Shishak’s Invasion

1When Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power,a he abandoned the law of the Lord — he and all Israel with him. 2Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, King Shishaka of Egypt went to war against Jerusalemb 3with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and countless people who came with him from Egypt — Libyans,a Sukkiim, and Cushites. 4He captured the fortified citiesa of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

5Then the prophet Shemaiaha went to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them, “This is what the Lord says: You have abandoned me; therefore, I have abandoned you to Shishak.”b

6So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.”a

7When the Lord saw that they had humbled themselves, the Lord’s message came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them but will grant them a little deliverance.a My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.b 8However, they will become his servants so that they may recognize the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of other lands.”a

9So King Shishak of Egypt went to wara against Jerusalem.b He seized the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and the treasuries of the royal palace. He took everything. He took the gold shields that Solomon had made.c 10King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and committed them into the care of the captains of the guardsA who protected the entrance to the king’s palace. 11Whenever the king entered the Lord’s temple, the guards would carry the shields and take them back to the armory.A 12When Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned away from him, and he did not destroy him completely.a Besides that, conditions were good in Judah.b

Rehoboam’s Last Days

13King Rehoboama established his royal power in Jerusalem. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen from all the tribes of Israel to put his name.b Rehoboam’s mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. 14Rehoboam did what was evil, because he did not determine in his heart to seek the Lord.a

15The eventsa of Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Events of the Prophet Shemaiahb and of the Seer Iddo concerning genealogies.c There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their reigns. 16Rehoboam rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. His son Abijaha a became king in his place.