UNROLL
Dusk from the top of Jerusalem's plain stone wall, looking southwest over the hills: far off on the horizon a long low haze of brown dust where a great army moves; below, the city's flat roofs and a single watchman seen from behind, under a calm, deepening sky.

The Book of

2 Chronicles 12

Strong at last, Judah forgets the LORD. Then Egypt comes, and a prophet brings God’s word to a frightened king.

16 verses≈ 3 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1SolomonWisdom asked at Gibeon
  2. 2–5The templeBuilt on Mount Moriah
  3. 6–7DedicationIf My people humble themselves
  4. 8–9Solomon's gloryThe queen of Sheba
  5. 10–16DivisionRehoboam to AsaChapter 12
  6. 17–20JehoshaphatThe battle is God's
  7. 21–24Dark yearsJehoram to Joash
  8. 25–28Proud kingsAmaziah to Ahaz
  9. 29–32HezekiahDoors opened, Passover kept
  10. 33–35Manasseh to JosiahMercy and the Book found
  11. 36Exile and returnMay he go up

Shishak Raids Jerusalem

After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israel with him forsook the Law of the LORD.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Morning on the coastal road of the lowland, seen from a hilltop far above: Shishak's army moves north in a long column under a haze of dust, Egyptian soldiers in white linen kilts with long shields and spears, Libyan and Nubian troops among them, a few light chariots far off.

In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and countless troops who came with him out of Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites.

0:16

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

Pray

When we feel strong

Judah forgot the LORD just when it felt secure: “After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power,” he forsook the Law. Confess the times you have drifted from God when life was going well. Thank Him that He warns before He disciplines, and ask for a heart that turns back at His first word.

EgyptLibyaCushJudahJerusalem

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Shishak comes up from Egypt

Shishak came up from Egypt with Libyans, Sukkites and Cushites from the upper Nile, took Judah’s fortified cities and reached Jerusalem. The Sukkites’ homeland is unknown. On a temple wall at Karnak in Egypt, Shishak later carved a list of the towns his army reached.

Shemaiah

Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have forsaken Me; therefore, I have forsaken you into the hand of Shishak.’”

The leaders of Israel

So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.”

Shemaiah

When the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, but will soon grant them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.

A lamplit hall in the king's house in Jerusalem: King Rehoboam, his plain gold circlet laid on the floor beside him, kneels with his forehead near the stone pavement among the gray-bearded leaders of Judah, all bowed low; a clay lamp in a niche.

So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.”

2 Chronicles 12:6

Nevertheless, they will become his servants, so that they may learn the difference between serving Me and serving the kings of other lands.”

Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the anger of the LORD turned away from him, and He did not destroy him completely. Indeed, conditions were good in Judah.

Reflect

Bronze in place of gold

The king and the leaders humbled themselves and agreed with God’s verdict. God did not destroy them, but they learned what serving another master costs, and Solomon’s gold went to Egypt. Where has life taught you the difference between serving the LORD and serving something else? Write down what you learned.

Rehoboam’s Reign and Death

Judah

Rehoboam of Judah · 17 years

  1. Established in Jerusalem

    Thus King Rehoboam established himself in Jerusalem and reigned.

  2. Forty-one, and seventeen years

    He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name.

  3. His mother, Naamah the Ammonite

    His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite.

  4. did evil

    He did not seek the LORD

    And Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer concerning the genealogies? There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their days.

And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Abijah reigned in his place.

Question

Quick question

Shemaiah’s message was hard: “You have forsaken Me; therefore, I have forsaken you.”

When Shemaiah brought the LORD’s word, what did the king and the leaders say?

You’ve experienced

2 Chronicles 12

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A verse to carry with you

So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.”

2 Chronicles 12:6

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