GiveDownload the App
Book & Chapter
Version

2 Chronicles 12 Explained — Shishak Invades And Treasures Are Taken

Egypt's king comes up against Jerusalem and carries away the treasures of the house and the palace. Rehoboam humbles himself, and the chapter leaves a clear lesson: compromise invites pressure, and repentance can limit the blow.

Summary

2 Chronicles 12:1–5 – Apostasy and Invasion

What happens: When Rehoboam’s rule becomes established, he and Israel abandon the law of the Lord. Shishak king of Egypt invades Jerusalem, and Shemaiah declares this judgment comes because they have forsaken God.

What it means: Pride and spiritual drift invite discipline. God is just and will not let His people find security in sin.

2 Chronicles 12:6–8 – Humbling and Mercy

What happens: The leaders and the king humble themselves and say, “The Lord is righteous.” God grants deliverance from total destruction but allows them to become servants so they learn the difference between serving Him and serving earthly kings.

What it means: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. His discipline aims to restore relationship and teach the goodness of His rule.

2 Chronicles 12:9–12 – Loss and Partial Restoration

What happens: Shishak takes temple and palace treasures, including the gold shields. Rehoboam makes bronze shields to replace them and retains some order of worship. Because he humbles himself, wrath does not fall completely, and there is some good in Judah.

What it means: Sin brings real loss, yet repentance brings real mercy. Even diminished glory can become a place of renewed faithfulness.

2 Chronicles 12:13–16 – Close of Rehoboam’s Reign

What happens: Rehoboam reigns seventeen years in Jerusalem. He does evil because he does not set his heart to seek the Lord, and then he dies as Abijah becomes king.

What it means: Longevity without devotion is failure in God’s eyes. Setting the heart to seek the Lord is the decisive mark of a godly life.

Application

  • When corrected by God, humble yourself quickly and fully.
  • Learn to prefer the Lord’s light yoke to the slavery of sin.
  • Replace lost glory with faithful obedience rather than despair.

Bible

1And 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.

2And 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,

3With 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.

4And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

5Then 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.

6Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.

7And 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.

8Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

9So 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.

10Instead 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.

11And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.

12And 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.

13So 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.

14And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

15Now 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.

16And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.

← 2 Chronicles 112 Chronicles 13 →

Take Versely with you

Read chapter summaries, grow a daily devotion habit, and understand God's Word with Versely.

Download the AppSupport Versely