2 Chronicles 12: Rehoboam forsakes Yahweh, and Shishak takes Jerusalem's treasures
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What happens?
When Rehoboam is strong, he and all Israel abandon Yahweh's law, and in his fifth year Shishak king of Egypt comes up against Jerusalem with a huge army and takes the fortified cities of Judah. Shemaiah the prophet tells Rehoboam and the leaders that Yahweh has left them in Shishak's hand; they humble themselves, and Yahweh's word comes to Shemaiah that he will not destroy them but they will serve Shishak. Shishak takes the treasures of Yahweh's house and the king's house, Rehoboam makes bronze shields in their place, and the chapter closes with the summary of his reign and his death.
Who is speaking?
God speaks in 2 of the 16 verses. In verse 7 Yahweh's word comes to Shemaiah, and the words the text gives to Yahweh begin "They have humbled themselves..." and go on in verse 8. In verse 5 Shemaiah the prophet speaks to Rehoboam and the leaders: "Yahweh says, 'You have forsaken me...'". Those are a prophet's words speaking for Yahweh, so they are not in gold. In verse 6 the leaders of Israel and the king say "Yahweh is righteous." The rest is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned Yahweh’s law, and all Israel with him.
In plain English: When Rehoboam's kingdom was established and he was strong, he abandoned Yahweh's law, and all Israel with him.
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2In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against Yahweh,
In plain English: In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had acted unfaithfully against Yahweh,
Good to know: says only that in the fifth year of King Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. The reason given here, that they had acted unfaithfully against Yahweh, and the army in are not in that verse.
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3with 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.
In plain English: with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. There was no number to the people who came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim (or: Libyans), the Sukkiim (or: Sukkites) and the Ethiopians (or: Cushites).
The Hebrew words: "Ethiopians" is Kushi, which the dictionary gives as "a Cushite, or descendant of Cush". This Bible says "Ethiopian" in 13 of the 19 verses that use the word and "Cushite" in the other 6. "Lubim" is the Hebrew word that the dictionary gives as "a Libyan or inhabitant of interior Africa", and "Sukkiim" as "a Sukkite, or inhabitant of some place near Egypt (i.e. hut-dwellers)".
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4He took the fortified cities which belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
In plain English: He captured the fortified cities that belonged to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
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5Now 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, “Yahweh says, ‘You have forsaken me, therefore I have also left you in the hand of Shishak.’”
In plain English: Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah, who had gathered in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, "Yahweh says, 'You have abandoned me, so I also have abandoned you into the hand of Shishak.'"
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6Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “Yahweh is righteous.”
In plain English: Then the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves, and they said, "Yahweh is righteous."
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7When 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 won’t be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.God speaks
In plain English: When Yahweh saw that they had humbled themselves, Yahweh's word came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, and I will give them some (literally: like a little) deliverance, and my rage will not pour out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
The Hebrew words: "Some deliverance" is word for word "like a little deliverance". The dictionary gives the word for "little", meat, as "a little or few". This Bible says "little" in 45 of the 92 verses that use the word, but not in this verse.
What changes: Read as "some", Yahweh promises a share of deliverance. Read as "a little", the deliverance is small. The text does not say how much.
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8Nevertheless they will be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”God speaks
In plain English: Nevertheless (or: for) they will become his servants, so that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the lands."
The Hebrew word: "Service" is avodah, which the dictionary gives as "work of any kind". It is the same word as "service" in the people's words to Rehoboam in . The word for "servants", ebed, is "a servant".
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9So 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.
In plain English: So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took the treasures of Yahweh's house and the treasures of the king's house. He took everything. He also took the gold shields which Solomon had made.
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10King 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.
In plain English: King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and entrusted them to the hand of the commanders of the guard (literally: runners) who kept the entrance of the king's house.
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11As often as the king entered into Yahweh’s house, the guard came and bore them, then brought them back into the guard room.
In plain English: As often as the king came into Yahweh's house, the guard came and carried them, and then returned them to the guardroom.
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12When he humbled himself, Yahweh’s wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Judah.
In plain English: When he humbled himself, Yahweh's anger turned back from him, so that he did not destroy him completely. Also, there were good things (literally: good words) in Judah.
The Hebrew word: "Things" is davar, which the dictionary gives as "a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing". Word for word the verse says "good words".
What changes: Read as "things", good things were found in Judah. Read as "words", good words were found there. The text does not say what they were.
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13So 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. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.
In plain English: So King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite woman.
Good to know: gives the same age, the same seventeen years, the same city and the same mother, Naamah the Ammonitess.
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14He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek Yahweh.
In plain English: He did evil, because he had not directed his heart to seek Yahweh.
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15Now 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.
In plain English: Now the matters of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the words of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, for genealogical enrollment (this Bible: in the genealogies)? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days.
The Hebrew words: "Histories" is word for word "words of", and the verse says Rehoboam's matters are written in the words of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer. "In the genealogies" is word for word "for genealogical enrollment"; the dictionary gives the root, yachas, as "to enroll by pedigree".
Good to know: says Rehoboam's acts are written "in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah". The text here does not say whether these are the same record. Iddo the seer is also named in and, as "the prophet Iddo", in .
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16Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city; and Abijah his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: Rehoboam lay down with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David, and Abijah his son became king in his place.
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