2 Chronicles 11 · Verse 23

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.
2 Chronicles 11:23, King James Version

2 Chronicles 11:23 in other translations

BSBRehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.
WEBHe dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city. He gave them food in abundance; and he sought many wives for them.
ASVAnd he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fortified city: and he gave them victuals in abundance. And he sought for them many wives.
YLTAnd he hath understanding, and spreadeth out of all his sons to all lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all cities of the bulwarks, and giveth to them provision in abundance; and he asketh a multitude of wives.
DARBYAnd he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all the fortified cities; and he gave them food in abundance. And he desired for them a multitude of wives.
BBEAnd in his wisdom he had his sons stationed in every walled town through all the lands of Judah and Benjamin; and he gave them a great store of food, and took wives for them.
WebsterAnd he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them provisions in abundance. And he desired many wives.

What does 2 Chronicles 11:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. he dealt wisely--that is, with deep and calculating policy (Ex 1:10). and dispersed of all his children ... unto every fenced city--The circumstance of twenty-eight sons of the king being made governors of fortresses would, in our quarter of the world, produce jealousy and dissatisfaction. But Eastern monarchs ensure peace and tranquillity to their kingdom by bestowing government offices on their sons and grandsons. They obtain an independent provision, and being kept apart, are not likely to cabal in their father's lifetime. Rehoboam acted thus, and his sagacity will appear still greater if the wives he desired for them belonged to the cities where each son was located. These connections would bind them more closely to their respective places. In the modern countries of the East, particularly Persia and Turkey, younger princes were, till very lately, shut up in the harem during their father's lifetime; and, to prevent competition, they were blinded or killed when their brother ascended the throne. In the former country the old practice of dispersing them through the country as Rehoboam did, has been again revived.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 He dealt wisely - It was true policy to disperse his own sons through the different provinces who were not likely to form any league with Jeroboam against their father. He desired many wives - He was much addicted to women; yet we do not find that he formed any heathenish alliances of this nature. And as no particulars are given, we do not know how far he indulged himself in this propensity. He probably strengthened his political connections by these means.

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 11:23 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.

וַיָּבֶן֩vai.ya.Venand he acted wiselyH995
וַיִּפְרֹ֨ץvai.yif.Rotzand he distributedH6555
מִכָּל\־mi.kolsome of allH3605
בָּנָ֜יוba.Navsons hisH1121
לְֽכָל\־le.kholto allH3605
אַרְצ֧וֹת'ar.Tzot[the] lands ofH776
יְהוּדָ֣הye.hu.DahJudahH3063
וּבִנְיָמִ֗ןu.vin.ya.Minand BenjaminH1144
לְכֹל֙le.Kholto allH3605
עָרֵ֣י'a.Rei[the] cities ofH5892
הַמְּצֻר֔וֹתha.me.tzu.Rot<the> fortificationsH4694
וַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.Tenand he gaveH5414
לָהֶ֛םla.Hemto them
הַמָּז֖וֹןha.ma.Zon<the> foodH4202
לָרֹ֑בla.Roto abundanceH7230
וַיִּשְׁאַ֖לvai.yish.'Aland he soughtH7592
הֲמ֥וֹןha.Mona multitude ofH1995
נָשִֽׁים\׃na.ShimwivesH802

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

Cross references for 2 Chronicles 11:23

  • 2 Chronicles 10:8-15

    But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him. And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us? And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. …

  • Genesis 25:6

    But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

  • 1 Kings 1:5-6

    Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

  • Luke 16:8

    And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

  • 2 Chronicles 21:3

    And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he dealt.
10:8-15; Lu 16:8
dispersed.
21:3; Ge 25:6; 1Ki 1:5,6
every fenced city.
11
many wives. Heb. a multitude of wives.
21

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

Context

  • 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 11:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		E hízole instruir, y esparció todos sus hijos por todas las tierras de Judá y de Benjamín, y por todas las ciudades fuertes, y dióles vituallas en abundancia, y pidió muchas mujeres.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il agit avec intelligence, et dispersa tous ses fils par toutes les contrées de Juda et de Benjamin, dans toutes les villes fortes, et leur donna des vivres en abondance, et demanda pour eux beaucoup de femmes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er handelte verständig und verteilte alle seine Söhne in alle Länder Judas und Benjamins, in alle festen Städte, und gab ihnen Lebensunterhalt in Fülle, und begehrte für sie eine Menge Weiber.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quia sapientior fuit, et potentior super omnes filios ejus, et in cunctis finibus Juda et Benjamin, et in universis civitatibus muratis: præbuitque eis escas plurimas, et multas petivit uxores.