2 Cronache 12:7 Commento

This chapter gives us a more full account of the reign of Rehoboam than we had before in Kings and it is a very melancholy account. Methinks we are in the book of Judges again; for, I. Rehoboam and his people did evil in the sight of the Lord (Ch2 12:1). II. God thereupon sold them into the hands of Shishak, king of Egypt, who greatly oppressed them (Ch2 12:2-4) III. God sent a prophet to them, to expound to them the judgment and to call them to repentance (Ch2 12:5). IV. They thereupon humbled themselves (Ch2 12:6). V. God, upon their repentance, turned from his anger (Ch2 12:7, Ch2 12:12) and yet left them under the marks of his displeasure (Ch2 12:8-11). Lastly, Here is a general character of Rehoboam and his reign, with the conclusion of it (Ch2 12:13-16).

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 12 Rehoboam and his people forsaking the law of the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt is allowed by God to invade his land, and take his fenced cities, Ch2 12:1, upon which a prophet of the Lord was sent to him and his princes, to show them the reason of it; whereupon they humbled themselves, and the Lord was pleased not to allow the enemy utterly to destroy them, yet to reduce them to servitude, and take away their riches, Ch2 12:5, and the chapter is closed with an account of the reign and death of Rehoboam, Ch2 12:13.

And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves,.... Though but externally; the Lord takes notice of external humiliation, as he did of Ahab's, Kg1 21:29, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, they have humbled themselves, therefore I will not destroy them; not now, at least not altogether, Ch2 12:12, but I will grant them some deliverance; yet not a complete one, for they were brought into servitude by Shishak, Ch2 12:8, or only for a short time: and my wrath shall not be poured out against Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak; that is, to the uttermost; that was reserved to another time, and to be done by another hand, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

Rehoboam and his subjects, forsaking the Lord, are delivered into the hands of Shishak, king of Egypt, Ch2 12:1-4. Shemaiah the prophet remonstrates with them, and they humble themselves, and Jerusalem is not destroyed; but Shishak takes away all the treasures, and the golden shields, instead of which Rehoboam makes shields of brass, Ch2 12:5-12. He reigns badly seventeen years, dies, and is succeeded by his son Abijah, Ch2 12:13-16.

REHOBOAM, FORSAKING GOD, IS PUNISHED BY SHISHAK. (Ch2 12:1-12) when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself--(See on Ch2 11:17). During the first three years of his reign his royal influence was exerted in the encouragement of the true religion. Security and ease led to religious decline, which, in the fourth year, ended in open apostasy. The example of the court was speedily followed by his subjects, for "all Israel was with him," that is, the people in his own kingdom. The very next year, the fifth of his reign, punishment was inflicted by the invasion of Shishak.

when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves--Their repentance and contrition was followed by the best effects; for Shemaiah was commissioned to announce that the phial of divine judgment would not be fully poured out on them--that the entire overthrow of the kingdom of Judah would not take place at that time, nor through the agency of Shishak; and yet, although it should enjoy a respite from total subversion, [Judah] should become a tributary province of Egypt in order that the people might learn how much lighter and better is the service of God than that of idolatrous foreign despots.