2 Chronicles12
English Standard Version
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1 When the of was and he was , he the of the Lord, and him.
2 In the of , they had been to the Lord, of
3 with and . And the were him — , , and .
4 And he the of and as .
5 Then the to and to the of , had at of , and to them, the Lord, You me, I have you to the of .
6 Then the of and the themselves and , The Lord is .
7 When the Lord they themselves, the of the Lord to : They have themselves. I will them, but I will them , and my shall be on by the of .
8 , they shall be to him, that they may my and the of the of the .
9 So of . He the of the of the Lord and the of the . He . He also the of had ,
10 and in their of and them the of the of the , who the of the .
11 And as the the of the Lord, the and them and to the .
12 And when he himself the of the Lord him, so as to make a . , were in .
13 So grew in and . was when he began to , and he in , the the Lord had of the of to his . His was the .
14 And he , he did his to the Lord.
15 Now the of , from to , are in the of the and of the ? There were between and .
16 And his and was in the of , and his in his .
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2 Chronicles 12Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 12. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished. (1-16).
vv1-16
When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful deliverance. God quickly brought troubles upon Judah, to awaken the people to repentance, before their hearts were hardened. Thus it becomes us, when we are under the rebukes of Providence, to justify God, and to judge ourselves. If we have humbled hearts under humbling providences, the affliction has done its work; it shall be removed, or the property of it be altered. The more God's service is compared with other services, the more reasonable and easy it will appear. Are the laws of temperance thought hard? The effects of intemperance will be found much harder. The service of God is perfect liberty; the service of our lusts is complete slavery. Rehoboam was never rightly fixed in his religion. He never quite cast off God; yet he engaged not his heart to seek the Lord. See what his fault was; he did not serve the Lord, because he did not seek the Lord. He did not pray, as Solomon, for wisdom and grace; he did not consult the word of God, did not seek to that as his oracle, nor follow its directions. He made nothing of his religion, because he did not set his heart to it, nor ever came up to a steady resolution in it. He did evil, because he never was determined for good.
Key Words
מַלְכוּת: a rule; concretely, a dominion
רְחַבְעָם: Rechabam, an Israelite king
כּוּן: properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous)
חֶזְקָה: prevailing power
עָזַב: to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc.
תּוֹרָה: a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
עִם: adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)
חֲמִישִׁי: fifth; also a fifth
Cross References
2 Chronicles 12Direct parallel account of Shishak of Egypt's invasion of Jerusalem in Rehoboam's fifth year.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel account of Shishak taking temple treasures and Solomon's golden shields.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel showing Rehoboam replacing the plundered golden shields with brass shields.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel details on Rehoboam's age, reign length, and mother Naamah the Ammonitess.
Supported by JFB
Establishes that Rehoboam walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years before apostasy.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Theological backdrop of serving enemies because they refused to joyfully serve the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Mentions the Lubims (Libyans) and Ethiopians as a massive, formidable military force.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel where God mitigates judgment when a king (Ahab) humbles himself.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Lubim and Put as helpers of Egypt, confirming Shishak's listed allies.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic association grouping Egyptians, Libyans (Lubims), and Ethiopians together.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Context showing Solomon originally made the golden shields Shishak carried away.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts those who set their hearts to seek God with Rehoboam who did not.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Echoes the confession 'The Lord is righteous' made during national judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel account of Rehoboam's death and Abijah's succession.
Supported by Matthew Poole