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2 Chronicles12

King Rehoboam and Judah forsook the law of the Lord, leading to an invasion by Shishak of Egypt in Rehoboam's fifth year. When Rehoboam and the princes humbled themselves, the Lord granted partial deliverance, preventing total destruction, though Shishak plundered Jerusalem's treasures. Rehoboam replaced the stolen golden shields with brass, and despite this period of humility, he ultimately did evil by not preparing his heart to seek the Lord.
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Rehoboam Forsakes the Lord

1
After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israel with him forsook the Law of the LORD. ​
2
In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem ​
3
with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and countless troops who came with him out of Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites. ​
4
He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

Prophecy and Repentance

5
Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have forsaken Me; therefore, I have forsaken you into the hand of Shishak.’” ​
6
So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.” ​
7
When the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, but will soon grant them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.
8
Nevertheless, they will become his servants, so that they may learn the difference between serving Me and serving the kings of other lands.” ​

Shishak Plunders Jerusalem

9
So King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields that Solomon had made. ​
10
Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and committed them to the care of the captains of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace.
11
And whenever the king entered the house of the LORD, the guards would go with him, bearing the shields, and later they would return them to the guardroom.
12
Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the anger of the LORD turned away from him, and He did not destroy him completely. Indeed, conditions were good in Judah. ​

Conclusion of Rehoboam’s Reign

13
Thus King Rehoboam established himself in Jerusalem. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.
14
And Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD. ​
15
Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer concerning the genealogies? There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their days. ​
16
And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Abijah reigned in his place.

Study Notes for 2 Chronicles 12

Verse 1

Rehoboam's apostasy after strengthening the kingdom shows that security led to spiritual complacency. 'All Israel with him' primarily refers to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin who had remained loyal to the Davidic line.

Verse 2

This verse identifies the precise historical moment (5th year) and the theological reason (transgression) for the invasion. Shishak (Sheshonq I) is the first Egyptian pharaoh explicitly named in the Bible whose identity is confirmed by external historical records.

Verse 3

The detailed description of the overwhelming military force highlights the involvement of foreign mercenaries (Lubims, Sukkiims, Ethiopians), demonstrating the severity of God's judgment.

Verse 5

Shemaiah acts as the typical Chronicler's prophet, linking political disaster directly to covenant disobedience. The message is clear: God abandons those who abandon Him.

Verse 6

The immediate humbling of the king and princes is key. Their confession, 'The LORD is righteous,' validates God's justice in initiating the judgment, which immediately leads to grace.

Verse 8

The purpose of the mitigated judgment was didactic: to teach the difference between the freedom of serving God and the oppression of serving foreign kingdoms, fulfilling Deuteronomic warnings (Deut 28:47-48).

Verse 9

The plunder confirms the severity of the defeat. The loss of Solomon's golden shields symbolized the loss of the kingdom's former glory and divine protection.

Verse 12

The phrase 'when he humbled himself' is the hinge point of the chapter, demonstrating the Chronicler's strong emphasis on immediate repentance leading to immediate divine mitigation of judgment.

Verse 14

This verse provides the Chronicler's final, negative theological assessment. Rehoboam’s fundamental failing was a lack of sustained, sincere commitment ('prepared not his heart to seek the LORD').

Verse 15

The references to the 'book of Shemaiah the prophet' and 'Iddo the seer' are common in Chronicles, indicating the author drew upon established prophetic and historical records beyond the main narrative (1 Kings).

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