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1Once Rehoboam was secure on the throne and was sure of his power, he together with all the Israelites abandoned the law of the Lord.
2In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, Shishak, king of Egypt, came and attacked Jerusalem because they had been unfaithful to God.
3He came from Egypt with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and an army that couldn't be counted Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites.
4He conquered the fortified towns of Judah and then approached Jerusalem.
5Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had run for safety Jerusalem because of Shishak. He told them, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to Shishak.’”
6The leaders of Israel and the king admitted they were wrong and said, “The Lord is right.”
7When the Lord saw that they had repented, he sent a message to Shemaiah, saying, “They have repented. I won't destroy them, and I will soon save them. My anger won't be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.
8Even so they will become his subjects, so that they can learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of earth.”
9King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and took the treasures of the Lord's Temple and the treasures of the royal palace. He took away everything, including the gold shields that Solomon had made.
10Later Rehoboam replaced them with bronze shields and gave them to be looked after by the commanders of the guard stationed at the entrance to the royal palace.
11Whenever the king would enter the Temple of the Lord the guards would go with him, carrying the shields, and then take them back to the guardroom.
12Because Rehoboam repented, the anger of the Lord did not fall on him, and the Lord did not destroy him completely. Things went well in Judah.
13King Rehoboam became powerful in Jerusalem. He was forty-one when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen from all the tribes of Israel where he would be honored. The name of his mother was Naamah the Ammonite.
14But Rehoboam did what was evil because he did not commit himself to following the Lord.
15What Rehoboam did, from beginning to end, is written down in the records of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer dealing with genealogies. However, Rehoboam and Jeroboam were always at war with each other.
16Rehoboam died and was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah took over as king.
A Prepared Heart
By Teresa Conlon2.5K52:54Obedience2CH 12:14MAT 6:33In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power of the word of God to bring hope and transformation to broken hearts. He shares the story of a young man who, despite being surrounded by despair and outnumbered, found light and understanding when he heard the word of the Lord. The preacher highlights that the voice of God has the ability to bring peace, sanity, and a future to those who open their hearts to it. He encourages the congregation to embrace the freedom and life that God offers, and to walk with the Holy Spirit, trusting in His plan for their lives.
He Did Not Set His Heart
By Russell Kelfer1.9K26:52Rehoboam2CH 11:12CH 12:12CH 12:82CH 12:14MAT 6:33In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, and his reign as king. The sermon emphasizes the importance of humbling oneself before God and the consequences of forsaking Him. Rehoboam's reign was marked by rebellion, warfare, prosperity, apostasy, and repentance. However, due to his lack of consistency and failure to set his heart on God, the kingdom faced division and unnecessary wars. The sermon is divided into four parts, exploring different aspects of Rehoboam's life and the lessons to be learned from his mistakes.
Falling Into the Hand of God
By Joshua Daniel68514:30Will Of God2CH 12:5In this sermon, Joshua Daniel discusses the consequences of forsaking God and turning to worldly kings. He references the story of Shishak, the king of Egypt, invading Judah because they had forsaken God. Daniel emphasizes the importance of serving the King of Kings and not taking this service lightly. He also highlights the need for genuine faith and not just putting up appearances, comparing the golden shields in the house of the Lord to the brass shields that were made in their place.
Only Those Prepared Here
By Thomas Shepard02CH 12:14PSA 10:17MAL 1:14LUK 1:17ROM 9:231CO 15:502CO 5:8PHP 3:20HEB 12:14REV 21:27Thomas Shepard preaches about the importance of being ready and prepared in this life for Christ to enjoy eternal communion with Him. He emphasizes that men are naturally unfit for heaven and must be prepared by God's grace to partake in fellowship with Christ. The honor of the Lord Jesus is highlighted, as believers owe it to Him to be in readiness for His return. The sermon concludes with a call to self-reflection and repentance for those who are unready, emphasizing the urgency of being prepared to meet the Lord.
He Did Evil, Because He Prepared Not His Heart
By F.B. Meyer0Heart PreparationSpiritual Vigilance2CH 12:14PSA 51:10PSA 57:7JAS 1:14F.B. Meyer emphasizes the necessity of preparing one's heart to seek the Lord, as illustrated in 2 Chronicles 12:14. He warns that without a fixed determination to follow God's will, individuals are vulnerable to temptation and sin. Meyer highlights the importance of a whole-hearted commitment to God, urging believers to be vigilant and to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance for steadfastness. He draws parallels to David's prayer for a renewed spirit, underscoring that true preparation comes from divine assistance. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a resolute heart that is unwavering in its pursuit of righteousness.
