King James Version
2 Chronicles 12
16 verses with commentary
Shishak Attacks Jerusalem
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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—king...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **When Rehoboam had established the** **kingdom.**—Rather, *when Rehoboam’s kingdom had been established.* The construction is impersonal: *when one had established Rehoboam’s kingdom.* The narrative is resumed from 2Chronicles 11:17.
**And** **had strengthened himself.**—*And when he had become strong* (*hezqāh,* an infinitive, used again at 2Chronicles 26:16; Daniel 11:2, and nowhere else).
...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →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,
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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,</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retributi...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **And** **it came to pass.**—See 1Kings 14:25, with which this verse literally coincides, except that the last clause, “because they had transgressed,” is added by the chronicler.
**In the fifth year of king Rehoboam.**—The order of events is thus given: For three years Rehoboam and his people continued faithful to the Lord (2Chronicles 11:17); in the fourth year they fell away; and in the fif...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immedi...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **With twelve hundred chariots.**—The short account in Kings says nothing of the numbers or constituents of the invading host. The totals here assigned are probably round numbers founded on a rough estimate. The cavalry are exactly fifty times as many as the chariots. Thenius finds the numbers “not in credible.”
**The Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethi-opians.**—Rather, *Lybians, Sukkîyans, an...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him face judgment. This ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **He took the fenced cities.**—Those very cities which Rehoboam had fortified as bulwarks against Egypt (2Chronicles 11:5-12). Fourteen names of cities have disappeared from the Karnak inscription, but Socho, Adoraim, and Ajalon, are still read there.
**Came to** (so far as to) **Jerusalem.**—Comp. Isaiah 36:1-2. The verse is not in Kings. Thenius (on 1Kings 14:26) says that the chronicler has...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **Then.**—*And.*
**Shemaiah the prophet.**—The section relating to his mission and its results (2Chronicles 12:5-8) is peculiar to the chronicle.
**The princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem.**—Repulsed by the Egyptian arms, they had fallen back upon Jerusalem, to defend the capital. While the invading host lay before the city, Shemaiah addressed the king and princes.
**Ye ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **Whereupon.**—*And.*
**The princes of Israel.**—See Note on 2Chronicles 12:1. “princes of *Judah* “. (2Chronicles 12:5) is the meaning.
**Humbled themselves.**—Literally, *bowed* (2Chronicles 7:14). (Comp. Jonah 3:5-6.)
**The Lord is righteous.**—Comp. Exodus 9:27 (the exclamation of Pharaoh); and Ezra 9:15.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →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. some: or, a little while
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **But I will grant them some deliverance.**—Rather, *and I will give them a few for a remnant.* (Comp. 2Chronicles 12:12, “that he would not destroy him altogether.”) For the phrase “to give a remnant,” see Ezra 9:13. The word rendered “few” is *kim‘at.* (Comp. 1Chronicles 16:19 : Isaiah 1:9.) The pointing *kim‘āt* is peculiar to this passage.
**My wrath shall not be poured out.**—Or,* pour it...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **Nevertheless they shall be*.****—For they shall become servants *(*i.e.,* tributaries) *to him;* scil., for a while.
**That they may know** (or, *discern*) **my service, and the service of the kingdoms.**—That they may learn by experience the difference between the easy yoke of their God, and the heavy burden of foreign tyranny, which was entailed upon them by deserting Him.
**Kingdoms of th...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicle...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem.**—The narrative is resumed after the parenthesis relating to Shemaiah by repeating the statement of 2Chronicles 12:2.
**And took away the treasures of the house of the Lord.**—See 1Kings 14:26, with which the rest of this verse is identical.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retributio...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **Instead of which king Rehoboam made.**—See Note on 1Kings 14:27, with which this verse coincides.
**Chief of the guard.**—Literally, *captains of the runners,* or *couriers.*
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God pr...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(11) **And when.**—*And as often as.*
**The guard came and fetched** **. . .—***The runners came and bare them; and they* (after the royal procession) *restored them to the guard room of the runners.* (See on 1Kings 14:28, which reads, “the runners used to bear them.”)
Solomon’s golden shields had been kept in “the house of the forest of Lebanon” (2Chronicles 9:16).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →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. and also: or, and yet in Judah there were good things
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(12) **And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him.**—In fulfilment of the promise of 2Chronicles 12:7. This remark, the tone of which is in perfect accord with the chronicler’s conception of the real import of Shishak’s invasion, is wanting in Kings.
**That he would not destroy him.**—Literally, *and not to destroy.* The infinitive is used as in 2Chronicles 11:22.
**Altoget...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →Summary of Rehoboam's Reign
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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specific...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(*b*) **SUMMING UP OF THE REIGN** (2Chronicles 12:13-16).
(Comp. 1Kings 14:21-22; 1Kings 14:29; 1Kings 14:31.)
The Syriac and Arabic contain this section.
(13) **So king Rehoboam strengthened himself.**—After the withdrawal of Shishak. In other words, he regained strength after the crushing blow inflicted by the Egyptian invasion. (Comp. the same word in 2Chronicles 13:21; 2Chronicles 1:1.)
**And ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. prepared: or, fixed
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KJV Study Commentary
The epitaph on Rehoboam: 'And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.' This diagnosis reveals the root of evil actions - unprepared hearts. The verb 'prepared' (hekin) suggests deliberate, intentional orientation toward God. Failing to prepare one's heart to seek the LORD results in evil, even without specific intention. This teaches that spiritual drift and neglect are th...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(14) **And he did evil.**—Syriac adds *“*before the Lord.” The nature of his evil-doing is explained immediately: “for he directed not his heart to seek Jehovah.” This estimate of Rehoboam’s conduct seems to refer to the early years of his reign, which ended in the catastrophe of Shishak’s invasion. 1Kings 14:22, says, “And *Judah* did evil in the eyes of Jehovah “; and then goes on to tell of the...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →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. book: Heb. words
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicler's theological...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Divine discipline for unfaithfulness, mercy through humility. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(16) **And Rehoboam slept with his fathers.**—Abridged from 1Kings 14:31, which see.
**Abijah.**—2Chronicles 11:22. *Abijam,* the spelling of Kings, is probably due to an accident of transcription.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
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Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished.
--When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful de...
Read full commentary →