2 Chronicles 12:1-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:1-12

Israel was very much disgraced and weakened by being divided into two kingdoms; yet the kingdom of Judah, having both the temple and the royal city, both the house of David and the house of Aaron, might have done very well if they had continued in the way of their duty; but here we have all out of order there. I. Rehoboam and his people left God: He forsook the law of the Lord, and so in effect forsook God, and all Israel with him, 2 Chron. 12:1. He had his happy triennium, when he walked in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:1

And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom ,.... Or when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established; the tribes of Judah and Benjamin being firmly attached to him, and great numbers from the other tribes coming over to him, and things going on peaceably and prosperously during the three years that he and his people abode by the pure worship of God: and had strengthened himself ; built fortified cities for the defence of himself and kingdom, 2 Chronicles 11:5 , he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:2

And it came to pass in the fifth year of Rehoboam ,.... In the fourth year, the apostasy of him and his people began; and, in the year following, what is next related happened, as a punishment of it: Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem ; of whom see 1 Kings 11:40 , because they transgressed against the Lord ; transgressed the law of the Lord by falling into idolatry and other abominable evils; the Targum is,"against the Word of the Lord.' read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:3

With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen; and the people were without number ,.... The foot soldiers; their number, according to Josephus F8 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 10. sect. 2. was 400,000: that came with him out of Egypt ; the above numerous army came from thence with him, which was famous for horses and chariots of war, see Exodus 14:7 , what follow seem to have joined him after he came out of Egypt, or whom he subdued in his way; the Lubim or Lybians,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:4

And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah ,.... Which Rehoboam had lately built, and placed his sons in them, 2 Chronicles 11:5 , these he took without any opposition: and came to Jerusalem ; there being no army to oppose him; and so Sesostris took many countries without fighting, and among the rest Phoenicia, as Manetho F15 Apud Joseph. contr. Apion. l. 1. c. 15. relates, in which Judea may be included. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:5

Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam ,.... The same as in 2 Chronicles 11:2 , there called the man of God: and to the princes of Judah that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak ; through fear of him, and for safety and protection from him, and to consult what was to be done at this critical juncture, whether to fight him, or make peace with him on the best terms they could: and said unto them, thus saith the Lord, ye have forsaken me ; his law, his word,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:6

Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves ,.... Both by words acknowledging their sins, and the justice of God, and by deeds, perhaps putting on sackcloth, as was usual on such occasions, and betaking themselves to fasting and prayer: and they said, the Lord is righteous ; in giving them up into the hand of their enemies, seeing they had forsaken him, and sinned against him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:7

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, 1 Kings 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, 2 Chronicles 12:12 , but I will grant them some deliverance ; yet not a complete one, for they were brought into servitude by Shishak, 2 Chronicles 12:8 , or only for a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:8

Nevertheless, they shall be his servants ,.... tributaries to the king of Egypt: that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries ; the difference between them, how easy the one, which they might perform without taxes and tributes, and how hard and heavy the other, through the exactions and exorbitant demands of those to whom they became subjects. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 12:9-11

So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem ,.... The Vulgate Latin version is,"departed from Jerusalem,'as he did, having taken it, and spoiled it of its riches, and settled a yearly tax on the inhabitants of the land; of this, and the two following verses; see Gill on 1 Kings 14:26 . 1 Kings 14:27 . 1 Kings 14:28 . read more

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