The Lord Stirred Up the Spirit of Cyrus.
By F.B. Meyer0Obedience to GodDivine Calling2CH 36:22PRO 21:1ISA 45:1ISA 55:11JER 29:10DAN 9:2PHP 2:131TH 5:24JAS 5:16F.B. Meyer emphasizes that the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to fulfill the prophecy of the return of the Jewish captives from Babylon, as foretold by Jeremiah and Isaiah. He highlights the importance of prayer, as exemplified by Daniel, in influencing leaders and initiating divine movements. Meyer notes that while God can stir hearts, obedience is essential, and sadly, only a few of the Jewish captives responded to the call to return. He encourages believers to rise up and act whenever they feel a divine stirring in their lives. Ultimately, the sermon calls for faith and responsiveness to God's leading.
Ii Chronicles 12:14
By Chuck Smith0Seeking GodTrusting in the Lord2CH 12:14PRO 3:5Chuck Smith discusses the failures of King Rehoboam, emphasizing that his downfall stemmed from a failure to seek the Lord for wisdom and guidance. Instead of relying on God's counsel, Rehoboam followed poor advice and trusted in his military strength, leading the nation away from the Law of the Lord. Smith highlights the importance of preparing one's heart to seek God, making Him the first recourse in times of need rather than the last. He encourages believers to trust in the Lord wholeheartedly, as true strength and guidance come from Him alone.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Introduction
Rehoboam and his subjects, forsaking the Lord, are delivered into the hands of Shishak, king of Egypt, Ch2 12:1-4. Shemaiah the prophet remonstrates with them, and they humble themselves, and Jerusalem is not destroyed; but Shishak takes away all the treasures, and the golden shields, instead of which Rehoboam makes shields of brass, Ch2 12:5-12. He reigns badly seventeen years, dies, and is succeeded by his son Abijah, Ch2 12:13-16.
Verse 1
He forsook the law of the Lord - This was after the three years mentioned Ch2 11:17.
Verse 2
Shishak king of Egypt - Concerning this man, and the motive which led him to attack the Jews, see the note on Kg1 14:31. Transgressed against the Lord - "Against the Word of the Lord." - Targum.
Verse 3
The Lubims - Supposed to be a people of Libya, adjoining to Egypt; sometimes called Phut in Scripture, as the people are called Lehabim and Ludim. The Sukkiims - The Troglodytes, a people of Egypt on the coast of the Red Sea. They were called Troglodytes, Τρωγλοδυται, οἱ τας τρωγλας οικουντες, "because they dwelt in caves." - Hesych. This agrees with what Pliny says of them, Troglodytae specus excavant, haec illis domus; "The Troglodytes dig themselves caves; and these serve them for houses." This is not very different from the import of the original name סכיים Sukkiyim, from סכה sachah, to cover or overspread; (hence סוך such, a tabernacle); the people who were covered (emphatically) under the earth. The Septuagint translate by the word Τρωγλοδυται, Troglodytes. The Ethiopians - כושים Cushim. Various people were called by this name, particularly a people bordering on the northern coast of the Red Sea; but these are supposed to have come from a country of that name on the south of Egypt.
Verse 6
Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves - This is not mentioned in the parallel place, Kg1 14:25-29 : this was the sole reason why Jerusalem was not at this time totally destroyed, and the house of David entirely cut off; for they were totally incapable of defending themselves against this innumerable host.
Verse 8
They shall be his servants - They shall be preserved, and serve their enemies, that they may see the difference between the service of God and that of man. While they were pious, they found the service of the Lord to be perfect freedom; when they forsook the Lord, they found the fruit to be perfect bondage. A sinful life is both expensive and painful.
Verse 9
Took away the treasures - Such a booty as never had before, nor has since, come into the hand of man. The shields of gold - These shields were the mark of the king's body-guard: it was in imitation of this Eastern magnificence that Alexander constituted his Argyraspides, adorned with the spoils taken from Darius. See Quintus Curtius, lib. viii., c. 5, et alibi.
