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(^190) Originally they belonged to Dan (Joshua 19:41, 42), but see 1 Chronicles 6:66-69.
(^191) Some commentators have regarded Abihail (2 Chronicles 11:18) as the name of a
third wife, and accordingly represented her, not as a daughter but as a granddaughter of
Eliab. But even if this were not contrary to the plain meaning of vers. 18, 19, a
granddaughter of Eliab would have been too old for the wife of Rehoboam.
(^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.
(^)