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,

And it came to pass, that in the fifth {H2549} year {H8141} of king {H4428} Rehoboam {H7346} Shishak {H7895} king {H4428} of Egypt {H4714} came up {H5927} against Jerusalem {H3389}, because they had transgressed {H4603} against the LORD {H3068},

In the fifth year of King Rechav'am, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Yerushalayim, because they had acted faithlessly toward ADONAI.

In the fifth year of Rehoboamโ€™s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, 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, because they had trespassed against Jehovah,

Commentary

Context

This verse marks a pivotal moment in the reign of King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and the kingdom of Judah. After the division of the united monarchy, Rehoboam initially fortified the cities of Judah and Benjamin, but his heart, and the hearts of the people, turned away from the Lord. Verse 1 of this chapter states that "when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him." This verse immediately details the consequence of that spiritual rebellion: the invasion of Shishak, king of Egypt. Historical and archaeological evidence supports the campaign of Pharaoh Shoshenq I (biblical Shishak) into Canaan around 925 BC, lending external corroboration to this biblical account.

Key Themes

  • Consequences of Disobedience: The most prominent theme is the direct correlation between the people's "transgression against the LORD" and the ensuing military invasion. God's covenant with Israel included blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, a principle powerfully demonstrated here. This serves as a stark reminder that forsaking God's law brings hardship (see Deuteronomy 28:15).
  • Divine Justice and Discipline: The invasion by Shishak is presented not merely as a geopolitical event but as an act of divine justice. God permits and uses foreign powers to discipline His people when they stray, aiming to bring them to repentance and renewed faithfulness.
  • Sovereignty of God: Despite the power of the Egyptian empire, the narrative emphasizes that Shishak's campaign against Jerusalem was ultimately at God's instigation, "because they had transgressed against the LORD." God is sovereign over nations and kings, even those who do not acknowledge Him.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "they had transgressed against the LORD" translates the Hebrew verb ma'al (ืžึธืขึทืœ). This word often implies an act of unfaithfulness, treachery, or a breach of trust, particularly in covenant relationships. It suggests more than just a casual sin; it speaks to a profound act of disloyalty against God, who had faithfully brought them out of Egypt and established them in the land. This "transgression" was a betrayal of their covenant with Him.

Practical Application

The account of Shishak's invasion serves as a timeless principle: there are consequences for turning away from God. For individuals and communities today, this verse underscores the importance of spiritual faithfulness and adherence to God's Word. When we neglect our spiritual walk or forsake biblical principles, we open ourselves to difficulties and challenges. However, the subsequent verses in 2 Chronicles 12 show that God's discipline is often a call to repentance and humility, leading to His mercy and restoration when people acknowledge their sin (see 2 Chronicles 12:6-7). It reminds us that our spiritual condition has real-world implications, and that God remains just and sovereign.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 11:40 (5 votes)

    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 7:19 (3 votes)

    But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;

  • 2 Chronicles 7:20 (3 votes)

    Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it [to be] a proverb and a byword among all nations.

  • Jeremiah 44:22 (2 votes)

    So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, [and] because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.

  • Jeremiah 44:23 (2 votes)

    Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:14 (2 votes)

    Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:19 (2 votes)

    And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.