Verse 13
Was one and forty years old - Houbigant thinks he was but sixteen years old when he began to reign; and brings many and forcible arguments to prove that the number forty-one must be a mistake. That he was young when he came to the throne, is evident from his consulting the young men that were brought up with him, Ch2 10:8, Ch2 10:10. They were young men then; and if he was brought up with them, he must have been young then also. Besides, Abijah, in his speech to Jeroboam, Ch2 13:7, says that at the time Rehoboam came to the throne he was tender-hearted, and therefore could not withstand the children of Belial raised up against him by Jeroboam: but surely at that time no man could be reputed young and tender-hearted - quite devoid of experience, who was above forty years of age. Besides, if this reading were allowed, it would prove that he was born before his father Solomon began to reign, for Solomon reigned only forty years, and Rehoboam immediately succeeded him.
Verse 15
Concerning genealogies - "In the book of the genealogy of the family of David." - Targum.
Verse 16
Abijah his son - Concerning the many varieties in this king's name, see the note on Kg1 14:31.
Introduction
REHOBOAM, FORSAKING GOD, IS PUNISHED BY SHISHAK. (Ch2 12:1-12) when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself--(See on Ch2 11:17). During the first three years of his reign his royal influence was exerted in the encouragement of the true religion. Security and ease led to religious decline, which, in the fourth year, ended in open apostasy. The example of the court was speedily followed by his subjects, for "all Israel was with him," that is, the people in his own kingdom. The very next year, the fifth of his reign, punishment was inflicted by the invasion of Shishak.
Verse 2
Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem--He was the first king of the twenty-second or Bubastic Dynasty. What was the immediate cause of this invasion? Whether it was in resentment for some provocation from the king of Judah, or in pursuance of ambitious views of conquest, is not said. But the invading army was a vast horde, for Shishak brought along with his native Egyptians an immense number of foreign auxiliaries.
Verse 3
the Lubims--the Libyans of northeastern Africa. the Sukkiims--Some think these were the Kenite Arabs, dwellers in tents, but others maintain more justly that these were Arab troglodytes, who inhabited the caverns of a mountain range on the western coast of the Red Sea. and the Ethiopians--from the regions south of Egypt. By the overwhelming force of numbers, they took the fortresses of Judah which had been recently put in a state of defense, and marched to lay siege to the capital. While Shishak and his army was before Jerusalem, the prophet Shemaiah addressed Rehoboam and the princes, tracing this calamity to the national apostasy and threatening them with utter destruction in consequence of having forsaken God (Ch2 12:6).
Verse 6
the princes of Israel--(compare Ch2 12:5, "the princes of Judah").
Verse 7
when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves--Their repentance and contrition was followed by the best effects; for Shemaiah was commissioned to announce that the phial of divine judgment would not be fully poured out on them--that the entire overthrow of the kingdom of Judah would not take place at that time, nor through the agency of Shishak; and yet, although it should enjoy a respite from total subversion, [Judah] should become a tributary province of Egypt in order that the people might learn how much lighter and better is the service of God than that of idolatrous foreign despots.
Verse 9
So Shishak . . . came up against Jerusalem--After the parenthetical clause (Ch2 12:5-8) describing the feelings and state of the beleaguered court, the historian resumes his narrative of the attack upon Jerusalem, and the consequent pillage both of the temple and the palace. he took all--that is, everything valuable he found. The cost of the targets and shields has been estimated at about £239,000 [NAPIER, Ancient Workers in Metal]. the shields of gold--made by Solomon, were kept in the house of the forest of Lebanon (Ch2 9:16). They seem to have been borne, like maces, by the guards of the palace, when they attended the king to the temple or on other public processions. Those splendid insignia having been plundered by the Egyptian conqueror, others were made of inferior metal and kept in the guard room of the palace, to be ready for use; as, notwithstanding the tarnished glory of the court, the old state etiquette was kept up on public and solemn occasions. An account of this conquest of Judah, with the name of "king of Judah" in the cartouche of the principal captive, according to the interpreters, is carved and written in hieroglyphics on the walls of the great palace of Karnak, where it may be seen at the present day. This sculpture is about twenty-seven hundred years old, and is of peculiar interest as a striking testimony from Egypt to the truth of Scripture history.
Verse 12
when he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him--The promise (Ch2 12:7) was verified. Divine providence preserved the kingdom in existence, a reformation was made in the court, while true religion and piety were diffused throughout the land.
