2 Chronicles Chapter 12
1 When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the LORD's law, and all Israel with him.
2 In the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against the LORD,
3 with 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.
4 He took the fortified cities which belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
5 Now 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, "The LORD says, 'You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.' "
6 Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, "The LORD is righteous."
7 When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the LORD'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.
8 Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries."
9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the LORD'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.
10 King 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.
11 As often as the king entered into the LORD's house, the guard came and bore them, then brought them back into the guard room.
12 When he humbled himself, the LORD's wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Judah.
13 So 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 the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonitess.
14 He did that which was evil, because he didn't set his heart to seek the LORD.
15 Now 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.
16 Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in David's city; and Abijah his son reigned in his place.
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2 Chronicles Chapter 12 Guide
The issue was that Rehoboam "forsook the law of the Lord." The scourge came in the person of Israel's ancient foe, the king of Egypt. The patience of God is ever manifest in His dealing with His people. The repentance of Rehoboam produced, as it always does, a stay of judgment. Yet the kingdom of Judah passed under the yoke of Egypt. Judah was saved, however, from complete destruction, not principally for the sake of the king, nor in answer to his repentance, but because "in Judah there were good things found."
God's judgments are always characterized by fine discrimination. He never destroys the righteous with the wicked. The picture of Rehoboam's substitution of brass for gold is unutterably pathetic. Yet how often do the people of Jehovah masquerade amid imitations because they have lost the things of pure gold through unfaithfulness and sin.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Chronicles Chapter 12 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
Verses 1-16
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.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.