1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.
2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,
3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.
4 And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
5 Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
6 Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.
7 And 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; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
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 all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
10 Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.
11 And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.
12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.
13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty 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. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
15 Now 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 continually.
16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
The book of 2 Chronicles is a historical account of the kings of Israel and Judah, and chapter 12 focuses on the reign of Rehoboam, the son of King Solomon. This chapter highlights the downfall of the kingdom of Judah and the consequences of turning away from God. It also serves as a warning to future generations about the dangers of disobeying God and the importance of remaining faithful to Him.
Rehoboam became king of Judah after the death of his father, Solomon. He was just 41 years old when he ascended to the throne and ruled for 17 years in Jerusalem. At the beginning of his reign, Rehoboam followed in the footsteps of his father and was faithful to God. He built up the fortified cities of Judah and strengthened the kingdom. However, as time went on, Rehoboam's heart turned away from God and he began to do evil in the sight of the Lord.
In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, Shishak, the king of Egypt, invaded Judah with a massive army. Shishak had been a loyal ally to Solomon, but after his death, Rehoboam's disobedience caused Shishak to turn against Judah. The Egyptian army conquered the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem, where Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah had gathered.
When Shishak and his army approached Jerusalem, the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah and delivered a message from God. The Lord said that because they had abandoned Him, He would allow Shishak to conquer them. However, if they humbled themselves and repented, God would not destroy them completely. Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah listened to the prophet and repented, and the Lord showed them mercy.
Despite the repentance of Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, the invasion of Shishak still had consequences. The Egyptians took all the treasures from the temple and the king's palace, including the gold shields that Solomon had made. Rehoboam replaced the gold shields with bronze ones and continued to rule over Judah, but the kingdom was greatly weakened.
The remainder of Rehoboam's reign was marked by constant wars and conflicts. He also had difficulty maintaining control over his kingdom, as many of the people continued to turn away from God. Rehoboam died at the age of 58 and was succeeded by his son Abijah, who also did evil in the sight of the Lord.
The main themes of chapter 12 can be summarized as follows:
The story of Rehoboam serves as a cautionary tale for future generations about the dangers of disobeying God and turning away from Him. Despite the blessings and prosperity that Judah had experienced under the reign of Solomon, their disobedience ultimately led to their downfall. This chapter also highlights the mercy of God and His willingness to forgive and restore His people when they repent.
Furthermore, the invasion of Shishak serves as a reminder that even when we repent and seek forgiveness, there may still be consequences for our actions. The loss of the treasures and weakening of the kingdom were a result of the people's disobedience and turning away from God.
In a broader sense, the story of Rehoboam and the kingdom of Judah can also be seen as a representation of the spiritual state of humanity. We are all prone to disobedience and turning away from God, but through His mercy and forgiveness, we can be restored and redeemed.
In conclusion, chapter 12 of 2 Chronicles serves as a warning to future generations about the consequences of disobedience and the importance of remaining faithful to God. It also highlights the mercy and forgiveness of God and the ultimate downfall of those who turn away from Him.
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