Verse 13
HIS REIGN AND DEATH. (Ch2 12:13-16) Rehoboam strengthened . . . and reigned--The Egyptian invasion had been a mere predatory expedition, not extending beyond the limits of Judah, and probably, ere long, repelled by the invaded. Rehoboam's government acquired new life and vigor by the general revival of true religion, and his reign continued many years after the departure of Shishak. But he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord--that is, he did not adhere firmly to the good course of reformation he had begun, "and he did evil," for through the unhappy influence of his mother, a heathen foreigner, he had no doubt received in his youth a strong bias towards idolatry (see on Kg1 14:21). Next: 2 Chronicles Chapter 13
Introduction
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 12 Rehoboam and his people forsaking the law of the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt is allowed by God to invade his land, and take his fenced cities, Ch2 12:1, upon which a prophet of the Lord was sent to him and his princes, to show them the reason of it; whereupon they humbled themselves, and the Lord was pleased not to allow the enemy utterly to destroy them, yet to reduce them to servitude, and take away their riches, Ch2 12:5, and the chapter is closed with an account of the reign and death of Rehoboam, Ch2 12:13.
Verse 1
And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom,.... Or when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established; the tribes of Judah and Benjamin being firmly attached to him, and great numbers from the other tribes coming over to him, and things going on peaceably and prosperously during the three years that he and his people abode by the pure worship of God: and had strengthened himself; built fortified cities for the defence of himself and kingdom, Ch2 11:5, he forsook the law of the Lord; after he had reigned three years, and was become strong, and thought himself safe and secure on the throne, trusting to his strength: and all Israel with him; the greater part of them following the example of their king; of this defection, and the sins they fell into, see Kg1 14:22.
Verse 2
And it came to pass in the fifth year of Rehoboam,.... In the fourth year, the apostasy of him and his people began; and, in the year following, what is next related happened, as a punishment of it: Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; of whom see Kg1 11:40, because they transgressed against the Lord; transgressed the law of the Lord by falling into idolatry and other abominable evils; the Targum is,"against the Word of the Lord.''
Verse 3
With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen; and the people were without number,.... The foot soldiers; their number, according to Josephus (h) was 400,000: that came with him out of Egypt; the above numerous army came from thence with him, which was famous for horses and chariots of war, see Exo 14:7, what follow seem to have joined him after he came out of Egypt, or whom he subdued in his way; the Lubim or Lybians, inhabitants of Libya, a country near Egypt the same with the Lehabim; of whom see Gen 10:13, the Sukkiims; who were either the Scenite Arabs, who dwelt in tents, as this word signifies; or the Troglodytes, according to the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, who dwelt in dens and caves, in which sense the word "Succah" is sometimes used, Job 38:40 and in their country was a town called Suchae, mentioned by Pliny (i); they inhabited near the Red sea; and if Shishak is the same with Sesostris, as is thought, these people were subdued by him, as Herodotus (k) and Strabo (l) testify: and the Ethiopians; some think these were the Cushite Arabs, and that Sesostris came into Arabia is testified by the above writers; though rather the proper Ethiopians are meant, since they are joined with the Lubim or Africans; and since, as Herodotus (m) says, he ruled over Ethiopia; and Diodorus Siculus (n) says he fought with them, and obliged them to pay him tribute. (h) Antiqu. l. 8. c. 10. sect. 2. (i) Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 29. (k) Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 102. (l) Geograph. l. 16. p. 529. (m) Ut supra, (Euterpe, sive, l. 2.) c. 110. (n) Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 50.
Verse 4
And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah,.... Which Rehoboam had lately built, and placed his sons in them, Ch2 11:5, these he took without any opposition: and came to Jerusalem; there being no army to oppose him; and so Sesostris took many countries without fighting, and among the rest Phoenicia, as Manetho (o) relates, in which Judea may be included. (o) Apud Joseph. contr. Apion. l. 1. c. 15.
Verse 5
Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam,.... The same as in Ch2 11:2, there called the man of God: and to the princes of Judah that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak; through fear of him, and for safety and protection from him, and to consult what was to be done at this critical juncture, whether to fight him, or make peace with him on the best terms they could: and said unto them, thus saith the Lord, ye have forsaken me; his law, his word, worship, and ordinances, Ch2 12:1, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak; suffered him to invade their land, take their fenced cities, and come up to Jerusalem without any opposition, as a punishment of their apostasy; and to explain this providence to them, and call them to repentance, was the prophet sent.
