2 Chronicles 12
In this chapter, Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, faces divine judgment after turning away from God. The Egyptians, led by Shishak, invade Judah as a consequence of their unfaithfulness. However, after a partial repentance, God shows mercy, and Judah experiences a measure of deliverance, though they are humbled. The chapter emphasizes the importance of staying faithful to God.
2 Chronicles 12:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel along with him.
2 And it happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord,
3 with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen, and people without number who came with him out of Egypt—the Lubim and the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians.
4 And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem.
5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, who were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak.’”
Rehoboam and all Israel abandon the law of God once the kingdom is secure, leading to their spiritual downfall. This lapse in faithfulness results in Shishak of Egypt attacking Judah with a massive army. Shishak easily captures the fortified cities and approaches Jerusalem. In this crisis, the prophet Shemaiah delivers a stern message from God: because they had forsaken God, He had left them vulnerable to Shishak's invasion.
2 Chronicles 12:6 (NKJV)
6 So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “The Lord is righteous.”
The leaders of Judah, including Rehoboam, recognize their sin and humble themselves before God. They acknowledge God's righteousness in allowing their defeat, realizing that the invasion is a consequence of their disobedience. This moment of repentance is crucial, as it shows a return to humility and submission to God’s will.
2 Chronicles 12:7 (NKJV)
7 Now when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak."
God responds to their humility with mercy. Though He had allowed Shishak to invade, God decides not to completely destroy Jerusalem. Instead, He grants them partial deliverance, demonstrating His readiness to forgive when His people genuinely repent. However, the consequences of their disobedience are not entirely removed.
2 Chronicles 12:8 (NKJV)
8 Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may distinguish My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations.”
God allows Judah to be subjected to Shishak’s authority as a lesson. By experiencing servitude to a foreign power, they will understand the difference between serving God and serving earthly kings. This humbling experience serves as a reminder of the blessings of obedience and the consequences of rebellion.
2 Chronicles 12:9 (NKJV)
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 everything. He also carried away the gold shields which Solomon had made.
Shishak invades Jerusalem and plunders the wealth that Solomon had accumulated, including the treasures from the temple and royal palace. The loss of the golden shields symbolizes the decline of Judah’s glory and wealth. This defeat demonstrates the material consequences of turning away from God’s protection.
2 Chronicles 12:10 (NKJV)
10 Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king’s house.
In response to the loss of the golden shields, Rehoboam replaces them with bronze shields, a clear downgrade in quality. This action highlights how Judah's spiritual decline is reflected in its material fortunes, as they are forced to substitute what was once precious with something of lesser value.
2 Chronicles 12:11 (NKJV)
11 And whenever the king entered the house of the Lord, the guard would go and bring them out; then they would take them back into the guardroom.
The bronze shields were used ceremonially whenever the king visited the temple, signifying an attempt to maintain royal dignity despite their diminished status. However, the routine of retrieving and returning the shields reflects the superficiality of this display, as the true strength of the kingdom had been lost.
2 Chronicles 12:12 (NKJV)
12 When he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.
Rehoboam’s humility before God leads to the alleviation of divine wrath, preventing Judah’s complete destruction. Although the kingdom had suffered, their repentance brings a measure of peace and stability. This demonstrates God’s mercy, even in the face of disobedience, when genuine repentance occurs.
2 Chronicles 12:13 (NKJV)
13 Thus King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Now Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king, 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, an Ammonitess.
Rehoboam regains some strength and stability in his rule over Jerusalem, the city chosen by God as the spiritual center of Israel. The note that his mother was an Ammonitess serves as a reminder of Solomon's foreign marriages, which had contributed to the nation's spiritual decline. Rehoboam reigns for seventeen years, but his reign is marked by both strength and failures.
2 Chronicles 12:14 (NKJV)
14 And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.
Rehoboam's overall legacy is negative. Despite moments of humility, he fails to fully commit his heart to God. His failure to actively seek the Lord and lead the people spiritually results in continued evil during his reign. This highlights the importance of consistent faithfulness to God.
2 Chronicles 12:15 (NKJV)
15 The acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
Rehoboam's reign is marked by constant conflict with Jeroboam, the king of Israel. The record of his reign, both good and bad, is noted to be found in the writings of the prophets Shemaiah and Iddo. His reign is characterized by division and strife, reflecting the spiritual divide between Judah and Israel.
2 Chronicles 12:16 (NKJV)
16 So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David. Then Abijah his son reigned in his place.
Rehoboam dies and is buried in the City of David, and his son Abijah succeeds him as king. Despite the ups and downs of his reign, his lineage continues, setting the stage for the next chapter in Judah's history. This transition marks the end of an era for Judah and a continuation of the Davidic line.