2 Chronicles 11:17

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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(17) So they strengthened . . . three years—i.e., during the first three years of the reign. “There is no ground for suspecting the antiquity of this record. On the contrary, it is antecedently probable that the pressure from the north occasioned a proportionally greater earnestness in the religious life of the southern kingdom, and that the former was weakened and the latter strengthened by the migration” (Bertheau). This will explain also Jeroboam’s abstention from molesting his rival’s territory. (See Note on 2Chronicles 11:10.)

For three years.—Literally, for they walked . . . for three years. The reason of the strengthening.

They (i.e., the people of Judah) walked in the way of David and Solomon—i.e., served Jehovah according to the system of worship enacted by those monarchs. The countenance which Solomon in his old age gave to foreign religions is here again ignored by the chronicler.

What happened after the three years of faithfulness is told in 2 Chronicles 12. Here follow

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 11:17. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah — Not only by the addition of so many persons to it, who probably brought what they could of their property with them, but by their piety and prayers they procured a blessing upon the kingdom which was a sanctuary to them, Zechariah 12:5. It is the interest of any nation to protect and encourage religion and religious people, and adds, more than any thing, to its strength. They made him and his people strong three years — For so long they walked in the way of David and Solomon — Their good way; but when they forsook that, and so threw themselves out of God’s favour and protection, the best friends they had could no longer help to strengthen them. This honourable mention of Solomon, as a pattern of piety, is a considerable evidence of his true repentance before his death.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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 sought before all outward conveniences. Where God's faithful priests are, his faithful people should be. And when it has been proved that we are willing to renounce our worldly interests, so far as we are called to do so for the sake of Christ and his gospel, we have good evidence that we are truly his disciples. And it is the interest of a nation to protect religion and religious people.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Three years - i. e., during the first three years of Rehoboam's reign. In the fourth year an apostasy took place, which neutralized all the advantages of the immigration (marginal reference). In the fifth the apostasy was punished by the invasion and success of Shishak 2 Chronicles 12:2.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

17. they strengthened the kingdom of Judah—The innovating measures of Jeroboam were not introduced all at once. But as they were developed, the secession of the most excellent of his subjects began, and continuing to increase for three years, lowered the tone of religion in his kingdom, while it proportionally quickened its life and extended its influence in that of Judah.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

This honourable mention of Solomon, as a pattern of piety, is a considerable evidence of his true repentance before his death; of which See Poole "1 Kings 11:43".

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah,.... Made it more numerous, and in a better condition to defend itself:

and made Rehoboam son of Solomon strong three years; established him on the throne, strengthened the government in his hands, and were the means of preserving him in the pure worship of God for the space of time mentioned, the reason of which follows:

for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon; in their good ways, which were according to the rule of the divine word; and which, as they refer to the whole of David's life and reign, some particular actions excepted, so to the former part of Solomon's reign, before he fell into idolatry, and to the latter part of it after his repentance; for that he did repent is by some concluded from hence, and may be more strongly from the book of Ecclesiastes, written by him in his old age. This is to be understood both of Rehoboam and his people, who after three years forsook the law of the Lord, 2 Chronicles 12:1.

Geneva Study Bible

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they {f} walked in the way of David and Solomon.

(f) As long as they feared God, and set forth his word, they prospered.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

17. three years] There were three years of prosperity, in the fourth year Judah fell away into idolatry, and in the fifth year chastisement overtook them by the hand of Shishak (2 Chronicles 12:1-3).

of David and Solomon] The Chronicler here as elsewhere ignores the fall of Solomon. In 1 Kings 11:4-6 an express distinction is made between the way of David and the way of Solomon.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - Strengthened... three years. "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but," etc. (Proverbs 14:34; Isaiah 33:6). The sad knell is sounded all too soon; see first verso of next chapter. Three years' strength will soon become weakness, and three years' goodness will save no soul. 2 Chronicles 11:17

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

These immigrants - priests, Levites, and pious worshippers of Jahve-made the kingdom of Judah strong, by strengthening the religious foundation on which the kingdom was founded, and made Rehoboam strong three years, so that they (king and people) walked in the way of David and Solomon. The strengthening lasted only three years-only while the opposition to Jeroboam's action in the matter of religion was kept alive by the emigration of the pious people from the ten tribes. What occurred after these three years is narrated only in 2 Chronicles 12. - Here there follows, in