2 Chronicles 12
Christian Standard Bible
Shishak’s Invasion
12 When Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power,(A) he abandoned the law of the Lord—he and all Israel with him. 2 Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, King Shishak(B) of Egypt went to war against Jerusalem(C) 3 with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and countless people who came with him from Egypt—Libyans,(D) Sukkiim, and Cushites. 4 He captured the fortified cities(E) of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.
5 Then the prophet Shemaiah(F) 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.”(G)
6 So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.”(H)
7 When 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.(I) My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.(J) 8 However, they will become his servants so that they may recognize the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of other lands.”(K)
9 So King Shishak of Egypt went to war(L) against Jerusalem.(M) 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.(N) 10 King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and committed them into the care of the captains of the guards[a] who protected the entrance to the king’s palace. 11 Whenever the king entered the Lord’s temple, the guards would carry the shields and take them back to the armory.[b] 12 When Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned away from him, and he did not destroy him completely.(O) Besides that, conditions were good in Judah.(P)
Rehoboam’s Last Days
13 King Rehoboam(Q) 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.(R) Rehoboam’s mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. 14 Rehoboam did what was evil, because he did not determine in his heart to seek the Lord.(S)
15 The events(T) of Rehoboam’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Events of the Prophet Shemaiah(U) and of the Seer Iddo concerning genealogies.(V) There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their reigns. 16 Rehoboam rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. His son Abijah[c](W) became king in his place.
2 Chronicles 12
New King James Version
Egypt Attacks Judah(A)
12 Now (B)it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that (C)he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel along with him. 2 (D)And it happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord, 3 with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen, and people without number who came with him out of Egypt—(E)the Lubim and the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians. 4 And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem.
5 Then (F)Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, who were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak.’ ”
6 So the leaders of Israel and the king (G)humbled themselves; and they said, (H)“The Lord is righteous.”
7 Now when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, (I)the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless (J)they will be his servants, that they may distinguish (K)My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations.”
9 (L)So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house; he took everything. He also carried away the gold shields which Solomon had (M)made. 10 Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed them (N)to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king’s house. 11 And whenever the king entered the house of the Lord, the guard would go and bring them out; then they would take them back into the guardroom. 12 When he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.
The End of Rehoboam’s Reign(O)
13 Thus King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Now (P)Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king; and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, (Q)the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. His mother’s name was Naamah, an (R)Ammonitess. 14 And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.
15 The acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, (S)and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? (T)And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. 16 So Rehoboam [a]rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David. Then (U)Abijah[b] his son reigned in his place.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 12:16 Died and joined his ancestors
- 2 Chronicles 12:16 Abijam, 1 Kin. 14:31
2 Chronicles 12
King James Version
12 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.
2 And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord,
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 Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.
4 And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
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 therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
6 Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The Lord is righteous.
7 And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
8 Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
9 So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
10 Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.
11 And when the king entered into the house of the Lord, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.
12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.
13 So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.
15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
2 Chronicles 12
English Standard Version
Egypt Plunders Jerusalem
12 (A)When the rule of Rehoboam was established (B)and he was strong, (C)he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. 2 (D)In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, (E)Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem 3 with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. And the people were without number who came with him from Egypt—(F)Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians. 4 And he took (G)the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. 5 Then (H)Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, (I)‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.’” 6 Then the princes of (J)Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, (K)“The Lord is righteous.” 7 When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: (L)“They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, (M)and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. 8 Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, (N)that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”
9 (O)So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. He took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house. He took away everything. He also took away (P)the shields of gold that Solomon had made, 10 and King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. 11 And as often as the king went into the house of the Lord, the guard came and carried them and brought them back to the guardroom. 12 And when (Q)he humbled himself the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. Moreover, (R)conditions were good[a] in Judah.
13 (S)So King Rehoboam grew strong in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite. 14 And he did evil, (T)for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.
15 (U)Now the acts of Rehoboam, (V)from first to last, are they not written in the chronicles of (W)Shemaiah the prophet and of (X)Iddo (Y)the seer?[b] There were continual wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. 16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David, and (Z)Abijah[c] his son reigned in his place.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 12:12 Hebrew good things were found
- 2 Chronicles 12:15 After seer, Hebrew adds according to genealogy
- 2 Chronicles 12:16 Spelled Abijam in 1 Kings 14:31
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
