1 Kings 14:25

And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, [that] Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:

And it came to pass in the fifth {H2549} year {H8141} of king {H4428} Rehoboam {H7346}, that Shishak {H7895} king {H4428} of Egypt {H4714} came up {H5927} against Jerusalem {H3389}:

In the fifth year of King Rechav'am, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Yerushalayim.

In the fifth year of Rehoboamโ€™s reign, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem.

And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem;

Commentary

1 Kings 14:25 marks a significant historical and theological turning point in the reign of King Rehoboam of Judah, son of Solomon. This verse records the invasion of Jerusalem by Shishak, king of Egypt, serving as a powerful illustration of divine judgment.

Historical and Cultural Context

The invasion described in this verse occurred "in the fifth year of king Rehoboam," shortly after the division of the united kingdom of Israel into two separate entities: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Rehoboam ruled over Judah. The preceding verses (1 Kings 14:22-24) detail Judah's widespread spiritual decline, idolatry, and moral corruption during Rehoboam's early reign. They had "provoked him to jealousy with their sins" by building high places, images, and groves for pagan worship. This invasion by Shishak (identified with Pharaoh Sheshonk I in Egyptian records, whose campaign is depicted on the walls of the Karnak Temple in Egypt) is presented not merely as a political conflict, but as a direct consequence of Judah's unfaithfulness to God, fulfilling warnings given in the Law regarding disobedience.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment for Disobedience: The primary message is that God allows external threats as a form of judgment for spiritual apostasy. The invasion by Shishak was a direct result of Judah's turning away from the Lord. This aligns with the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28, where foreign invasion is a clear consequence of breaking God's commands.
  • God's Sovereignty in History: Even a powerful foreign monarch like Shishak serves as an instrument in God's hands to discipline His people. God uses the actions of nations and kings to accomplish His purposes and bring about repentance or consequences.
  • Vulnerability of Spiritual Decline: When a nation or individual deviates from God's ways, they become vulnerable to external pressures and internal decay. The once-mighty kingdom, now divided and spiritually weakened, was ripe for attack.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Shishak" (Hebrew: ืฉืึดื™ืฉืึทืง, Shiyshaq) is a transliteration of the Egyptian Pharaoh Sheshonk I. This specific identification provides crucial historical anchoring for the biblical narrative, demonstrating its historical accuracy. The phrase "came up against Jerusalem" indicates a full-scale military campaign, not just a border skirmish, highlighting the severe nature of the threat to the capital city.

Practical Application

The account of Shishak's invasion serves as a timeless reminder that spiritual choices have real-world consequences. For individuals and nations, turning away from God's principles can lead to vulnerability and hardship. It underscores the importance of repentance and returning to God when faced with challenges, recognizing that often, difficulties can be a divine call to re-evaluate one's spiritual standing. Just as God disciplined Judah, He continues to work in our lives, sometimes through difficult circumstances, to draw us closer to Him and back to His path. This event also finds a parallel account in 2 Chronicles 12:2-12, offering further details about Judah's repentance and God's subsequent mercy.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 11:40

    Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

  • 2 Chronicles 12:2

    And it came to pass, [that] in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,

  • 2 Chronicles 12:4

    And he took the fenced cities which [pertained] to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

  • 2 Chronicles 12:9

    So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
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