How does Rehoboam's decision in 2 Chronicles 11:20 connect to Deuteronomy's marriage laws? Setting the Scene “After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.” (2 Chronicles 11:20) God’s Standard for Royal Marriages Deuteronomy 17:17 warns Israel’s future kings: • “He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart be led astray.” Safeguards for Children in a Polygamous Home Deuteronomy 21:15-17 addresses a man with two wives: • The firstborn’s inheritance may not be transferred to the son of the “loved” wife. • Justice, not favoritism, must guide succession. How Rehoboam Measures Up • 2 Chronicles 11:21 reports that Rehoboam had “eighteen wives and sixty concubines.” His choice to add Maacah is one more step in multiplying wives—directly contradicting Deuteronomy 17:17. • 2 Chronicles 11:22 shows him elevating Abijah (Maacah’s son) over older sons. That preference mirrors the very scenario Deuteronomy 21:15-17 forbids—overriding normal firstborn rights for the child of the favored wife. Consequences Traced in Scripture • Rehoboam’s divided affections foreshadow Judah’s ongoing instability (2 Chronicles 12:1-4). • Later, Abijah’s short reign (2 Chronicles 13) underlines that human favoritism cannot secure lasting blessing; only obedience does (1 Samuel 15:22). Lessons to Carry Forward • God’s Word sets clear, protective boundaries—even for kings. Ignoring them invites turmoil. • Accumulating blessings (wives, influence, possessions) is not sinful in itself; multiplying them beyond God’s limits is. • Favoritism in family leadership sows strife; God upholds equity and faithfulness. Rehoboam’s marriage to Maacah illustrates how quickly royal choices can drift from God’s revealed will in Deuteronomy—and how those choices ripple into the life of a nation. |
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