# Overview 2 Chronicles Chapter 12 recounts the reign of #Rehoboam, the son of #Solomon, and the consequences of his apostasy. After establishing his kingdom, Rehoboam and all #Israel abandon the law of the #LORD, leading to divine displeasure. In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, #Shishak, king of #Egypt, comes against Jerusalem with a vast army due to the unfaithfulness of the people. This invasion is a direct result of their forsaking the covenant with God. The prophet #Shemaiah delivers a message from the LORD to Rehoboam and the leaders of Israel, declaring that they have been forsaken by God because they have forsaken Him. In response to this prophetic warning, Rehoboam and the leaders humble themselves, acknowledging the righteousness of the LORD. Because of their humility, the LORD mitigates the disaster, stating that He will not allow them to be completely destroyed and that some measure of deliverance will come. Nevertheless, Shishak plunders the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king's house, including the golden shields made by Solomon. Rehoboam replaces them with bronze shields, demonstrating a diminished glory. The chapter concludes by noting that Rehoboam strengthened his reign in Jerusalem, but he did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD. Rehoboam's legacy is marked by his initial faithlessness and subsequent partial repentance, serving as a cautionary tale of the importance of steadfast devotion to God. ## Theological Insights 2 Chronicles 12 provides profound insights into the consequences of forsaking the #covenant with #God, the divine judgment, and the possibility of repentance and mercy. This chapter details the reign of #Rehoboam, son of #Solomon, and highlights several theological themes: 1. **Divine Retribution and Sovereignty**: The chapter opens with #Rehoboam's abandonment of the law of the Lord after securing his kingdom, leading to the invasion of #Shishak, king of #Egypt. This reflects the biblical principle that forsaking God results in divine judgment, as articulated in the covenantal blessings and curses found in [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 28]]. The invasion serves as a divine retribution, demonstrating God's sovereignty over nations and His ability to use foreign powers as instruments of judgment. 2. **The Role of Prophets**: The intervention of the prophet #Shemaiah, who delivers God's message to Rehoboam and the leaders of #Judah, underscores the importance of prophetic voices in calling leaders back to faithfulness. This aligns with the prophetic tradition seen throughout the #OldTestament, where God uses prophets to guide, warn, and correct His people (e.g., [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 1]], [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 26]]). 3. **Repentance and Divine Mercy**: Upon hearing the prophet's message, Rehoboam and the leaders humble themselves, acknowledging God's righteousness. This act of repentance leads to God’s mercy, as He decides not to destroy them but allows them to become subjects to Shishak, indicating a lesser judgment. This echoes the biblical theme that God is merciful and responsive to genuine repentance, as seen in [[Jonah/Jonah Chapter 3]] with Nineveh's repentance. 4. **Partial Deliverance and Consequences**: Although God spares Judah from complete destruction, they experience bondage under Shishak, illustrating that while God is merciful, there are still consequences to sin. This partial deliverance serves as a reminder of God's justice and the seriousness of covenant unfaithfulness, similar to the experiences of #Israel in the book of [[Judges/Judges Chapter 2]]. 5. **Theological Reflection on Humility and Pride**: The chapter ends with a reflection on Rehoboam's reign, noting that when he humbled himself, the Lord's anger turned away from him. This highlights the biblical teaching that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, as stated in [[James/James Chapter 4|James 4:6]] and [[1 Peter/1 Peter Chapter 5|1 Peter 5:5]]. Overall, 2 Chronicles 12 serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God, the role of humility in receiving divine grace, and the serious consequences of turning away from the covenant with God. It emphasizes God's willingness to forgive and restore those who humbly seek Him, while also illustrating the reality of divine judgment. ## Thematic Connections ### Divine Judgment and Repentance In 2 Chronicles Chapter 12, the theme of divine judgment and subsequent repentance is central. When #Rehoboam and all #Israel forsake the law of the Lord, God allows #Shishak, king of #Egypt, to attack Jerusalem as a form of judgment. This connection echoes the broader biblical narrative where disobedience leads to divine judgment, as seen with the Israelites in the wilderness ([[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 14]]), and their repeated cycles of sin and repentance in the book of [[Judges/Judges Chapter 2]]. The theme highlights God’s righteous response to sin and His willingness to relent when His people repent, reflecting His mercy as seen in other passages, such as the repentance of #Nineveh in [[Jonah/Jonah Chapter 3]]. ### Covenant Faithfulness The chapter underscores the importance of covenant faithfulness. The abandonment of the covenant by Rehoboam and the leaders is met with divine retribution. This theme ties back to the covenant made with #David in [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 7]], where faithfulness to God was paramount for the prosperity of the kingdom. Rehoboam’s actions and the resulting consequences serve as a reminder of the conditional nature of God’s blessings, similar to the warnings given in [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 28]] about blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. ### The Role of Prophets The appearance of the prophet #Shemaiah in 2 Chronicles Chapter 12 emphasizes the role of prophets as messengers of God. Shemaiah’s message to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah about their abandonment of God and the impending consequence serves as a thematic link to other instances where prophets were used to call back the people to righteousness, such as #Nathan confronting #David in [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 12]] and #Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of #Baal in [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 18]]. This highlights the consistent biblical theme of God using prophets to guide, warn, and direct His people back to His ways. ### Humility and Deliverance The chapter also explores the theme of humility leading to deliverance. When Rehoboam and the leaders humble themselves, acknowledging the righteousness of the Lord, God grants them deliverance from complete destruction, although they become subjects to Shishak. This reflects the biblical principle that God exalts the humble, as seen in the humbling of #Nebuchadnezzar in [[Daniel/Daniel Chapter 4]] and the promise in [[James/James Chapter 4]] that God gives grace to the humble. It illustrates that even in judgment, God’s grace can lead to restoration when His people repent and humble themselves before Him. ### The Consequences of Division Rehoboam's reign in Judah and the ongoing division between Israel and Judah illustrate the consequences of division within God’s people. This theme is rooted in the earlier division of the kingdom in [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 12]], showing how the unity of God’s people is crucial for their strength and success. The division is a warning and a reminder of the benefits of unity, which is later echoed in the New Testament call for unity within the church body, as seen in [[1 Corinthians/1 Corinthians Chapter 12]]. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Warning of Apostasy In [[2 Chronicles/2 Chronicles Chapter 12]], the narrative of #Rehoboam's reign, particularly the invasion by #Shishak king of #Egypt, reflects the prophetic warnings regarding apostasy and its consequences. This chapter illustrates the fulfillment of the warnings given to #Israel and #Judah that turning away from God would lead to oppression by foreign powers. This is echoed in the warnings found in [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 28|Deuteronomy 28:15-68]], where God outlines the curses for disobedience, including being subject to invading nations. ### The Humbling of Leaders Rehoboam’s humbling before God and the subsequent withdrawal of full destruction by Shishak fulfills principles seen in the prophetic writings, such as in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 66|Isaiah 66:2]], which emphasize God’s favor upon those who are humble and contrite in spirit. The partial relief given when the leaders of Israel humbled themselves reflects these themes present in the prophetic tradition, showing that repentance can lead to mercy even amidst judgment. ### The Covenant of David Despite Rehoboam’s failings, the preservation of Judah and Jerusalem aligns with the enduring promise given to #David that his lineage would continue, as seen in the #DavidicCovenant. This covenant is detailed in [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 7|2 Samuel 7:12-16]], where God promises to maintain David’s throne despite the unfaithfulness of individual kings. Rehoboam’s partial deliverance, therefore, can be seen as a fulfillment of God’s commitment to David’s line. ### The Consequences of Disobedience The invasion by Shishak, resulting in the loss of the treasures of the house of the Lord and the king’s house, fulfills the prophetic consequences of disobedience and idolatry. This is reminiscent of warnings