2 Chronicles chapter 12

Rehoboam abandons the Law. Rehoboam does not seek the LORD God.

 


 

REHOBOAM ABANDONS THE LAW

 

VERSE 1. When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the LORD’s law, and all Israel with him.

he abandoned the LORD’s law. In this context, the word “abandoned” is a synonym for “disobeyed.”

Within three generations, the kings had fallen from righteousness into absolute depravity:

  • King David (died 970 BC): generally righteous
  • King Solomon (died 931 BC): neutral
  • King Rehoboam (died 915 BC): absolute depravity

How difficult it must be for us to follow God. How easily we fall astray. How corrupted are our hearts toward sin.

This verse might be one of the saddest in our reading thus far.

all Israel with him. Rehoboam is not satisfied with destroying his own life. He also has to destroy the life of all his people. He wrecks the entire nation.

 

VERSE 2. In the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against the LORD,

Shishak king of Egypt. That is, Pharaoh Sheshonk I.

He was mentioned in Raiders of the Lost Ark as the Pharaoh who stole the Ark of the Covenant.

because they had trespassed against the LORD. Rehoboam abandons the law of the LORD God and leads his nation into idolatry.

So Shishak of Egypt stole the Ark of the Covenant.

 

VERSE 3. with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.

 

VERSE 4. He took the fortified cities which belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

 

VERSE 5. Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “The LORD says, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.’ ”

 

VERSE 6. Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “The LORD is righteous.”

 

VERSE 7. When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the LORD’s word came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath won’t be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

 

VERSE 8. Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”

 

VERSE 9. So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the LORD’s house and the treasures of the king’s house. He took it all away. He also took away the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

took away the treasures of the LORD’s house. This is the incident referred to in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, where the ark of the covenant is taken to Egypt.

 

VERSE 10. King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house.

 

VERSE 11. As often as the king entered into the LORD’s house, the guard came and bore them, then brought them back into the guard room.

 

VERSE 12. When he humbled himself, the LORD’s wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Judah.

 

REHOBOAM DOES NOT SEEK THE LORD GOD

 

VERSE 13. So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned; for Rehoboam was forty-one 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. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.

 

VERSE 14. He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek the LORD.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Book of 2 Chronicles and from the entire Bible.

he didn’t set his heart to seek the LORD. This is the case for not only Rehoboam, but also nearly every king that follows.

Seeking the kingdom of God is to be our number one priority. Yet for many of us, our use of time and money show that it is a low priority. Read more »

 

VERSE 15. Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, aren’t they written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, in the genealogies? There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.

 

VERSE 16. Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city; and Abijah his son reigned in his place.

Rehoboam slept with his fathers. This means “Rehoboam died.”

 


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2 CHRONICLES

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Mount Moriah, The Cloud of Glory

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.