Chapter 10 begins the story of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah which will lead up to the exile. Chapters 10 to 12 discuss the origins of the division under King Rehoboam. Rehoboam has the opportunity to keep the kingdoms united, but ineptly and self-servingly fails to be a servant leader to the people. Jeroboam takes advantage of this and leads a rebellion which establishes the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Jeroboam then leads the northern kingdom into apostasy against YHWH with calf and goat idols. Rehoboam attempts to strengthen the southern Kingdom of Judah but fails to maintain faithfulness to the Covenant. Thus YHWH strips both kingdoms of their wealth by allowing the Egyptian king Shishak to devastate the land. Rehoboam repents and God allows the southern Kingdom to continue. Overall, the chronicler evaluates Rehoboam's rule as evil. Sadly, neither Jeroboam nor Rehoboam understood that it is fidelity to the covenant that will make the nation strong and they failed as leaders.
Contemporary theology must never forsake the central importance of divine covenant and presence as Jeroboam did. At the same time, partakers of the covenant must not abuse their privilege as Rehoboam did. The schism might have been avoided if Rehoboam’s inexperience and self-righteousness did not abuse his northern brothers and if Jeroboam had remained committed to the Davidic covenant. Despite Rehoboam’s faults, he is the bearer of the covenant and God’s representative. Faithlessness, however, reverses Rehoboam’s fortunes. 2 Chronicles 10, 315
God receives those who seek him, and if Israel will seek God through the Jerusalem temple, God will hear and forgive just as God has received Judah back from the Babylonian exile. God is gracious to those who seek him. Even in the midst of rebellion (or a dead church; Rev 3:4), God will be found by those who seek him (2 Chr 7:14). 2 Chronicles 11, 324
Worship renewal, seeking God, and humbling ourselves before him are expressions of our continued yearning to know God. Despite failures and sins, God is gracious toward those who seek him. The critical point is whether the heart is dedicated to seek him, because God already seeks us. 2 Chronicles 12, 329
Chapters 13-16 record the reigns of Abijah and Asa, with the greatest emphasis on Asa. Abijah was evaluated as an evil king in Kings but the chronicler chooses to record a positive action of Abijah's reign. As he goes to battle against the Northern Kingdom he offers peaceful reconciliation first. Even though Jereboam refuses the offer and uses it as an opportunity to ambush Abijah's army, God rewards him by giving him a decisive victory against overwhelming odds. God still wanted repentance and reconciliation with the rebellious north. Asa started well and ended badly. He was faithful to God and God gave him a great victory against an overwhelming enemy. Asa responded with a covenant renewal ceremony and removed idols from the land. He even removed his own mother from the court because of her idolatry. However, he failed to trust God when Baasha attacked him by bribing Ben-Hadad of Aram to turn against Baasha. This gave Asa the victory, but the prophet told Asa God was displeased and he would no longer have peace. Asa rejected God's discipline, oppressed the people and failed to experience God's full blessing. He forgot that God is looking for people who will trust Him so he bless them.
The southern kingdom, as the Davidic kingdom, is true Israel. Nevertheless, the Davidic kingdom stands ready to reconcile with the north if they will acknowledge the Davidic king and the city where God has placed his Name...The theme is the hope of reconciliation and the necessity of faithful obedience to Yahweh. As long as the northern kingdom exists, Judah does not give up that hope. 2 Chronicles 13, 330–331
The blessing of peace is threatened by an invasion from the south. Asa defends this peace by relying on God rather than depending on a foreign alliance (cf. 2 Chr 16:1–10). Peace is given by God, and it is defended by trusting the giver. 2 Chronicles 14, 344
Judah dedicated its whole heart to God through swearing a covenantal oath to him, and God blessed Judah with rest. God is faithful; he is with those who are with him. Worship arises out of covenantal relationship and the joy of communion. Worship is our response to the experience of God’s gracious faithfulness. 2 Chronicles 15, 350
Asa limited his vision. If he had sought the Lord, God would have given him the whole land of Israel, including the regions of Syria. Instead of faith in Yahweh, he believed in Ben-Hadad. So, instead of ruling over the whole of the land, Asa only maintains his small kingdom in Judah. The postexilic community should learn that God can restore the kingdom in response to a people who seek him. 2 Chronicles 16, 356
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