found in the prophetic literature, such as in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 25|Jeremiah 25:8-11]], where disobedience leads to subjugation and loss. The events of this chapter highlight the tangible fulfillment of these warnings, serving as a historical example of prophecy realized. ### Divine Mercy in Judgment The account of God’s decision to not destroy Rehoboam completely, despite his failures, underscores the prophetic theme of divine mercy in judgment, as seen in passages like [[Hosea/Hosea Chapter 11|Hosea 11:8-9]], where God expresses His reluctance to utterly destroy His people. This theme is fulfilled in the narrative as a reminder of God’s enduring compassion even when His people face the consequences of their actions. ## Verses - **2 Chronicles 12:1** - "But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin." - #Rehoboam #Israel #LawoftheLord - See also [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 14]] for parallel account. - **2 Chronicles 12:2** - "Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, King Shishak of #Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam’s reign." - #Shishak #Jerusalem - See also [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 14]] for parallel account. - **2 Chronicles 12:3** - "He came with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horses, and a countless army of foot soldiers, including Libyans, Sukkites, and Ethiopians." - #Libyans #Sukkites #Ethiopians - **2 Chronicles 12:4** - "Shishak conquered Judah’s fortified towns and then advanced to attack Jerusalem." - #Judah #FortifiedTowns - **2 Chronicles 12:5** - "The prophet Shemaiah then met with Rehoboam and Judah’s leaders, who had all fled to Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah told them, 'This is what the Lord says: You have abandoned me, so I am abandoning you to Shishak.'" - #Shemaiah #Prophet #Judah - **2 Chronicles 12:6** - "Then the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, 'The Lord is right in doing this to us!'" - #Humility - **2 Chronicles 12:7** - "When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah: 'Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem.'" - #Mercy #Judgment - **2 Chronicles 12:8** - "But they will become his subjects, so they will know the difference between serving me and serving earthly rulers.'" - #Service #EarthlyRulers - **2 Chronicles 12:9** - "So King Shishak of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem. He ransacked the treasuries of the Lord’s Temple and the royal palace; he stole everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made." - #Treasuries #Temple #Solomon - **2 Chronicles 12:10** - "King Rehoboam later replaced them with bronze shields as substitutes, and he entrusted them to the care of the commanders of the guard who protected the entrance to the royal palace." - #BronzeShields #Commanders - **2 Chronicles 12:11** - "Whenever the king went to the Temple of the Lord, the guards would also take the shields and then return them to the guardroom." - #Temple #Guardroom - **2 Chronicles 12:12** - "Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger was turned away, and he did not destroy him completely. There were still some good things in the land of Judah." - #Humility #JudgmentAverted - **2 Chronicles 12:13** - "King Rehoboam firmly established himself in Jerusalem and continued to rule. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen from among all the tribes of Israel as the place to honor his name. Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, a woman from Ammon." - #Jerusalem #Naamah #Ammon - **2 Chronicles 12:14** - "But he was an evil king, for he did not seek the Lord with all his heart." - #EvilKing - **2 Chronicles 12:15** - "The rest of the events of Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Shemaiah the prophet and in The Record of Iddo the Seer, which are part of the genealogical record. Rehoboam and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other." - #Shemaiah #Iddo #GenealogicalRecord #Jeroboam - **2 Chronicles 12:16** - "When Rehoboam died, he was buried in the City of David. Then his son Abijah became the next king." - #CityofDavid #Abijah ### Cross-References by Chapter - **Rehoboam** - [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 14]], [[2 Chronicles/2 Chronicles Chapter 11]] - **Egypt** - [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 1]], [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 14]] - **Shishak** - [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 14]] - **Solomon’s Gold Shields** - [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 10]] - **City of David** - [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 5]], [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 2]] - **Abijah** - [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 14]]