Bible Strands
1 Kings 12:21
And when Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against the house of Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes Rehoboam’s arrival in Jerusalem immediately after the northern tribes revolted and anointed Jeroboam as king.
The words — וַ/יַּקְהֵל (va/i.yak.Hel) means “and he called together,” and כָּל (kol) translates to “all,” marking the complete muster of Judah and Benjamin.
The thread — This muster appears in 2 Chronicles 11:1, which repeats the 180,000 warrior count, while 1 Chronicles 21:5 and 2 Chronicles 14:8 track the broader troop censuses of Judah and Israel.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to note the immediate human military reaction to political fracture, a sequence the narrative pauses to override with divine instruction.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 11:1 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
- 1 Chronicles 21:5 And Joab reported to David the total number of the troops. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, including 470,000 in Judah.
- 2 Chronicles 14:8 Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor.
- 2 Chronicles 14:11 Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”
- 2 Chronicles 17:14 These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers: From Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor;
- Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.