II Chronicles 12 God Punishes Rehoboam for Idolatry

 II Chronicles 12

God Punishes Rehoboam for Idolatry

1 Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had become strong, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

2 So it came to pass in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD.

3 With twelve hundred chariots, and with sixty thousand horsemen; and the multitude that came with him out of Egypt, of the Libyans, the Sukkites, and the Ethiopians, were innumerable.

4 And he took the fenced cities that Judah had, and came to Jerusalem.

5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me; therefore I have also forsaken you into the hand of Shishak.

6 Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.”

7 When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them; but I will quickly give them a place to escape, so that My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

8 But they will be his servants, so that they may know the difference between My servitude and the servitude of the kingdoms of the earth.”

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 everything; he also took the shields of gold that Solomon had made.

10 And King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place and put them in the hands of the captains of the guard who kept the door of the king’s house. 

11 And it came to pass, when the king came into the house of the LORD, that the guard came and brought them, and put them again in the guard chamber.

12 And when he humbled himself, the anger of the LORD turned away from him, that he should not utterly destroy him: for there were good things in Judah. ​​

13 And King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned. Now Rehoboam was forty and 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: and his mother's name was Naamah the Ammonitess.

14 And he did that which was 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 books of Shemaiah the prophet and Iddo the seer, registered by genealogy? And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.

16 So Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And Abijah his son reigned in his place.