Matthew Poole's Commentary And 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. Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished by Shishak, 2 Chronicles 12:1-4. Shemaiah reproveth him: he with the princes repenteth; is preserved in his kingdom; but is spoiled of the treasures of the temple, and of his royal palace, 2 Chronicles 12:5-12. His reign and death, and Abijah his son is made king, 2 Chronicles 12:13-16. No text from Poole on this verse. And 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, In the fifth year; presently after the apostacy of the king and people, which was in his fourth year, by comparing this with 2 Chronicles 11:17. With 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. The Lubims; a people of Africa bordering upon Egypt; of whom See Poole "2 Chronicles 16:8"; See Poole "Daniel 11:43"; See Poole "Nahum 3:9". The Sukkiims; a people living in tents, as the word signifies; and such there were not far from Egypt, both in Africa and in Arabia. The Ethiopians; either those beyond Egypt, or the Arabians. And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem. No text from Poole on this verse. Then 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. No text from Poole on this verse. Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous. No text from Poole on this verse. And 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. They humbled themselves; which though they did but forcedly, yet God was pleased so far to regard it, as to mitigate their calamity. My wrath shall not be poured out; I will give some stop to the course of my wrath, which was ready to be poured forth upon them to their utter destruction. Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries. That they may experimentally know and feel the difference between my yoke and the yoke of a foreign and idolatrous prince, and what mischief they have done to themselves by forsaking me and my service. 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 all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made. Upon which condition, and Rehoboam’s submission to him, he delivered up to him the fenced cities of Judah, which he had taken, 2 Chronicles 12:4. But of this and the two next verses, See Poole "1 Kings 14:26", &c. Instead 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber. No text from Poole on this verse. And 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. Heb. There were good things. The meaning is either, 1. Though there were many corruptions in Judah, yet there were also divers good things there, which were not in Israel, as the word and ordinances, and pure worship of God, prophets and ministers of God’s institution, and divers truly religious people. And so this is an additional reason why God would not destroy them. Or, 2. Notwithstanding this loss, they began to recruit themselves, and to regain some degree of their former prosperity; whence it follows, 2 Chronicles 12:13, So, there being some respite given, and peace being restored, Rehoboam strengthened himself, &c. So 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. Prepared not, or directed not, or settled not, &c, i.e. although he humbled himself, and seemed penitent for a season, and professed the true religion and worship of God; yet he quickly relapsed into his former sins, because he was not sincere nor serious in his actions, and his heart was not right with God. Now 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. Concerning genealogies; in an historical account written by him of the genealogies and actions of the kings of Judah. And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead. No text from Poole on this verse. |
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