דברי הימים ב, פרק י״א, פסוק א׳

After decades of living under a monarchy, a return to the decentralized days of the Judges was no longer possible for the Israelites. Therefore, the northern tribes took action to establish an alternative kingdom led by Jeroboam. In response, Rehoboam prepares to crush the rebellion using military force. Although the northern tribes possessed greater numbers and superior economic strength, Rehoboam held a significant advantage by having an organized, battle-ready army at his disposal [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The narrative jumps directly into this military response, skipping over the official coronation of Jeroboam by the assembly, as that formal event is already understood from the broader context of the uprising [מלבי״ם].

As the forces gather, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin unite. This joint mobilization stems from a deep physical and spiritual bond between the two tribes. Their lands bordered one another, and they shared the royal city of Jerusalem [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. More profoundly, the Temple was constructed exactly on the boundary line dividing them. A specific strip of land extended from Benjamin's territory into Judah's, and the altar was built directly upon it, making any separation between the two tribes impossible [רש״י]. Despite this close partnership, Benjamin is sometimes absorbed into mentions of Judah without being explicitly named. This reflects the reality that Judah was the primary tribe, while Benjamin was viewed as a secondary addition [מצודת דוד].

The ultimate goal of this military campaign is defined precisely as an effort to regain the kingdom, rather than to restore a royal title. This distinction is meaningful. Even after the rebellion, Rehoboam retained his royal status. The purpose of gathering the army is not to make him king again, but to restore his actual, practical control over the territory and the people who had rejected his rule [מלבי״ם].