Bible Study 2 Chronicles 12
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2 Chronicles 12 · WEB

Shishak's Invasion; Rehoboam Humbles Himself

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When Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of Yahweh, and all Israel with him.
2In the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against Yahweh,
3with twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen. The people who came with him out of Egypt were without number: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.
4He took the fortified cities which belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
5Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together at 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.'"
6Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "Yahweh is righteous."
7When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah saying, "They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
8Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries."
9So 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 all away. He also took away the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
10King 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.
11It was so that as often as the king entered into Yahweh's house, the guard came and bore them, and brought them back into the guard room.
12When he humbled himself, the wrath of Yahweh turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether; and moreover in Judah there were good things found.
13So 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.
14He did evil, because he didn't set his heart to seek Yahweh.
15Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, aren't they written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, after the manner of genealogies? There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
16Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David; and Abijah his son reigned in his place.
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Summary

After Rehoboam's three years of faithfulness, prosperity leads to pride and he forsakes God's law. God's response is swift: Shishak of Egypt invades with an overwhelming force, capturing Judah's fortified cities and threatening Jerusalem. The prophet Shemaiah confronts the king: "You forsook me — I have left you to Shishak." Rehoboam and the princes humble themselves immediately, and God limits the judgment: Jerusalem is not destroyed, but becomes tributary to Egypt. The gold shields of the temple are carried off to Egypt; Rehoboam replaces them with bronze. The chapter ends with his death and a verdict: "He did evil, because he didn't set his heart to seek Yahweh."

Themes

  • Pride following prosperity leading to forsaking God
  • Humble repentance turning away God's wrath
  • The difference between bronze and gold — partial versus full faithfulness

Key verses

  • 2 Chr 12:1 — “When Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of Yahweh.”
  • 2 Chr 12:14 — “He did evil, because he didn't set his heart to seek Yahweh.”
  • 2 Chr 12:6-7 — “The princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, 'Yahweh is righteous.' When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Yahweh came... 'They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them.'”

Context & background

Shishak (Sheshonq I) was the founder of Egypt's 22nd dynasty (modern Egypt). His campaign against Judah and Israel c. 925 BC is confirmed by his own victory inscription on the temple of Karnak (Luxor, Egypt) listing over 150 conquered cities. The invasion was a partial fulfillment of the judgment for Rehoboam's unfaithfulness. The bronze shields replacing Solomon's gold shields (v. 10) became a powerful symbol of spiritual decline — the appearance of wealth without the substance. Shemaiah the prophet reappears (he previously stopped Rehoboam from civil war in chapter 11); his two interactions bracket Rehoboam's brief window of faithfulness.

Cross-references

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  1. Observe

    According to verse 1, what was the sequence of events that led Rehoboam to forsake the law of Yahweh?

  2. Observe

    What did Shishak carry away from Jerusalem, and what did Rehoboam replace it with?

  3. Interpret

    What is the theological significance of the bronze shields replacing the gold?

  4. Interpret

    Why did God limit but not cancel the judgment when Rehoboam humbled himself?

  5. Apply

    Where in your own life have you seen the "establish, strengthen, forsake" pattern at work?

  6. Apply

    What does Rehoboam's quick humbling teach about how to respond when confronted with sin?

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