2 Chronicles 12: Forsaking and Humbling
Grown strong, Rehoboam abandons God's law, faces Shishak's invasion, and finds that humbling himself turns away the full measure of God's wrath.
2 Chronicles 12 (WEB)
1 When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, he abandoned Yahweh’s law, and all Israel with him.
2 In the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against Yahweh,
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.
4 He took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
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, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.’”
6 Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “Yahweh is righteous.”
7 When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, Yahweh’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 shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”
9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of Yahweh’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.
10 King Rehoboam made in their place shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house.
11 It was so, that as often as the king entered into Yahweh’s house, the guard came and bore them, and brought them back into the guard room.
12 When he humbled himself, the wrath of Yahweh turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether: and moreover in Judah there were good things found.
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 Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: and his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.
14 He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek Yahweh.
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, after the way of genealogies? There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
16 Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his place.
2 Chronicles 12 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.
2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord,
3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.
4 And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
5 Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the Lord, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
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 Shishak.
8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
9 So Shishak 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 fetched 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.
13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: 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 Naamah an Ammonitess.
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 of 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 (ASV)
1 And it came to pass, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Jehovah, and all Israel with him.
2 And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against Jehovah,
3 with twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen. And the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.
4 And he took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah, and came unto Jerusalem.
5 Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, Ye have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
6 Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, Jehovah is righteous.
7 And when Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves: 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 Shishak.
8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king’s house: he took all away: he took away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
10 And king Rehoboam made in their stead shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, that kept the door of the king’s house.
11 And it was so, that, as oft as the king entered into the house of Jehovah, the guard came and bare them, and brought them back into the guard-chamber.
12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of Jehovah turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether: and moreover in Judah there were good things found.
13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Jehovah had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: and his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.
14 And he did that which was evil, because he set not his heart to seek Jehovah.
15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, after the manner of 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.
Summary
When Rehoboam's kingdom is established and he has grown strong, he abandons the law of Yahweh, and all Israel with him. In the fifth year of his reign, because they have been unfaithful, Shishak king of Egypt invades with an overwhelming force of chariots, horsemen, and troops, taking the fortified cities of Judah and coming to Jerusalem. The prophet Shemaiah confronts Rehoboam and the princes with God's word: “You have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.” At this, the princes and the king humble themselves and confess, “Yahweh is righteous.” Seeing their humility, God relents from full destruction, granting them some deliverance and sparing Jerusalem, though they will serve Shishak so they may learn the difference between serving God and serving earthly kingdoms. Shishak still plunders the treasures of the temple and palace, carrying off the golden shields Solomon made, which Rehoboam replaces with bronze. Because Rehoboam humbled himself, God's wrath turns away and good things are found in Judah. The chapter closes noting that Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord, then reigned seventeen years and was succeeded by his son Abijah. It is a vivid picture of how prosperity can lead to forgetting God, and how humility invites his mercy.
Main Characters
- Rehoboam — The king who abandons God's law when strong, then humbles himself under judgment and receives a measure of mercy.
- Shishak — The king of Egypt whose vast army invades Judah and plunders the temple treasures as God's instrument of discipline.
- Shemaiah — The prophet who declares God's word of judgment and then announces his mercy when the leaders humble themselves.
Key Verse
2 Chronicles 12:12 (WEB)
When he humbled himself, the wrath of Yahweh turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether: and moreover in Judah there were good things found.
Lessons Learned
- Strength and prosperity can tempt us to abandon the God who gave them.
- Forsaking God leaves us exposed to the very dangers he would have shielded us from.
- Humbling ourselves under God's discipline turns away the full measure of his wrath.
- God's discipline is meant to teach us the difference between serving him and serving the world.
- Prosperity can breed forgetfulness of God. “When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, he abandoned Yahweh’s law” (2 Chronicles 12:1, WEB). Comfort and strength often dull our dependence on God.
- Forsaking God leaves us unprotected. God's word is, “You have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak” (2 Chronicles 12:5, WEB). When we turn from God, we lose the shelter only he provides.
- Humility turns away wrath. “When he humbled himself, the wrath of Yahweh turned from him” (2 Chronicles 12:12, WEB). God responds with mercy to those who genuinely bow before him.
- The heart's direction is decisive. Rehoboam “did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek Yahweh” (2 Chronicles 12:14, WEB). The settled bent of the heart, toward God or away, shapes the whole life.
- What leads Rehoboam to abandon the law of the Lord, and what is the result?
- How do Rehoboam and the princes respond to Shemaiah's word, and how does God respond to them?
- Why does God grant “some deliverance” yet still allow them to serve Shishak?
- The text says Rehoboam did evil because he “didn’t set his heart to seek” God. How is your heart set today?
- Where might present comfort or success be quietly tempting you to drift from God?
- Once established and strong, Rehoboam abandons God's law, and all Israel with him (12:1). The result is that, having forsaken God, they are left vulnerable to Shishak's invasion (12:2-5). Prosperity loosened his grip on the God who had blessed him.
- They humble themselves and confess, “Yahweh is righteous” (12:6), and God relents from total destruction, granting some deliverance (12:7). The exchange shows that God's discipline aims at repentance, and that genuine humility moves him to mercy.
- God spares Jerusalem but lets them serve Shishak “that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms” (12:8). The partial discipline is instructive mercy, teaching them by contrast how good it is to serve God rather than earthly powers.
- This is partly personal application. The chapter traces everything to whether Rehoboam set his heart to seek God (12:14). Invite the group to reflect honestly on the settled direction of their hearts, without harsh self-judgment.
- This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to name, even silently, a comfort or success that may be drawing them away from dependence on God, and to humble themselves before him while there is grace. Keep the tone warm and hopeful.