1
When Rehoboam had established his kingdom and made himself strong, he and all Israel abandoned the LORD's teachings.
2
In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. This happened because all Israel was not loyal to the LORD.
3
Shishak had 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horses, and an army of countless Libyans, Sukkites, and Sudanese from Egypt.
4
He captured the fortified cities in Judah and then came to Jerusalem.
5
The prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered in Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah said to them, "This is what the LORD says: You have abandoned me, so I will abandon you. I will hand you over to Shishak."
6
Then the commanders of Israel and the king humbled themselves. "The LORD is right!" they said.
7
When the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, he spoke his word to Shemaiah: "They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them. In a little while I will give them an escape. I will not use Shishak to pour my anger on Jerusalem.
8
But they will become his servants so that they can learn the difference between serving me and serving foreign kings."