2 Chronicles 12

Shishak's Invasion and Rehoboam's Death

¹When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the LORD’s law, and all Israel with him.

²In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against the LORD,

³with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.

⁴He took the fortified cities which belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

⁵Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “The LORD says, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.’”

⁶Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “The LORD is righteous.”

⁷When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the LORD’s word came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath won’t be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

⁸Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”

⁹So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the LORD’s house and the treasures of the king’s house. He took it all away. He also took away the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

¹⁰King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house.

¹¹As often as the king entered into the LORD’s house, the guard came and bore them, then brought them back into the guard room.

¹²When he humbled himself, the LORD’s wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Judah.

¹³So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned; for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, 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 the Ammonitess.

¹⁴He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek the LORD.

¹⁵Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, aren’t they written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, in the genealogies? There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.

¹⁶Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city; and Abijah his son reigned in his place.

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After establishing his kingdom, Rehoboam abandons God's law, leading to divine judgment through Shishak's Egyptian invasion in his fifth year. When confronted by the prophet Shemaiah, Rehoboam and his officials humble themselves, prompting God to show mercy and prevent total destruction, though Jerusalem's treasures are still plundered. The chapter concludes with Rehoboam's death after seventeen years of reign, characterized by continued disobedience and warfare with the northern kingdom.

Context

This chapter follows Rehoboam's initial kingdom establishment in chapter 11 and sets up the continuing dynastic struggles that will characterize the divided monarchy.

Key Themes

Outline

1-4
Rehoboam's Apostasy and Shishak's Invasion Rehoboam abandons God's law once established, prompting the massive Egyptian invasion under Shishak.
5-8
Prophetic Warning and Royal Repentance Shemaiah delivers God's message of judgment, leading to the king and princes humbling themselves and receiving partial mercy.
9-12
Jerusalem's Plunder and Symbolic Loss Shishak strips the temple and palace treasures, with Solomon's golden shields replaced by bronze ones.
13-16
Rehoboam's Reign Summary and Death The chapter concludes with Rehoboam's biographical details, his persistent evil, and succession by his son Abijah.

Shishak's Invasion and Rehoboam's Death

12:1–12:16

narrative narration solemn

When Rehoboam abandons God's law, Shishak of Egypt invades Judah, but God shows mercy when the king and princes humble themselves and repent.

person_contrast

Rehoboam's transformation from defiant king to repentant supplicant represents the Bible's starkest royal reversal, moving from "he was strong" to humble submission in just fourteen verses.

Insight Character Study

Rehoboam's transformation from defiant king to repentant supplicant represents the Bible's starkest royal reversal, moving from "he was strong" to humble submission in just fourteen verses.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

2 Chronicles 12:3 5 references

Lexicals 5

2 Chronicles 16:8 Lexical

Weren’t the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and exceedingly many horsemen? Yet, because you relied o…

4 shared words

1 Kings 10:26 Lexical

Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen.…

2 Chronicles 12

Shishak's Invasion and Rehoboam's Death

Shishak's Invasion and Rehoboam's Death

Insights

Cross-References

2 Chronicles 12:3 5 references

2 Chronicles 12:9 5 references

2 Chronicles 12:10 1 reference

2 Chronicles 12:11 1 reference

2 Chronicles 12:13 5 references

2 Chronicles 12:15 5 references

2 Chronicles 12:16 5 references

Interlinear

Historical Context