) the sons of Maachah, "Abijab, or Abijam (1 Kings xv. 1), and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith," of whom only the first emerged from obscurity. Rehoboam's daughters are not named, but only numbered. In those days woman bad not attained the place which was her due, and which has since been assigned her by Christianity. 2. The favourite amongst his sons. Abijah. Though not the firstbom, Rehoboam designated him as successor to the throne, no doubt to the injury and dis- pleasure of the firstbom; but in doing so, if he obeyed not the Law (Deut. xxi. 16), be at least followed the example of David, who preferred Bathsheba's son Solomon to the throne, instead of his firstborn, Amnon the son of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess. He also made Abijah ruler among his brethren, set him at their head, appointed him as governor over them in the various state offices they held, and entrusted to him the crown trea- sures and the strongest cities (Josephus, 'Ant.,' viii. 10. 1). -8. The treatment of his other sons. He "dealt wisely" with them. (1) He dispersed them abroad among the different garrison cities, giving them commands in these, so that by their separation from one another and their occupation with military duties they might have neither time nor opportunity to conspire with Jeroboam, or any other monarch, against Abijah or himself. (2) He provided for them abundant maintenance, i.e. a living suitable t.o their princely rank, so that no temptation to discontent might assail them. Rehoboam probably knew that if his sons had their bellies well filled their souls would be at e!l!!e. (3) He sought for them many wives. Whether these were chosen out of the different districts where the sons held commands, in order to bring his sons into closer connection with the inhabitants of the same (Ewald, 'History of Israel,' vol. iv. p. 47), the certainty is that the practice of polygamy in which he encouraged them would not tend to increase their warlike energy. LESSONS. 1. The misery as well as sin of polygamy, leading as it does to divided affections and unjustifiable partialities. 2. The duty of dealing wisely with children. hut not afler the fashion of Rehoboam.-W.