Verse 6
Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves,.... Both by words acknowledging their sins, and the justice of God, and by deeds, perhaps putting on sackcloth, as was usual on such occasions, and betaking themselves to fasting and prayer: and they said, the Lord is righteous; in giving them up into the hand of their enemies, seeing they had forsaken him, and sinned against him.
Verse 7
And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves,.... Though but externally; the Lord takes notice of external humiliation, as he did of Ahab's, Kg1 21:29, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, they have humbled themselves, therefore I will not destroy them; not now, at least not altogether, Ch2 12:12, but I will grant them some deliverance; yet not a complete one, for they were brought into servitude by Shishak, Ch2 12:8, or only for a short time: and my wrath shall not be poured out against Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak; that is, to the uttermost; that was reserved to another time, and to be done by another hand, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
Verse 8
Nevertheless, they shall be his servants,.... tributaries to the king of Egypt: that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries; the difference between them, how easy the one, which they might perform without taxes and tributes, and how hard and heavy the other, through the exactions and exorbitant demands of those to whom they became subjects.
Verse 9
So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem,.... The Vulgate Latin version is,"departed from Jerusalem,''as he did, having taken it, and spoiled it of its riches, and settled a yearly tax on the inhabitants of the land; of this, and the two following verses; see Gill on Kg1 14:26. Kg1 14:27. Kg1 14:28. . 2 Chronicles 12:12 ch2 12:12 ch2 12:12 ch2 12:12And when he humbled himself,.... That is, Rehoboam; or broke his heart, as the Targum, was of a contrite spirit seemingly, for it was merely external: the wrath of the Lord turned from him; which appeared by the departure of Shishak's army: that he would not destroy him altogether; or make an utter destruction of him and his people: and also in Judah things went well; prospered and succeeded after this affair of Shishak was over: or "in Judah there were good things" (p); there were some good men, priests, Levites, and many of the common people, that did good things, kept up and abode by the pure worship and service of God; and which was another reason why the Lord would not destroy them altogether now, see Gen 18:31. (p) "opera bona", V. L. "res bonae", Tigurine version, Vatablus, Rambachius.
Verse 12
So Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem,.... Fortified that yet more for the defence of himself, after Shishak departed: and reigned; twelve years more, for he reigned in all seventeen, and this was in his fifth year; of what follows in this verse; see Gill on Kg1 14:21.
Verse 13
And he did evil,.... Committed idolatry, relapsed into that, his humiliation not being hearty and sincere: because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord; by prayer and supplication, and by an attendance on the service and worship of God; for though he did these things outwardly, yet not sincerely and heartily; he did not engage in them seriously and in good earnest, with affection and fervour.
Verse 14
Now the acts of Rehoboam,.... Of these two verses; see Gill on Kg1 14:29. Kg1 14:30. Kg1 14:31. Next: 2 Chronicles Chapter 13
Verse 2
In punishment of this defection (בי מעלוּ כּי, because they had acted faithlessly to Jahve), Shishak, the king of Egypt, marched with a great host against Jerusalem. This hostile invasion is also briefly narrated in Kg1 14:25-28. Shishak (Sisak) is, as we have remarked on 1 Kings 14, Sesonchis or Sechonchosis, the first king of the 22nd dynasty, who has celebrated his victory in a relief at Karnak. In this sculpture the names of the cities captured are recorded on shields, and a considerable number have been deciphered with some certainty, and by them our account is completely confirmed. According to Ch2 12:3, Shishak's host consisted of 1200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen-numbers which, of course, are founded only upon a rough estimate-and an innumerable multitude of footmen, among whom were לוּבים, Libyans, probably the Libyaegyptii of the ancients (see on Gen 10:13); סכּיּים, according to the lxx and Vulg. Troglodytes, probably the Ethiopian Troglodytes, who dwelt in the mountains on the west coast of the Arabian Gulf; and Cushites, i.e., Ethiopians. The Libyans and Cushites are mentioned in Nah 3:9 also as auxiliaries of the Egyptians.
