(21) Loved Maachah.--She probably inherited her mother's and grandfather's beauty.

For he took--N?s?', as in 2Chronicles 13:21; a later usage instead of l?qah.

And threescore concubines.--Josephus (l.c.) says, "thirty," and the difference in Hebrew is only of one letter. The recurrence of the same number immediately ("threescore daughters") is also suspicious.

Verse 21. - Rehoboam was clearly wrong by Deuteronomy 17:17 (note Solomon's Song of Solomon 6:8).

11:13-23 When the priests and Levites came to Jerusalem, the devout, pious Israelites followed them. Such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, left the inheritance of their fathers, and went to Jerusalem, that they might have free access to the altar of God, and be out of the temptation to worship the calves. That is best for us, which is best for our souls; in all our choices, religious advantages must be sought before all outward conveniences. Where God's faithful priests are, his faithful people should be. And when it has been proved that we are willing to renounce our worldly interests, so far as we are called to do so for the sake of Christ and his gospel, we have good evidence that we are truly his disciples. And it is the interest of a nation to protect religion and religious people.And Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines, &c. Who is called Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel, 2 Chronicles 13:2,

for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines; led thereunto by the example of his father Solomon, contrary to the command of God, Deuteronomy 17:17.

and begat twenty eight sons and sixty daughters; to have many children was reckoned a great blessing, but it was not honourable to have them in such a way.