This verse from 1 Kings 14:21 is a brief introduction to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, as the king of Judah. It provides the following information:
Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah: This establishes Rehoboam as the successor to his father, Solomon, but specifically as the king of Judah. This is important because after Solomon's death, the kingdom of Israel split into two: Judah in the south, ruled by Rehoboam, and Israel in the north.
Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem: This gives his age at the beginning of his reign and the length of his rule. It also specifies that he ruled from Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: This emphasizes the importance of Jerusalem as the religious and political center of Judah, chosen by God (Yahweh) himself. It ties Rehoboam's rule to the divine selection of Jerusalem as the place of worship.
His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess: This identifies Rehoboam's mother and specifies that she was from Ammon. This detail is significant because it highlights a foreign influence within the royal lineage. Ammon was a neighboring kingdom, and the fact that Rehoboam's mother was an Ammonitess could have implications for his reign and the religious practices in Judah. In many instances the Bible will highlight the lineage of the king through his mother, especially if the mother is of a foreign descent. This is to show the influence and potential for wickedness within the lineage.
In summary, this verse sets the stage for Rehoboam's reign, highlighting his lineage, age, duration of rule, the importance of Jerusalem, and a potential foreign influence through his mother. It serves as a transition to the description of his reign and its consequences that follow in the subsequent verses and chapters.
This verse from 1 Kings 14:21 is a brief introduction to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, as the king of Judah. It provides the following information:
Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah: This establishes Rehoboam as the successor to his father, Solomon, but specifically as the king of Judah. This is important because after Solomon's death, the kingdom of Israel split into two: Judah in the south, ruled by Rehoboam, and Israel in the north.
Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem: This gives his age at the beginning of his reign and the length of his rule. It also specifies that he ruled from Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: This emphasizes the importance of Jerusalem as the religious and political center of Judah, chosen by God (Yahweh) himself. It ties Rehoboam's rule to the divine selection of Jerusalem as the place of worship.
His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess: This identifies Rehoboam's mother and specifies that she was from Ammon. This detail is significant because it highlights a foreign influence within the royal lineage. Ammon was a neighboring kingdom, and the fact that Rehoboam's mother was an Ammonitess could have implications for his reign and the religious practices in Judah. In many instances the Bible will highlight the lineage of the king through his mother, especially if the mother is of a foreign descent. This is to show the influence and potential for wickedness within the lineage.
In summary, this verse sets the stage for Rehoboam's reign, highlighting his lineage, age, duration of rule, the importance of Jerusalem, and a potential foreign influence through his mother. It serves as a transition to the description of his reign and its consequences that follow in the subsequent verses and chapters.