Verse 4
After the capture of the fenced cities of Judah, he marched against Jerusalem. - Ch2 12:5. Then the prophet Shemaiah announced to the king and the princes, who had retired to Jerusalem before Shishak, that the Lord had given them into the power of Shishak because they had forsaken Him. בּיד עזב, forsaken and given over into the hand of Shishak. When the king and the priests immediately humbled themselves before God, acknowledging the righteousness of the Lord, the prophet announced to them further that the Lord would not destroy them since they had humbled themselves, but would give them deliverance in a little space. כּמעט, according to a little, i.e., in a short time. פּליטה is accusative after ונתתּי. My anger shall not pour itself out upon Jerusalem. The pouring out of anger is the designation of an exterminating judgment; cf. Ch2 34:25.
Verse 8
But (כּי after a negative clause) they shall be his servants, sc. for a short time (see Ch2 12:7), "that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries" (cf. Ch1 29:30); i.e., that they may learn to know by experience the difference between the rule of God and that of the heathen kings, and that God's rule was not so oppressive as that of the rulers of the world.
Verse 9
With Ch2 12:9 the account of the war is taken up again and continued by the repetition of the words, "Then marched Shishak ... against Jerusalem" (Ch2 12:4). Shishak plundered the treasures of the temple and the palace; he had consequently captured Jerusalem. The golden shields also which had been placed in the house of the forest of Lebanon, i.e., the palace built by Solomon in Jerusalem, which Solomon had caused to be made (cf. Ch2 9:16), Shishak took away, and in their place Rehoboam caused brazen shields to be prepared; see on Kg1 14:26-28. - In Ch2 12:12 the author of the Chronicle concludes the account of this event with the didactic remark, "Because he (Rehoboam) humbled himself, the anger of Jahve was turned away from him." להשׁחית ולא, and it was not to extermination utterly (לכלה, properly to destruction, i.e., completely; cf. Eze 13:13). And also in Judah were good things. This is the other motive which caused the Lord to turn away His wrath. Good things are proofs of piety and fear of God, cf. Ch2 19:3.
Verse 13
The length of Rehoboam's reign, his mother, and the judgment about him. Cf. Kg1 14:21 and Kg1 14:22. ויּתחזּק here, as in Ch2 13:21, can, in its connection with what precedes, be only understood to mean that Rehoboam, after his humiliation at the hands of Shishak, by which his kingdom was utterly weakened and almost destroyed, again gained strength and power. Cf. also Ch2 1:1, where יתחזּק is used of Solomon in the beginning of his reign, after he overcame Adonijah, the pretender to the crown, and his party. - As to the age of Rehoboam, etc., see on Kg1 14:21. הרע ויּעשׂ, Ch2 12:14, is defined by the addition, "for he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord." For the expression cf. Ch2 19:3; Ch2 30:19; Ezr 7:10.
Verse 15
Close of his reign. On the authorities, see the Introduction, and in reference to the other statements, the commentary on Kg1 14:29-31. מלחמות, wars, i.e., a state of hostility, was between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all days, can only be understood of the hostile attitude of the two rulers to each other, like מלחמה in Kings; for we have no narrative of wars between them after Rehoboam had abandoned, at the instance of the prophet, his proposed war with the Israelites at the commencement of his reign.
Introduction
This chapter gives us a more full account of the reign of Rehoboam than we had before in Kings and it is a very melancholy account. Methinks we are in the book of Judges again; for, I. Rehoboam and his people did evil in the sight of the Lord (Ch2 12:1). II. God thereupon sold them into the hands of Shishak, king of Egypt, who greatly oppressed them (Ch2 12:2-4) III. God sent a prophet to them, to expound to them the judgment and to call them to repentance (Ch2 12:5). IV. They thereupon humbled themselves (Ch2 12:6). V. God, upon their repentance, turned from his anger (Ch2 12:7, Ch2 12:12) and yet left them under the marks of his displeasure (Ch2 12:8-11). Lastly, Here is a general character of Rehoboam and his reign, with the conclusion of it (Ch2 12:13-16).
