English · CJB

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.

Rehoboam Forsakes the Lord

1
But in time, after Rechav'am had consolidated his rulership and had become strong, he, and with him all Isra'el, abandoned the Torah of ADONAI. ​
2
In the fifth year of King Rechav'am, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Yerushalayim, because they had acted faithlessly toward ADONAI. ​
3
He came out of Egypt with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen and a numberless army including Luvim, Suki'im and Ethiopians. ​
4
He captured the fortified cities of Y'hudah, then went to Yerushalayim.

Prophecy and Repentance

5
Now Sh'ma'yah the prophet came to Rechav'am and the leaders of Y'hudah who had gathered in Yerushalayim because of Shishak and said to them, "Here is what ADONAI says: 'Because you have abandoned me, I have abandoned you to the hands of Shishak.'" ​
6
In response, the leaders of Isra'el and the king humbled themselves; they said, "ADONAI is right." ​
7
When ADONAI saw that they had humbled themselves, this word of ADONAI came to Sh'ma'yah: "Because they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will grant them a measure of deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Yerushalayim through Shishak.
8
However, they will become his slaves, so that they will come to appreciate the difference between serving me and serving earthly kingdoms." ​

Shishak Plunders Jerusalem

9
So Shishak king of Egypt attacked Yerushalayim. He took the treasures in the house of ADONAI and the treasures in the royal palace - he took everything, including the gold shields Shlomo had made. ​
10
To replace them, King Rechav'am made shields of bronze, which he entrusted to the commanders of the contingent guarding the gate to the royal palace.
11
Whenever the king went to the house of ADONAI, the guard would come and get the shields; later they would return them to the guardroom.
12
After he humbled himself, the anger of ADONAI turned away from him, so that he did not altogether destroy him; moreover, some good things were found in Y'hudah. ​

Conclusion of Rehoboam’s Reign

13
So King Rechav'am consolidated his rule in Yerushalayim. Rechav'am was forty-one years old when he began his reign; and he ruled seventeen years in Yerushalayim, the city ADONAI had chosen from all the tribes of Isra'el to bear his name; his mother's name was Na'amah the 'Amonit.
14
He did what was evil, because he had not set his heart on seeking ADONAI. ​
15
The activities of Rechav'am from beginning to end are written in the genealogically organized histories of Sh'ma'yah the prophet and 'Iddo the seer. But there were continual wars between Rechav'am and Yarov'am. ​
16
Rechav'am slept with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. Then Aviyah his son became king 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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