Number of Wives of Rehoboam in 1 Kings
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, had a total of eighteen wives and sixty concubines during his reign as king of Judah [2, 3]. This information is recorded in 2 Chronicles 11:21, which states that Rehoboam "took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters".
The biblical account of Rehoboam's family is significant because it highlights the consequences of his father's actions. Solomon, Rehoboam's father, had a thousand wives and concubines, which led to his downfall [7]. According to Adam Clarke, Solomon's numerous marriages were a departure from the divine commandment that prohibited kings from having multiple wives (Deu 17:17) [9].
Rehoboam's marital practices were likely influenced by his father's example. John Gill notes that Rehoboam was "led thereunto by the example of his father Solomon, contrary to the command of God" [8]. This decision had significant consequences, as Rehoboam's numerous offspring created potential succession issues.
Rehoboam's favorite wife was Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, whom he loved above all his other wives and concubines [2, 3]. Maacah was the mother of Abijah, who succeeded Rehoboam as king [4]. The biblical account suggests that Rehoboam's preference for Maacah and her son Abijah may have led him to violate the right of primogeniture, making Abijah the next king instead of his older sons [10].
The number of Rehoboam's wives and children is not merely a historical curiosity; it has significant implications for understanding the biblical narrative. The large number of offspring created potential succession issues and may have contributed to the instability of Rehoboam's reign [1]. Furthermore, Rehoboam's marital practices reflect the cultural and theological context of the ancient Israelite monarchy.
The biblical account of Rehoboam's family is consistent across different sources. While the number of his wives and children is not mentioned in 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles provides a detailed account of his family [2, 3]. The consistency of this information across different biblical sources underscores its historical significance.
Rehoboam's reign was marked by significant challenges, including the division of the kingdom and the rise of Jeroboam as a rival king [1, 5]. The biblical account of Rehoboam's family provides valuable insights into the complexities of his reign and the cultural context of the ancient Israelite monarchy.
The historical context of Rehoboam's reign is also significant. According to Smith's Bible Dictionary, Rehoboam reigned from approximately 975 to 958 BCE [1]. This period was marked by significant turmoil in the region, including the rise of Egypt as a major power [6].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Rehoboam — (enlarger of the people), son of Solomon by the Ammonite princess Naamah, (1 Kings 14:21,31) and his successor. (1 Kings 11:43) Rehoboam selected Shechem as the place of his coronation (B.C. 975), probably as an act of concession to the Ephraimites. The people demanded a remission of the severe burdens imposed by Solomon, and Rehoboam, rejecting the advice of his father's counsellors, followed that of his young courtiers, and returned an insulting answer, which led to an open rebellion among the tribes, and he was compelled to fly to Jerusalem, Judah and Be”
- II Chronicles “II Chronicles 11:21 (Geneva1599) — And Rehoboam loued Maakah ye daughter of Absalom aboue all his wiues and his concubines: for he tooke eighteene wiues, and three score concubines, and begate eyght and twentie sonnes, and three score daughters.”
- 2 Chronicles “Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.) -- 2 Chronicles 11:21”
- STEPBible TBESG “[H4601] H4601K = (H4601K) — A woman of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.15.2; <br> daughter of: Uriel (H0222I) and Tamar (H8559I); married to Rehoboam (H7346); <br> mother of: Abijah (H0029I), Attai (H6262I), Ziza (H2124H) and Shelomith (H8019G); also called Micaiah (KJV: Michaiah) at 2Ch.13.2;<BR> § Maachah = "oppression"<br>daughter of Absalom, wife of king Rehoboam of Judah, and mother of king Abijam of Judah”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jeroboam — Increase of the people. (1.) The son of Nebat (1 Kings 11:26-39), "an Ephrathite," the first king of the ten tribes, over whom he reigned twenty-two years (B.C. 976-945). He was the son of a widow of Zereda, and while still young was promoted by Solomon to be chief superintendent of the "burnden", i.e., of the bands of forced labourers. Influenced by the words of the prophet Ahijah, he began to form conspiracies with the view of becoming king of the ten tribes; but these having been discovered, he fled to Egypt (1 Kings 11:29-40), where he remained for a l”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 10, section 1: . Concerning Rehoboam, And How God Inflicted Punishment Upon Him For His Impiety By Shishak [King Of Egypt]. 1. Now Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who, as we said before, was king of the two tribes, built strong and large cities, Bethlehem, and Etare, and Tekoa, and Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, and Ipan, and Maresha, and Ziph, and Adorlam, and Lachlsh, and Azekah, and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron; these he built first of all in the tribe of Judah. He also built other large cities in the tribe of Benjamin, and walled them ab”
- 1 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Kings 12:1: Rehoboam went to Shechem - Rehoboam was probably the only son of Solomon; for although he had a thousand wives, he had not the blessing of a numerous offspring; and although he was the wisest of men himself, his son was a poor, unprincipled fool. Had Solomon kept himself within reasonable bounds in matrimonial affairs, he would probably have had more children; and such as would have had common sense enough to discern the delicacy of their situation, and rule according to reason and religion.”
- 2 Chronicles (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Chronicles 11:19: And Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines, &c. Who is called Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel, Ch2 13:2, for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines; led thereunto by the example of his father Solomon, contrary to the command of God, Deu 17:17. and begat twenty eight sons and sixty daughters; to have many children was reckoned a great blessing, but it was not honourable to have them in such a way.”
- 1 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Kings 11 (introduction): Solomon's attachment to strange women, and consequent idolatry, Kg1 11:1, Kg1 11:2. Number of his wives and concubines, Kg1 11:3. In his old age they turn away his heart from God, Kg1 11:4. He builds temples to idols, burns incense and sacrifices to them, Kg1 11:5-8. The Lord is angry with him, and threatens to deprive him of the kingdom, but will leave one tribe for David's sake, Kg1 11:9-13. The Lord stirs up Hadad, the Edomite, to be his enemy; the history of this man, Kg1 11:14-22. He stirs another adversary against him, Rezon the son of Eliadah. H”
- 2 Chronicles (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Chronicles 11:18: 11:18-22 The numbers of Rehoboam’s wives and children are probably the total from his entire reign rather than those accumulated by his fifth year. Rehoboam loved his second wife more than his first, so he violated the right of primogeniture (inheritance belonging to the firstborn son, Deut 21:15-17) by making Abijah . . . the next king in what might have been co-regency. This action secured an orderly succession.”