Verse 1
Israel was very much disgraced and weakened by being divided into two kingdoms; yet the kingdom of Judah, having both the temple and the royal city, both the house of David and the house of Aaron, might have done very well if they had continued in the way of their duty; but here we have all out of order there. I. Rehoboam and his people left God: He forsook the law of the Lord, and so in effect forsook God, and all Israel with him, Ch2 12:1. He had his happy triennium, when he walked in the way of David and Solomon (Ch2 11:17), but it expired, and he grew remiss in the worship of God; in what instances we are not told, but he fell off, and Judah with him, here called Israel, because they walked in the evil ways into which Jeroboam had drawn the kingdom of Israel. Thus he did when he had established the kingdom and strengthened himself. As long as he thought his throne tottered he kept to his duty, that he might make God his friend; but, when he found it stood pretty firmly, he thought he had no more occasion for religion; he was safe enough without it. Thus the prosperity of fools destroys them. Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked. When men prosper, and are in no apprehension of troubles, they are ready to say to God, Depart from us. II. God quickly brought troubles upon them, to awaken them, and recover them to repentance, before their hearts were hardened. It was but in the fourth year of Rehoboam that they began to corrupt themselves, and in the fifth year the king of Egypt came up against them with a vast army, took the fenced cities of Judah, and came against Jerusalem, Ch2 12:2, Ch2 12:3, Ch2 12:4. This great calamity coming upon them so soon after they began to desert the worship of God, by a hand they had little reason to suspect (having had a great deal of friendly correspondence with Egypt in the last reign), and coming with so much violence that all the fenced cities of Judah, which Rehoboam had lately fortified and garrisoned and on which he relied much for the safety of his kingdom, fell immediately into the hands of the enemy, without making any resistance, plainly showed that it was from the Lord, because they had transgressed against him. III. Lest they should not readily or not rightly understand the meaning of this providence, God by the word explains the rod, Ch2 12:5. When the princes of Judah had all met at Jerusalem, probably in a great council of war, to concert measures for their own safety in this critical juncture, he sent a prophet to them, the same that had brought them an injunction from God not to fight against the ten tribes (Ch2 11:2), Shemaiah by name; he told them plainly that the reason why Shishak prevailed against them was not because they had been impolitic in the management of their affairs (which perhaps the princes in this congress were at this time scrutinizing), but because they had forsaken God. God never leaves any till they first leave him. IV. The rebukes both of the word and of the rod being thus joined, the king and princes humbled themselves before God for their iniquity, penitently acknowledged the sin, and patiently accepted the punishment of it, saying, The Lord is righteous, Ch2 12:6. "We have none to blame but ourselves; let God be clear when he judgeth." Thus it becomes us, when we are under the rebukes of Providence, to justify God and judge ourselves. Even kings and princes must either bend or break before God, either be humbled or be ruined. V. Upon the profession they made of repentance God showed them some favour, saved them from ruin, and yet left them under some remaining fears of the judgment, to prevent their revolt again. 1. God, in mercy, prevented the destruction they were now upon the brink of. Such a vast and now victorious army as Shishak had, having made themselves masters of all the fenced cities, what could be expected but that the whole country, and even Jerusalem itself, would in a little time be theirs? But when God saith, Here shall the proud waves be stayed, the most threatening force strangely dwindles and becomes impotent. Here again the destroying angel, when he comes to Jerusalem, is forbidden to destroy it: "My wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem; not at this time, not by this hand, not utterly to destroy it," Ch2 12:7, Ch2 12:12. Note, Those that acknowledge God righteous in afflicting them shall find him gracious. Those that humble themselves before him shall find favour with him. So ready is the God of mercy to take the first occasion to show mercy. If we have humbled hearts under humbling providences, the affliction has done its work, and it shall either be removed or the property of it altered. 2. He granted them some deliverance, not complete, but in part; he gave them some advantages against the enemy, so that they recruited a little; he gave them deliverance for a little while, so some. They reformed but partially, and for a little while, soon relapsing again; and, as their reformation was, so was their deliverance. Yet it is said (Ch2 12:12), in Judah things went well, and began to look with a better face. (1.) In respect of piety. There were good things in Judah (so it is in the margin), good ministers, good people, good families, who were made better by the calamities of their country. Note, In times of great corruption and degeneracy it is some comfort if there be a remnant among whom good things ar found; this is a ground of hope in Israel. (2.) In respect of prosperity. In Judah things went ill when all the fenced cities were taken (Ch2 12:4), but when they repented the posture of their affairs altered, and things went well. Note, If things do not go so well as we could wish, yet we have reason to take notice of it with thankfulness if they go better than was to have been expected, better than formerly, and better than we deserved. We should own God's goodness if he do but grant us some deliverance. 