Shishak’s Invasion

12 When Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power,(A) he abandoned the law of the Lord—he and all Israel with him. Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, King Shishak(B) of Egypt went to war against Jerusalem(C) with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and countless people who came with him from Egypt—Libyans,(D) Sukkiim, and Cushites. He captured the fortified cities(E) of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

Then the prophet Shemaiah(F) went to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them, “This is what the Lord says: You have abandoned me; therefore, I have abandoned you to Shishak.”(G)

So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.”(H)

When the Lord saw that they had humbled themselves, the Lord’s message came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them but will grant them a little deliverance.(I) My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.(J) However, they will become his servants so that they may recognize the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of other lands.”(K)

So King Shishak of Egypt went to war(L) against Jerusalem.(M) He seized the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and the treasuries of the royal palace. He took everything. He took the gold shields that Solomon had made.(N) 10 King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and committed them into the care of the captains of the guards[a] who protected the entrance to the king’s palace. 11 Whenever the king entered the Lord’s temple, the guards would carry the shields and take them back to the armory.[b] 12 When Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned away from him, and he did not destroy him completely.(O) Besides that, conditions were good in Judah.(P)

Rehoboam’s Last Days

13 King Rehoboam(Q) established his royal power in Jerusalem. Rehoboam 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 to put his name.(R) Rehoboam’s mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. 14 Rehoboam did what was evil, because he did not determine in his heart to seek the Lord.(S)

15 The events(T) of Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Events of the Prophet Shemaiah(U) and of the Seer Iddo concerning genealogies.(V) There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their reigns. 16 Rehoboam rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. His son Abijah[c](W) became king in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 12:10 Lit the runners
  2. 12:11 Lit the chamber of the runners
  3. 12:16 = Abijam in 1Kg 14:31–15:8

Egypt Invades Judah

12 But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the Law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin. Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, King Shishak of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam’s reign. He came with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horses,[a] and a countless army of foot soldiers, including Libyans, Sukkites, and Ethiopians.[b] Shishak conquered Judah’s fortified towns and then advanced to attack Jerusalem.

The prophet Shemaiah then met with Rehoboam and Judah’s leaders, who had all fled to Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah told them, “This is what the Lord says: You have abandoned me, so I am abandoning you to Shishak.”

Then the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is right in doing this to us!”

When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah: “Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem. But they will become his subjects, so they will know the difference between serving me and serving earthly rulers.”

So King Shishak of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem. He ransacked the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace; he stole everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made. 10 King Rehoboam later replaced them with bronze shields as substitutes, and he entrusted them to the care of the commanders of the guard who protected the entrance to the royal palace. 11 Whenever the king went to the Temple of the Lord, the guards would also take the shields and then return them to the guardroom. 12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger was turned away, and he did not destroy him completely. There were still some good things in the land of Judah.

Summary of Rehoboam’s Reign

13 King Rehoboam firmly established himself in Jerusalem and continued to rule. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen from among all the tribes of Israel as the place to honor his name. Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, a woman from Ammon. 14 But he was an evil king, for he did not seek the Lord with all his heart.

15 The rest of the events of Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Shemaiah the Prophet and The Record of Iddo the Seer, which are part of the genealogical record. Rehoboam and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other. 16 When Rehoboam died, he was buried in the City of David. Then his son Abijah became the next king.

Footnotes

  1. 12:3a Or charioteers, or horsemen.
  2. 12:3b Hebrew and Cushites.