Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of 2 Chronicles
Chapter 11: Such As Set Their Hearts to Seek the LORD
Rehoboam gathers an army to win back the ten tribes, but God says, 'Ye shall not go up... for this thing is done of me,' and he obeys. Meanwhile, as Jeroboam sets up calf-worship and casts off the Levites in the north, the priests and Levites, and everyone who sets their heart to seek the LORD, stream south to Jerusalem to worship the true God. True worshippers gather to the LORD, and they strengthen the kingdom of Judah.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of 2 Chronicles chapter 11. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Hebrew words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
This Thing Is Done of Me (2 Chronicles 11:4)
Rehoboam is about to fight for the kingdom, but obeys God's word and turns back.
They Obeyed the Words of the LORD
"Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam."
Word Study
"done of me," Hebrew nihyah me'itti (נִהְיָה מֵאִתִּי), it has come about from me. Rehoboam had mustered a large army to force the ten tribes back under his rule, a natural and, humanly, understandable response to losing most of his kingdom. But God sends the prophet Shemaiah with a restraining word: "Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren... for this thing is done of me." The division, though caused by Rehoboam's folly and Jeroboam's ambition, was also God's doing, His judgment on Solomon's house, and Rehoboam is not to resist it by force. Two things are notable. First, God calls the northern tribes "your brethren", even in division, they remain kin, and civil war among God's people is not God's will here. Second, and remarkably, "they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned." Rehoboam, who had just refused wise human counsel (chapter 10), now submits to the clear word of God, disbanding an army already gathered and swallowing a bitter loss. It is far harder to obey when obedience means giving up what we feel is rightfully ours. Yet Rehoboam bows to God's word, accepting that "this thing is done of me." Submission to God sometimes means laying down a fight we could wage, because the LORD has spoken.
Explanation
Rehoboam assembled a large army to attack the northern tribes and force them back into his kingdom. But God sent the prophet Shemaiah to forbid it: they were not to fight against their fellow Israelites, their "brethren," because the division of the kingdom was something God Himself had brought about in judgment. Remarkably, Rehoboam and his forces obeyed and went home, calling off the war. Though he had refused wise counsel earlier, here Rehoboam submitted to God's direct command, accepting the painful loss of the ten tribes because the LORD had spoken.
Gospel Focus
Rehoboam's obedience here is a bright spot: he laid down a fight he was eager and able to wage because God said, "this thing is done of me." It is one thing to obey God when His command matches our desires; it is far harder to obey when obedience means surrendering what we believe is ours by right. Yet this is the obedience of faith, trusting that God's ordering, even a painful one, is better than our own vindication. "Avenge not yourselves... for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19). God's calling the tribes "your brethren" also rebukes the spirit that would war against fellow believers; the Lord's people are not to devour one another (Galatians 5:15). And behind it all is the comfort that even the divisions and losses we cannot understand are within God's sovereign hand, "this thing is done of me." We may not always see why, but we can trust the God who ordains and overrules. Like Rehoboam, learn to bow to the word of God even when it costs you, laying down your own fight and trusting the Lord to work out His purpose. Obedience that surrenders our rights into God's hands is a mark of true faith, the same submission perfectly shown by Christ, who committed Himself "to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:23).
They Came to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 11:13-17)
As the north turns to idols, the faithful of every tribe come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD.
Such As Set Their Hearts to Seek the LORD
"And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD: And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon."
Word Study
"set their hearts to seek," Hebrew hannotenim et-levavam lidrosh (הַנֹּתְנִים אֶת־לְבָבָם לִדְרוֹשׁ), those who gave their heart to seek. When the kingdom split, Jeroboam in the north set up his own counterfeit religion, golden calves at Bethel and Dan, worship "for the devils" (the goat-idols), and priests of his own making, and he "cast off" the true Levites. Faced with this corruption of worship, the faithful voted with their feet. "The priests and the Levites... resorted to" Judah, leaving their homes and property to come where the true worship of God continued. And they were not alone: "out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem." The phrase is beautiful, those who "set their hearts" (literally gave their heart) "to seek the LORD." These were people willing to leave home, land, and security for the sake of worshipping the true God rightly. They would not stay where God was replaced with calves and devils. Their coming "strengthened the kingdom of Judah," for a nation is made strong not by numbers or arms but by the presence of those who seek the LORD. Note the sober limit: "three years... they walked in the way of David and Solomon", the faithfulness would not last, but for a season, the gathering of true worshippers was Judah's real strength.