3. Yet he left them to smart sorely by the hand of Shishak, both in their liberty and in their wealth. (1.) In their liberty (Ch2 12:8): They shall be his servants (that is, they shall lie much at his mercy and be put under contribution by him, and some of them perhaps be taken prisoners and held in captivity by him), that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries. They complained, it may be, of the strictness of their religion, and forsook the law of the Lord (Ch2 12:1) because they thought it a yoke to hard, too heavy, upon them. "Well," saith God, "let them better themselves if they can; let the neighbouring princes rule them awhile, since they are not willing that I should rule them, and let them try how they like that. They might have served God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, and would not; let them serve their enemies then in hunger and thirst (Deu 28:47, Deu 28:48), till they think of returning to their first Master, for then it was better with them," Hos 2:7. This, some think, is the meaning of Eze 20:24, Eze 20:25. Because they despised my statutes, I gave them statutes that were not good. Note, [1.] The more God's service is compared with other services the more reasonable and easy it will appear. [2.] Whatever difficulties or hardships we may imagine there are in the way of obedience, it is better a thousand times to go through them than to expose ourselves to the punishment of disobedience. Are the laws of temperance thought hard? The effects of intemperance will be much harder. The service of virtue is perfect liberty; the service of lust is perfect slavery. (2.) In their wealth. The king of Egypt plundered both the temple and the exchequer, the treasuries of both which Solomon left very full; but he took them away; yea, he took all, all he could lay his hands on, Ch2 12:9. This was what he came for. David and Solomon, who walked in the way of God, filled the treasuries, one by war and the other by merchandise; but Rehoboam, who forsook the law of God, emptied them. The taking away of the golden shields, and the substituting of brazen ones in their place (Ch2 12:9-11), we had an account of before, Kg1 14:25-28.
Verse 13
The story of Rehoboam's reign is here concluded, much as the story of the other reigns concludes. Two things especially are observable here: - 1. That he was at length pretty well fixed in his kingdom, Ch2 12:13. His fenced cities in Judah did not answer his expectation, so he now strengthened himself in Jerusalem, which he made it his business to fortify, and there he reigned seventeen years, in the city which the Lord had chosen to put his name there. This intimates his honour and privilege, that he had his royal seat in the holy city, which yet was but an aggravation of his impiety - near the temple, but far from God. Frequent skirmishes there were between his subjects and Jeroboam's, such as amounted to continual wars, (Ch2 12:15), but he held his own, and reigned, and, as it should seem, did not so grossly forsake the law of God as he had done (Ch2 12:1) in his fourth year. 2. That he was never rightly fixed in his religion, Ch2 12:14. He never quite cast off God; and yet in this he did evil, that he prepared not, he engaged not, his heart to seek the Lord. See what the fault is laid upon. (1.) He did not serve the Lord because he did not seek the Lord. He did not pray, as Solomon did, for wisdom and grace. If we prayed better, we should be every way better. Or he did not consult the word of God, did not seek to that as his oracle, nor take directions from it. (2.) He made nothing of his religion because he did not set his heart to it, never minded it with any closeness of application, and never any hearty disposition to it, nor ever came up to a steady resolution in it. What little goodness he had was transient and passed away like the morning cloud. He did evil because he was never determined for that which is good. Those are easily drawn by Satan to any evil who are wavering and inconstant in that which is good and are never persuaded to make religion their business.
Verse 1
12:1-2 The book of Kings states no theological reason for Egypt’s invasion, but the Chronicler does: The Egyptians attacked Jerusalem because Rehoboam had abandoned the covenant and rebelled against the Lord.
Verse 2
12:2-4 Shishak, also known as Shoshenq I (945–924 BC), ruled a reunited Egypt and founded the 22nd dynasty.
Verse 3
12:3 Sukkites are not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible but are known from Egyptian history as Libyans from the oases of the western desert. • and Ethiopians: Shishak was an Ethiopian from southern Egypt.
Verse 6
12:6-7 Shemaiah’s speech expresses the elements required in Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple (7:14). The leaders of Israel . . . humbled themselves, and the wrath of judgment was removed from Jerusalem.
Verse 9
12:9-11 The looting of the royal treasuries and of the Temple were the punishment Rehoboam received for his disobedience. The gold shields were ritually carried by the guard accompanying the king when he moved from the palace to the Temple. The royal processionals lost much of their splendor with the bronze shields (cp. 9:15-16), which were safely stored in the huge armory Solomon had built (8:6).
Verse 12
12:12 When Rehoboam repented, God allowed good things to remain in Jerusalem: the repentance of the people, their resolve to seek the Lord, and the preservation of worship (see 19:3).