Abihail daughter of Eliab etc. The text elides a conjunctive vav, as in shemesh yareaḥ (=sun and moon; Hab 3:11) and Re’uven Shim‘on (=Reuben, Simeon; Exod 1:2). It means: [Rehoboam] married the daughter of Jerimoth son of David and also married Abihail daughter of Eliab. Although this Jerimoth is not listed among the sons of David (1 Chr 3:1–8), perhaps he is the same as one of those listed and had two names.

She bore him. This refers to one of [those wives]. For the other one had died, or he did not have sons by her.

Because to make [Abijah] king. This means: because [Rehoboam] had decided to make him king. He thus designated him as leader among his brothers.

[Rehoboam] understood, and so he distributed all his sons. This means: He understood the situation and feared a rebellion, and so he distributed all his sons, scattering them throughout the regions of Judah and Benjamin in order to secure the kingship in his hands.

He provided them with abundant food—so that they should not have to ask the people.

And he sought many wives. This means for his sons, in order to multiply his offspring. After all, concerning himself the text [already] said that he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines (v. 21). “And he sought many wives,” therefore, means for his sons.