Explanation
After the division, Jeroboam corrupted worship in the northern kingdom, setting up golden calves and idol-worship and appointing his own priests, while rejecting the true priests and Levites. In response, the priests and Levites throughout Israel left their homes and property and moved to Judah and Jerusalem, where the true worship of God continued. They were followed by people from all the tribes who "set their hearts to seek the LORD," coming to Jerusalem to worship rightly. This influx of faithful worshippers strengthened Judah and supported Rehoboam for three years, during which the nation walked in the godly ways of David and Solomon.
Gospel Focus
Here is a picture of the true worshipper in an age of false religion: those who "set their hearts to seek the LORD" left everything, home, land, and security, rather than remain where God was replaced by idols. Their example calls us to the same wholehearted, costly devotion. When worship is corrupted, the faithful separate themselves to the true God, "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" (2 Corinthians 6:17), and "let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach" (Hebrews 13:13). To "set the heart to seek the LORD" is the very essence of faith, and it is what God rewards, "he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). Notice, too, that these seekers "strengthened the kingdom of Judah"; the real strength of any people is the presence of those who genuinely seek God. A church, a family, a nation is made strong not by its size or resources but by hearts set on the LORD. Yet the sober note, "three years," warns us that seeking God must not be a passing phase but a lifelong pursuit. Do not settle where God is dishonored; set your heart to seek the LORD, whatever it costs, and gather with His true people to worship Him, for such devotion is the true strength of the people of God.
Chapter in Review
Second Chronicles 11 follows the divided kingdom's early days under Rehoboam. First, Rehoboam obeys God's word: about to make war to reclaim the ten tribes, he hears the LORD say, "Ye shall not go up... for this thing is done of me," and he disbands his army, submitting to God even at great cost. Second, as Jeroboam corrupts worship in the north with golden calves, devils, and false priests, casting off the Levites, the faithful respond: the priests and Levites, and "such as set their hearts to seek the LORD" from every tribe, leave their homes and come to Jerusalem to worship the true God, strengthening Judah for three years of walking in the way of David. The chapter commends obedience that surrenders our rights to God, and the costly, wholehearted devotion of those who set their hearts to seek the LORD, calling us to separate from false worship and gather to the true God, in whom alone is our strength.
Key Takeaways
- Obey God even when it costs you. Rehoboam laid down a war he could have waged because "this thing is done of me."
- Do not war against your brethren. God restrained civil strife; His people are not to devour one another.
- Set your heart to seek the LORD. The faithful left home and land for true worship; seek God with wholehearted, costly devotion.
- Separate from false worship. They would not stay where calves replaced God; come out and be separate.
- Seekers are a people's true strength. The influx of true worshippers strengthened Judah; hearts set on God make a people strong.
Questions for Reflection
- Can you obey God's word even when it means surrendering what you feel is rightfully yours?
- Do you commit your cause to God rather than warring to vindicate yourself?
- Have you truly "set your heart to seek the LORD," whatever the cost?
- Are you willing to separate from corrupt worship to honor the true God?
- Do you see that the strength of your church, family, or nation lies in hearts set on God?
References
- Scripture: 2 Chronicles 11:1-23, King James Version (commentary focuses on verses 4 and 13-17).
- Cross-references: 1 Kings 12:26-33; Romans 12:19; Galatians 5:15; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Hebrews 11:6; 13:13; 1 Peter 2:23.
- Hebrew word meanings: standard lexical sources (Strong's, BDB) for nihyah me'itti ("done of me") and the phrase "set their hearts to seek"; background on Jeroboam's idolatry and the flight of the faithful to Judah.