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Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Chronicles 12:3

(3) With twelve hundred chariots.—The short account in Kings says nothing of the numbers or constituents of the invading host. The totals here assigned are probably round numbers founded on a rough estimate. The cavalry are exactly fifty times as many as the chariots. Thenius finds the numbers “not in credible.”The Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethi-opians.—Rather, Lybians, Sukkîyans, and Cushites (without the definite article). These were “the people”—i.e., the footmen. The Lybians and... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Chronicles 12:4

(4) He took the fenced cities.—Those very cities which Rehoboam had fortified as bulwarks against Egypt (2 Chronicles 11:5-12). Fourteen names of cities have disappeared from the Karnak inscription, but Socho, Adoraim, and Ajalon, are still read there.Came to (so far as to) Jerusalem.—Comp. Isaiah 36:1-2. The verse is not in Kings. Thenius (on 1 Kings 14:26) says that the chronicler has here made use of “really historical notices.” It is self-evident. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Chronicles 12:5

(5) Then.—And.Shemaiah the prophet.—The section relating to his mission and its results (2 Chronicles 12:5-8) is peculiar to the chronicle.The princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem.—Repulsed by the Egyptian arms, they had fallen back upon Jerusalem, to defend the capital. While the invading host lay before the city, Shemaiah addressed the king and princes.Ye have forsaken.—There is emphasis on the pronoun. Literally, Ye have forsaken me, and I also have forsaken you, in... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:1-16

REHOBOAM AND ABIJAH: THE IMPORTANCE OF RITUAL2 Chronicles 10:1-19; 2 Chronicles 11:1-23; 2 Chronicles 12:1-16; 2 Chronicles 13:1-22THE transition from Solomon to Rehoboam brings to light a serious drawback of the chronicler’s principle of selection. In the history of Solomon we read of nothing but wealth, splendor, unchallenged dominion, and superhuman wisdom; and yet the breath is hardly out of the body of the wisest and greatest king of Israel before his empire falls to pieces. We are told,... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 2 Chronicles 12:1-16

CHAPTER 12 Rehoboam’s Apostasy, Punishment, and Death 1. Rehoboam’s apostasy (2 Chronicles 12:1 ) 2. Punishment through Shishak (2 Chronicles 12:2-12 ) 3. Death of Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 12:13-16 ) The kingdom had been established; Rehoboam had strengthened himself and lived in the indulgence of the flesh. Then followed the awful plunge into apostasy. “He forsook the law of the Lord and all Israel with him.” Idolatry in the high places and under every green tree was established and... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Chronicles 12:3

12:3 With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people [were] without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the {b} Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.(b) Who were a people of Africa called the Troglodytes because they lived in holes. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Chronicles 12:5

12:5 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 {c} therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.(c) Signifying that no calamity can come to us unless we forsake God, and that he never leaves us till we have cast him off. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 12:1-16

EGYPT ATTACKS JUDAH (vv.1-9) Rehoboam's prosperity however became his downfall. When he strengthened himself in his kingdom sufficiently to think himself secure, he gave up any regard he had for the law of the Lord, and the people willingly followed in his steps. How often this kind of folly has been repeated in the history of the people of God! Prominence and popularity can be a dreadful snare, for we dare to think more of our reputation than of the Lord's honour! But God was not merely a... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:1-16

REHOBOAM AND JEHOSHAPHAT REHOBOAM (2 Chronicles 10-12) The story of the rejected counsel of the older men and what came of it (chap. 10) is practically as in 1 Kings 12:0 , and furnishes an illustration of the relation of divine sovereignty to human free agency. The fortification of Judah’s cities against Israel (chap. 11) was dwelt upon in the earlier books, as well as the return of the priests and Levites to Jerusalem. Rehoboam’s “wise” action (2 Chronicles 11:23 ) is to be taken in the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 2 Chronicles 12:1-16

2 Chronicles 12:1-12 . 1. And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom [rather, "when Rehoboam's kingdom had been established"], and had strengthened himself [when he had become strong], he forsook the law of the Lord. [On this point the narrative in Kings is the fuller of the two. There we ( Speaker's Commentary ) are told that the apostacy of Rehoboam and his people consisted in their setting up high places, images, and groves, and in their encouragement of "Sodomites" and... read more

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