2 Chronicles 12

Big idea: Egypt arrives with twelve hundred chariots and an army too large to count, a prophet explains it in one sentence, the leadership humbles itself, and the outcome is adjusted accordingly — not rescue, but survival under a foreign overlord, so that they may know the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of the countries.

This is the book's first working demonstration of 7:14, and it produces a partial deliverance, which is the point.

12:1–16 — They shall be his servants, that they may know the difference

The cause is stated before the invasion: when the kingdom was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of Yahweh, and all Israel with him. Then Shishak comes up with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen and an army beyond counting, takes the fortified towns, and reaches Jerusalem. Shemaiah's message to the princes gathered there is one sentence long: you have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.

¹ When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned Yahweh’s law, and all Israel with him. ² In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against Yahweh, ³ with 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. ⁴ He took the fortified cities which belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem. ⁵ Now 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, “Yahweh says, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.’” ⁶ Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “Yahweh is righteous.” ⁷ When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, Yahweh’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. ⁸ Nevertheless they will 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 Yahweh’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. ¹⁰ King 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. ¹¹ As often as the king entered into Yahweh’s house, the guard came and bore them, then brought them back into the guard room. ¹² When he humbled himself, Yahweh’s wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Judah. ¹³ So 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 Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. ¹⁴ He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek Yahweh. ¹⁵ Now 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. ¹⁶ Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city; and Abijah his son reigned in his place.

Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).

← 2 Chronicles 11 · 2 Chronicles overview · 2 Chronicles 13 →