2 Chronicles 12

Rechabeam forsaking the law of God, is warred against by Sisak King of Egypt, v.1, &c. He humbling himself with his Princes, is preserved in his Kingdom, 5. But bereaved of the treasures of the Temple, and of his Royal palace, 9. He causeth copper shields to be made, in the room of the golden ones that Sisak had taken away, 10. For what cause God did still in some manner spare Juda and Jerusalem, 12. Rehabeams reign and death, 13. Ahia his son becometh King, 16.

1. Now it came to pass, when Rechabeam had established the Kingdom, and he was grown strong, [To wit, after three years, wherein he had walked after Davids and Salomons example. See above chap.11.17.] that he forsook the law of the LORD, [that is, fell from the true doctrine, pure religion, and upright conversation, prescribed by the law of God. Compare Deu.32.15. 1 Kings.18.18. above chap.7.19. and 13.11. Job.6.14. Prov.2.13. Jos.1.4. Jer.21.13,etc.] and all Israel with him. [that is, Juda, and all the Israelites that appertained to Juda. See 1 Kings 12.on v.17. For the Other tribes were formerly by Jerobeam brought to revolting. Not with standing this apostasy or backingsliding is so to be understood, that God yet had his chosen remnant, consisting of Prophets, as Ahia, Semaja, Jeddo, and some of the Priests, Levites, and people, who gave ear to the Prophets, kept themselves pure and clean from the pollutions of Idolatry. See below v.12.]

2. Therefore it came to pass in the fifth year of King Rehabeam, that Sisak King of Egypt marched up against Jerusalem; [See 1 Kings 14:25.] (for they had transgressed against the LORD.) [see of their abominable sins committed against the first and second table, 1 Kings 14:23,24.]

3. With a thousand, and two hundred charets, and threescore thousand horsemen: And there was no number of the People that came with him out of Egypt, Lybians, of the people that came with him out Egypt. See of them alsoDan.11.43. Nahum.3.9.] Suchites, [otherwise called Troglodites, also a people in Africa] and Moors. [Heb.Cuschim, the Cusites: That is, the Moors and Arabians. See Gen.10.on v.6.]

4. And he took the fenced cities that Juda had: [Compare above chap.11.5.] and he came unto Jerusalem.

5. Then came Semaja the Prophet [See of this Prophet also, 1 Kings 12:22. and the annotate.] to Rehabeam; and the Governours of Juda that were gathered together to Jerusalem, because [or, by reason. Heb. from the face. Oth. For fear] of stick: And he said unto them, thus saith the LORD: ye have forsake me, therefore I have also left you in the land of Sisak.

6. Then the chief men of Israel, [That is, of the Israelites, that were under the dominion of Rehabeam] and the King humbled themselves; [to wit, acknowledging with the heart, and confessing with the mouth the wickedness and iniquity of their sins, and the justice of Gods punishment] and they said, the LORD is righteous.

7. Now when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Semaja, saying; they have humbled themselves, (therefore) I will not destroy them, but I will shortly [Or, after a little, to wit, while: SO Job 32:22. Psa.2.19. and 81.15. or, a small deliverance, or some little thing (tending) to deliverance] give them escaping, [That is, deliverance] (so) that my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Sisak. [that is, my wrath shall not proceed so far, that Jerusalem should be destroyed, and the people carried away captive, as at length came to pass by Nebuchadnezer King of Babel, 2 Kings 25. Below chap.36. Jerem.52. Oth. Shall not drop; that is, shall not last or continue long.]

8. Never the less they shall be his servants; [That is, they shall be sain to yield up the city him, pay ransom, suffer him to carry away what so ever he will, and receive such terms of peace, as he shall be pleased to allow them] that they may discern my service, and the service of the Kingdoms of the lands. [or, earthly Kingdoms. To wit how happy the state and condition of those is, that serve and obey me according to my word; and no the contrary, how grievous and miserable a thing it is, to serve the idolatrous and tyrannical Kings of the earth, after their covetous and ambitious desire.]

9. So Sisak King of Egypt marched up against Jerusalem, and he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the Kings house; [To wit, it being (as it seemeth) permitted hi by the King and the people to take them as the cities ransom, that they might not be taken by force of arms, and plundered] he took all away: [see 1 Kings 14.on vers.26.] he took away also all the golden shields that Salomon had made.

10. And King Rehabeam made in the room of them copper shields: And he committed (them) under the hand of the chief of the guard [See 1 Kings 14.on vers.27.] that kept the door of the Kings house.

11. And it came to pass, when the King entred into the house of the LORD, that the guard came, and carried them, [To wit, the shields] and brought them again into the guard-chamber. [see 1 Kings 14.on verse 28.]

12. And when he [To wit, the King] humbled himself, [by testifying his sorrow, and repentance] the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he might not utterly destroy (him:) (there) were also good things in Juda. [As, 1. The Law of Moses. 2. The word of the Prophets. 3. Circumcision.4. Somewhat of the pure worship of Gd.5 There were some true believers, and godly people, that had not corrupted their way: for which things all, the Lord yet spared the city; as he would have spared Sodom, had there been but ten righteous persons in it, Gen.18.32. Compare herewith above the Annotat. On vers.1.]

13. SO King Rehabeam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehabeam was one and fourty years old, when he became King, and reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city, which the LORD had chosen out of all the Tribes of Israel, to put his Name there; [See 1 Kings 8.on vers.29.] and his mothers name was Naamah, an Ammonitess.

14. And he did that which was evil, because he settled not his heart to seek the LORD. [Although man be not able to do this by the strength of Nature, but onely by the grace of regeneration, Jerem.31.18. Matth 7. Vers.18. John 15:5. yet he is bound to do it, and liable to punishment, when he doth it not, because the fault is in him, that he doth it not, nor can do it. Of the phrase, seeking the Lord, see above chap.11.on vers.16.]

15. Now the acts of Rehabeam, first, and last, are they not written in the words, [Others, in the books, or, in the book. See above chap.9on vers.22.] and Iddo the Seer, [see above chap.9.on vers.29.] relating the genealogies: [Others, in the relation of the genealogies, or, in the genealogies, that is, in the book describing the generations or pedigrees of Kings, called the History of the Prophet Iddo, below chap.13.22.] besides, the wars of Rehabeam, and Jerobeam, [that is, are not also in these words written the wars, etc.] in all their days? [That is, which lasted all their life-time. Or, and the wars of Rehabeam, and Jerobeam were all (their) days: that is, as long as they lived.]

16. And Rehabeam fell asleep with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abia [otherwise called Abiam, 1 Kings 14:31. and 15.1, etc.] his son reigned in his stead.