2 Chronicles 11:19 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 11:19 mean?

2 Chronicles 11:19 records that a woman bore three sons—Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham—to Rehoboam, who was a king of Judah. This verse is part of a genealogical listing, simply noting the names of these children without further detail.

The verse appears in a section describing Rehoboam’s family after he became king. The chronicler is listing the offspring of Rehoboam’s wives and concubines, providing a record of his descendants. This helps set the stage for later events by showing the family structure and potential heirs.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 11:19

• bare (יָלַד, yalad): This Hebrew verb means "to bear" or "to give birth." It is used here to indicate that the woman physically gave birth to these children, emphasizing her role as their mother.
• children (בֵּן, ben): This word most often means "son" but can also refer to children in general. In this context, it specifically points to male offspring, which was significant for inheritance and royal succession.
• Jeush (יְעוּשׁ, Ye'ush), Shamariah (שְׁמַרְיָה, Shemaryah), Zaham (זַחַם, Zaham): These are the Hebrew names of Rehoboam’s sons. Each name would have had meaning to the original audience, but here they function mainly as identifiers in the genealogy.

Why 2 Chronicles 11:19 matters

• This verse clarifies the family structure of King Rehoboam, which is important for understanding the royal lineage and succession in Judah.
• By listing these sons, the chronicler shows the fulfillment of God’s promise to David about his descendants ruling Judah, connecting this verse to the broader biblical narrative.
• The verse also helps avoid confusion about the identity of Rehoboam’s children, as similar names appear elsewhere in the Bible, and this listing provides specific details for this context.