2 Chronicles 12
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CHAPTER 12
Shishak Attacks Jerusalem (12:1–16)
(1 Kings 14:21–31)
1–4 When Rehoboam had become established and strong, he and all Israel2 ... abandoned the law of the LORD (verse 1). In this, he followed his father’s example (1 Kings 11:1–13). As a direct result of Judah’s unfaithfulness, the Lord caused Shishak king of EGYPT to invade Judah.
5–8 Through the PROPHET Shemaiah, the Lord told Rehoboam and Judah’s leaders that He was going to abandon them to Shishak because they had abandoned Him (verse 5). This is a constant the me emphasized by the writer of 1 and 2 Chronicles: unfaithfulness brings punishment; faithfulness, humility and REPENTANCE bring blessing.
Rehoboam and the leaders humbled themselves (verse 6), and the Lord lessened their punishment. Instead of being destroyed by Shishak, they would only be subject to him (verse 8). Some punishment was necessary in order to teach them that they were better off serving the Lord than serving the kings of other lands—such as Shishak. Serving the Lord leads to freedom; serving the “kings of other lands”—the lusts of the world—leads to slavery.
9–16 See 1 Kings 14:21–31 and comment.