2 Chronicles 12:1

1 And when the realm of Rehoboam was made strong and strengthened, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. (But when Rehoboam's kingdom was made strong and established, he abandoned the Law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.)

2 Chronicles 12:1 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 12:1

And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom,
&c.] Or when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established; the tribes of Judah and Benjamin being firmly attached to him, and great numbers from the other tribes coming over to him, and things going on peaceably and prosperously during the three years that he and his people abode by the pure worship of God:

and had strengthened himself;
built fortified cities for the defence of himself and kingdom, ( 2 Chronicles 11:5-12 ) , he forsook the law of the Lord; after he had reigned three years, and was become strong, and thought himself safe and secure on the throne, trusting to his strength:

and all Israel with him;
the greater part of them following the example of their king; of this defection, and the sins they fell into, see ( 1 Kings 14:22-24 ) .

2 Chronicles 12:1 In-Context

1 And when the realm of Rehoboam was made strong and strengthened, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. (But when Rehoboam's kingdom was made strong and established, he abandoned the Law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.)
2 And in the fifth year of the realm of Rehoboam, Shishak, king of Egypt, went up into Jerusalem, for they, that is, the men of Jerusalem, [had] sinned against the Lord; (And in the fifth year of the reign of Rehoboam, Shishak, the king of Egypt, went up against Jerusalem, for they, that is, the people of Jerusalem, had sinned against the Lord;)
3 and he ascended with a thousand and two hundred chariots, and with sixty thousand horsemen, and no number was of the common people, that came with him from Egypt, that is, Libyans, and Troglodytes, and Ethiopians. (and he went up with a thousand and two hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen, and there was no number of the common people, who came with him from Egypt, that is, Libyans, and Sukkiims, and Ethiopians.)
4 And he took [the] full strong cities in Judah, and he came to Jerusalem. (And he took the fortified cities in Judah, and then he came to Jerusalem.)
5 And Shemaiah, the prophet, entered to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, which, fleeing from Shishak, were gathered together in Jerusalem. And he said to them, The Lord saith these things, Ye have forsaken me, and I have forsaken you in the hand of Shishak. (And the prophet Shemaiah went in to Rehoboam, and to the leaders of Judah, who, fleeing from Shishak, were gathered together in Jerusalem. And he said to them, The Lord saith these things, Ye have deserted me, and so now I have deserted you unto the power of Shishak.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.