Words do not tell in this verse the "humbled service" of Rehoboam and the princes; but the position speaks, speaks volumes of itself. Where did Rehoboam hide himself, where would he not have been glad to hide himself, while the treasures of the house of the Lord , and those of his own house, were coolly taken by the foreign soldiery, none forbidding them, nor resisting, nor even making afraid? read more
The first sacking of Jerusalem. I. ITS HISTORIC CERTAINTY . That Shishak gradually drew his lines closer round the capital, and in the end stormed its citadel, has received confirmation from the monuments. 1 . In the temple of Karnak, at Thebes, on the walls of which Soti I. and Rameses II . had by means of pictorial representations and hieroglyphic inscriptions preserved a record of their victories, Sheshonq, on returning from Palestine, caused a bas-relief to be executed in... read more
That they may know my service, and the service of the kingdom - i. e., that they may contrast the light burthen of the theocracy with the heavy yoke of a foreign monarch. read more
2 Chronicles 12:8 . They shall be his servants That is, they shall be much at his mercy, and put under contribution by him, and some of them taken prisoners, and held in captivity by him: that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms, &c. That they may experimentally know the difference between my yoke, and the yoke of a foreign and idolatrous prince. The more God’s service is compared with other services, the more reasonable and easy it will appear. And, whatever... read more
2 Chronicles 12:9-10. Shishak took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and of the king’s house He plundered both the temple and the exchequer, the treasuries of both which Solomon had left full. David and Solomon, who walked in the ways of God, filled the treasuries, one by war, and the other by merchandise; but Rehoboam, who forsook these ways, emptied them. Respecting the taking away of the golden shields, and substituting brazen ones in their place, see notes on 1 Kings... read more
10:1-36:23 THE KINGS OF JUDAHDivision and its consequences (10:1-13:22)The Chronicler records the division of the kingdom (10:1-11:4; see notes on 1 Kings 12:1-24), but omits the statement in 1 Kings 12:20 that Jeroboam was made king of the northern tribes. He does not even mention Jeroboam’s reign (1 Kings 12:25-14:20). He considers that because the northerners broke away from the dynasty of David and from the true worship of God, they had no right to be called a kingdom, and certainly not the... read more
My service. In contrast with the service of their enemies. The difference between God's service and men's servitude. A few codices, and six early printed editions, read "his service". read more
against Jerusalem. See note on Judges 1:8 , and App-53 . had made. Compare 2 Chronicles 10:17 . read more
SHISHAK ROBS THE SACRED TREASURES OF ISRAEL"So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all away; he took away also the shields of gold that Solomon had made. And king Rehoboam made in their stead shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captain of the guard, that kept the door of the king's house. And it was so, that as off as the king entered into the house of Jehovah,... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:8
Servitude and service. "They shall be servants to him [for a short time], that they may discern my service and the service of the kingdoms of the lands; i.e. that they may see that my rule is not so oppressive as that of foreign kings" (Keil). God would let Rehoboam and the princes of Judah be for a time subject to Shishak—be in his power, be at his mercy, be compelled to go through the miserable humiliation of buying him off—that he might be able to contrast the honourable and happy... read more