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When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the LORD’s law, and all Israel with him.
Verse 1. Israel, in his dominions. The kingdom of Jeroboam had long before apostatized, though there were still many true servants of God, who would not bend the knee before Baal, verse 12. Bible.
In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against the LORD,
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 3. Troglodites, who dwell in caverns, near the Red Sea. Pliny (verse 8. and vi. 29.) speaks of the city Suca, which in Hebrew means a tent, as here we read succiyim, ( Bible.) “dwelling in tents;” which some explain of the Arabs, who are called Scenites, on the same account. Tirinus.—People of this description, without any fixed abode, inhabited the Stony as well as the Desert Arabia. Calmet. 14:14.
He took the fortified cities which belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
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.’”
Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “The LORD is righteous.”
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 7. A little help. I will not suffer them to be quite destroyed. Hebrew also signifies, “shortly.” Calmet.—Fall, (stillabit) like drops of water, even to the last. Bible.—How soon is God appeased! Tirinus.—Even when he punishes, he does not let the whole flood of his indignation fall upon the guilty. Menochius.
Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”
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.
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 10. Bearers. Hebrew “runners,” as the guards attended the king on foot.
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.
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.
Verse 12. For even. Prot. “and also in Judah things went well;” ( Bible.) or, “he spoke good words even to Juda.” Calmet.—Septuagint “for even in Juda there were good words, and in all pleasing.” Words are often put for works. Bible.—The Lord regarded the fidelity of some, and the humility of the princes. ( Calmet.—This advantage was derived from tribulation, that the king entered into himself, at least for a time: ( Bible.) but he was not constant, verse 14. After the scourge was withdrawn, he presently relapsed. He had betrayed great cowardice, as even his son confessed; and had probably been treated with great indignity, ( Tirinus.) as it was the custom with Sesac, or Sesostris, to chain the conquered princes to his triumphal car, and to leave obscene representations of women in the country. Joseph. viii. 4. Herod. ii.—Sesostris proceeded to the conquest of Asia. Tirinus.
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.
He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek the LORD.
Verse 14. Lord, with sincerity, being actuated only by a servile fear. He died impenitent. Calmet.
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 15. And diligently. Hebrew “in their genealogical accounts.” Bible. See Calmet. 13:22.
Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city; and Abijah his son reigned in his place.