2 Chronicles 12

2 Chronicles 12:1-12

Here, 1. Rehoboam and Judah, for their iniquity, are held into the hands of Shifhak king of Egypt, ver. 1—4. 2. They repent at the preaching of a prophet, ver. 5, 6. 3. God thereupon turns from his anger, yet knows them under the marks of his displeasure, ver. 7—12. 4. A general character is given of Rehoboam’s reign: his death, ver. 13—16.

1. AND it came to pass when ‘Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, ‘he forlook the law of the LORD, and ‘all Israel with him. 2. ‘And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shifhak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem (‘because they had transferred against the LORD). 3. With twelve hundred chariots, and threefcore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubaim, the Siskiaim, and the Ethiopians. 4. And ‘he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and ‘he took the cates of the people to the people of Judah that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shifhak, and said unto them, Thus faith the LORD, ‘Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shifhak. 6. Whereupon the princes of Israel, and the king humbled themselves, and they said, The LORD is righteous. 7. 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 Shifhak. 8. Nevertheless, ’they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries. 9. So Shifhak 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. 10. 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. 11. And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and set them, and brought them again into the guard-chamber. 12. 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.

Short was the gleam of sun-shine, which brightened the first years of Rehoboam’s government.

1. He forlook the law of God, and Judah followed his example. Their sin is recorded, 1 Kings xiv. 22—24. Now the kingdom was strengthened, they not only cast off that line of

Briot/Chor man, but of God. Note, Prosperity is the common cause of the ruin of men’s fouls.

2. God left them not unpunished. Shiftak king of Egypt, in the fifth year of Rehoboam invaded the land, and easily took the fenced cities, in which Rehoboam had reposed his confidence. Note, Human supports will prove but refugee of lies, when God’s favour is withdrawn.

3. In this disreels God fends a prophet to the king and princes, assembled probably in council, to enforce the providence for their conviction and humiliation, v. 5. Note, (1.) The word of God comes with peculiar force, when joined with awakening providences. (2.) It is vain to consult about our defence, if we continue unhumbled for our firm.

4. The prophet’s word was attended with deep effects. Conviction seized their hearts, and they confided the judgment of God just. Note, A sinner is never truly humbled, till he justifies God in his sufferings.

5. God, on their humiliation, fends his prophet again to comfort them. Though corrected, they should not be confused. God should prevent the threatened ruin of Jerusalem; but they would for a time smart for their wickedness, and prove, under an Egyptian yoke, how bad a choice they had made, when they rejected God for their matter. Note, (1.) God waits to be gracious: the moment we return in penitence, as prodigal fous, his bowels, as a father, yearn over us. (2.) God makes us often smart in the fiefs for it, even when the guilt of our sin is done away. (3.) They who count God a kind mother, and the perfect freedom of his former hurlessdom, will find the slavery to their lusts, and the wages of sin, a miserable exchange.

6. Shiftak, restrained of God, after plundering the country, and carrying off the shields of gold, and all the treasures of Rehoboam, which David and Solomon had manifest, retired into Egypt; and the king, stripped of his grandeur, was forced to substitute shields of brass in their stead. Note, The greatest conspicuous are restrained by an invisible arm, who gives them their commission, which they cannot exceed.

7. On Shiftak’s return, and Rehoboam’s repentance, God had mercy on Judah; the ravaged country recovered; and religion, that was decayed, again revived and flourished. Things were said in Judah; or, in Judah there were good things. Had as the times had been, there was a remnant according to the election of grace. Note, (1.) In the world days, God has his faithful few. (2.) The judgments which learn us righteousness, are mercies in disguise.

8. ¶ So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and resigned: 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 Niamah an Ammonites. 14. And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. 15. Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and ‘Iddo the seer, concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 16. And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David; and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.

2 Chronicles 12:13-16

On Shiftak’s retiring, Rehoboam recovered strength, and fortified Jerusalem against any future attacks. His wars with Jeroboam were continued to the end of his reign: though no pleaded battle was fought, there were confitant acts of hostility on the borders. His humiliation seems to have been of no long continuance. His heart was not right with God, v. 14. He did not seek to him for advice, or pray for his assistance; at least, he was not truly engaged in the service, when he pretended to do so. His reign continued seventeen years, and then his son, too like himself, succeeded him. Note, (1.) If our heart is not engaged truly in the service of God, all is nought. (2.) Though judgments may bring a man to his knees, nothing but divine grace can turn the soul to God.