2 Chronicles12
World English Bible · Public Domain
1When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned Yahweh’s law, and all Israel with him.
2In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against Yahweh,
3with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.
4He took the fortified cities which belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
5Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Yahweh says, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.’”
6Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “Yahweh is righteous.”
7When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, Yahweh’s word came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath won’t be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
8Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”
9So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of Yahweh’s house and the treasures of the king’s house. He took it all away. He also took away the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
10King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house.
11As often as the king entered into Yahweh’s house, the guard came and bore them, then brought them back into the guard room.
12When he humbled himself, Yahweh’s wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Judah.
13So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned; for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.
14He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek Yahweh.
15Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, aren’t they written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, in the genealogies? There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
16Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city; and Abijah his son reigned in his place.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 12.
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