Rehoboam Abandons God's Law
Study note
Once Rehoboam felt secure in his kingdom, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all of Judah followed him. In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem with a massive army — 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and countless soldiers, including Libyans, Sukkiites, and Ethiopians. He captured the fortified cities of Judah and advanced all the way to Jerusalem.
1 Once Rehoboam felt secure as king, he stopped obeying the Lord's teachings. All the people of Israel followed his example. 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 In the fifth year of Rehoboam's rule, King Shishak of Egypt marched against Jerusalem. This happened because the people had turned away from the Lord. 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 Shishak brought 1,200 chariots, 60,000 soldiers on horses, and more foot soldiers than anyone could count. His army included Libyans, Sukkiites, and Ethiopians. 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 He took over the walled cities of Judah and marched all the way to Jerusalem. And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
The Prophet's Warning and Rehoboam's Repentance
Study note
The prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah with a message from God: 'You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to Shishak.' The king and the leaders humbled themselves and said, 'The Lord is right.' Because they humbled themselves, God said he would not destroy them completely but would make them Shishak's servants for a time, so they would learn the difference between serving God and serving foreign kings.
5 The prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, who had come together in Jerusalem because of Shishak. He told them, "The Lord says: 'You turned away from me, so now I am handing you over to Shishak.'" 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 The leaders of Israel and the king admitted they were wrong and said, "The Lord is right to do this." Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.
7 When the Lord saw that they had humbled themselves, he spoke to Shemaiah again: "They have admitted they were wrong, so I will not wipe them out. I will rescue them soon. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem." 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 "But they will become his servants. This will teach them the difference between serving me and serving kings of other nations." Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
Shishak Plunders the Temple
Study note
Shishak took the treasures from the Lord's temple and the royal palace, including the gold shields Solomon had made. Rehoboam replaced them with bronze shields — a powerful symbol of how far the kingdom had fallen from Solomon's golden age. Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord's anger turned away and things went well in Judah.
9 So King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He carried away the treasures from the Lord's temple and the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields that Solomon had made. 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 King Rehoboam replaced them with shields made of bronze. He gave these to the guards who protected the palace entrance. 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 Whenever the king went to the Lord's temple, the guards would carry the shields and later bring them back to the guard room. 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 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord stopped being angry with him and did not completely destroy him. In fact, some good things were still found in Judah. 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.
Rehoboam's Reign and Death
Study note
Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king and ruled for 17 years in Jerusalem. The writer's verdict is blunt: he did evil because he did not set his heart on seeking the Lord. There were constant wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. Rehoboam died and was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah became king after him.
13 King Rehoboam made himself strong in Jerusalem and kept ruling. He was 41 when he became king and ruled for 17 years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen from all the tribes of Israel as the place for his name. His mother was Naamah from the land of Ammon. 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 He lived a sinful life because he never truly set his heart on following the Lord. And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
15 All that happened during Rehoboam's rule is in two records. One is from the prophet Shemaiah. The other is from Iddo the seer. Wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam never stopped. 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 When Rehoboam died, he was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah became the next king. And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.