2 Chronicles 11 · Verse 22

2 Chronicles 11:22

And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
2 Chronicles 11:22, King James Version

2 Chronicles 11:22 in other translations

BSBRehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.
WEBRehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.
ASVAnd Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, even the prince among his brethren; for he was minded to make him king.
YLTAnd Rehoboam appointeth for head Abijah son of Maachah, for leader among his brethren, for to cause him to reign.
DARBYAnd Rehoboam established Abijah the son of Maachah at the head, to be ruler among his brethren; for he thought to make him king.
BBERehoboam made Abijah, the son of Maacah, chief and ruler among his brothers, for it was his purpose to make him king.
WebsterAnd Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

What does 2 Chronicles 11:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
22. made Abijah ... chief ... ruler among his brethren--This preference seems to have been given to Abijah solely from the king's doting fondness for his mother and through her influence over him. It is plainly implied that Abijah was not the oldest of the family. In destining a younger son for the kingdom, without a divine warrant, as in Solomon's case, Rehoboam acted in violation of the law (De 21:15).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 Made Abijah - the chief - Abijah certainly was not the first-born of Rehoboam; but as he loved Maachah more than any of his wives, so he preferred her son, probably through his mother's influence. In Deu 21:16, this sort of preference is forbidden; but Rehoboam had a sort of precedent in the preference shown by David to Solomon.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Chronicles 11:13-23

When the priests and Levites came to Jerusalem, the devout, pious Israelites followed them. Such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, left the inheritance of their fathers, and went to Jerusalem, that they might have free access to the altar of God, and be out of the temptation to worship the calves. That is best for us, which is best for our souls; in all our choices, religious advantages must be…

Read the full comment on 2 Chronicles 11:13-23 →

2 Chronicles 11:22 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּֽעֲמֵ֨דvai.ya.'a.Medand he appointedH5975
לָרֹ֧אשׁla.Roshto the chiefH7218
רְחַבְעָ֛םre.chav.'AmRehoboamH7346
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אֲבִיָּ֥ה'a.vi.YahAbijahH29
בֶֽן\־ven-[the] son ofH1121
מַעֲכָ֖הma.'a.KhahMaacahH4601
לְנָגִ֣ידle.na.Gidto leaderH5057
בְּאֶחָ֑יוbe.'e.Chavamong brothers hisH251
כִּ֖יkiforH3588
לְהַמְלִיכֽוֹ\׃le.ham.li.Khoto make king himH4427

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Chronicles 11:22

  • Deuteronomy 21:15-17

    If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated: Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:1

    Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.

  • 1 Chronicles 5:1-2

    Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:)

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
made Abijah.
De 21:15-17; 1Ch 5:1,2; 29:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Chronicles 11:21

    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.)

  • 2 Chronicles 11:22

    And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

  • 2 Chronicles 11:23

    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.

Read all of 2 Chronicles 11

2 Chronicles 11:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y puso Roboam á Abías hijo de Maachâ por cabeza y príncipe de sus hermanos, porque quería hacerle rey.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Roboam établit chef Abija, fils de Maaca, pour être prince parmi ses frères; car il voulait le faire roi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Rehabeam bestellte Abija, den Sohn der Maaka, zum Haupte, zum Fürsten unter seinen Brüdern; denn er gedachte ihn zum König zu machen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Constituit vero in capite Abiam filium Maacha ducem super omnes fratres suos: ipsum enim regem facere cogitabat,