2 Chronicles 12:1
New International Version
After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.

New Living Translation
But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the Law of the LORD, and all Israel followed him in this sin.

English Standard Version
When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

Berean Standard Bible
After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israel with him forsook the Law of the LORD.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel along with him.

New American Standard Bible
When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the Law of the LORD.

NASB 1995
When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him forsook the law of the LORD.

NASB 1977
It took place when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong that he and all Israel with him forsook the law of the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him forsook the law of Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
When Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he abandoned the law of the LORD—he and all Israel with him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he abandoned the law of the LORD—he and all Israel with him.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Jehovah, and all Israel with him.

Contemporary English Version
Soon after Rehoboam had control of his kingdom, he and everyone in Judah stopped obeying the LORD.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Rehoboam had established his kingdom and made himself strong, he and all Israel abandoned the LORD's teachings.

Good News Translation
As soon as Rehoboam had established his authority as king, he and all his people abandoned the Law of the LORD.

International Standard Version
At the height of his power, after he had consolidated his rule, Rehoboam abandoned the LORD's Law, along with all of Israel with him.

Majority Standard Bible
After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israel with him forsook the Law of the LORD.

NET Bible
After Rehoboam's rule was established and solidified, he and all Israel rejected the law of the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
It happened, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned Yahweh’s law, and all Israel with him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, at the establishing of the kingdom of Rehoboam, and at his strengthening himself, he has forsaken the Law of YHWH, and all Israel with him.

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, at the establishing of the kingdom of Rehoboam, and at his strengthening himself, he hath forsaken the law of Jehovah, and all Israel with him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be when Rehoboam established the kingdom, and when he strengthened himself, he forsook the law of Jehovah, and all Israel with him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the kingdom of Roboam was strengthened and fortified, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when the kingdom of Rehoboam had been strengthened and fortified, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all of Israel with him.

New American Bible
Once Rehoboam had established himself as king and was firmly in charge, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and so did all Israel with him.

New Revised Standard Version
When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he grew strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, he and all Israel with him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
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.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass when the kingdom of Roboam was established, and when he had grown strong, that he forsook the commandments of the Lord, and all Israel with him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Shishak Raids Jerusalem
1 After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israel with him forsook the Law of the LORD. 2In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem…

Cross References
1 Kings 14:22-24
And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and by the sins they committed they provoked Him to jealous anger more than all their fathers had done. / They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. / There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land. They imitated all the abominations of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

1 Kings 11:4
For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.

1 Kings 11:9-11
Now the LORD grew angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. / Although He had warned Solomon explicitly not to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command. / Then the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.

1 Kings 12:1-24
Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. / When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he was still in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since. / So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam and said, ...

1 Kings 14:25-28
In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. / He seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields that Solomon had made. / Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and committed them to the care of the captains of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. ...

2 Chronicles 11:17
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

2 Chronicles 11:23
Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.

2 Chronicles 15:2
So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

2 Chronicles 24:17-18
After the death of Jehoiada, however, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. / They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and idols. So wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.

2 Chronicles 26:16
But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

2 Chronicles 28:19
For the LORD humbled Judah because Ahaz king of Israel had thrown off restraint in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the LORD.

2 Chronicles 29:6
For our fathers were unfaithful and did evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned Him, turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him.

2 Chronicles 33:9
So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.

2 Chronicles 36:14
Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.

Psalm 78:56-58
But they tested and disobeyed God Most High, for they did not keep His decrees. / They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow. / They enraged Him with their high places and provoked His jealousy with their idols.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

A.

2 Chronicles 12:13
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.

2 Chronicles 11:17
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

he forsook

2 Chronicles 26:13-16
And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy…

Deuteronomy 6:10-12
And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, …

Deuteronomy 8:10-14
When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee…

all Israel

2 Chronicles 11:3
Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

1 Kings 12:17
But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

1 Kings 14:22-24
And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done…

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Abandoned Established Establishing Forsaken Forsook Israel Kingdom Law Position Rehoboam Rehobo'am Rehoboam's Rule Strengthened Strengthening Strong
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Abandoned Established Establishing Forsaken Forsook Israel Kingdom Law Position Rehoboam Rehobo'am Rehoboam's Rule Strengthened Strengthening Strong
2 Chronicles 12
1. Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished by Shishak
5. He and the princes, repenting at the preaching of Shemaiah,
7. are delivered from destruction, but not from spoil
13. The reign and death of Rehoboam














After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty
The phrase "established his sovereignty" indicates a period of consolidation and stability in Rehoboam's reign. The Hebrew root for "established" is "כּוּן" (kun), which conveys the idea of being firm or secure. This suggests that Rehoboam had successfully secured his position as king, following the division of the kingdom after Solomon's reign. Historically, this was a time when Rehoboam could have strengthened his kingdom by adhering to God's commandments, yet it also set the stage for his subsequent actions.

and royal power
The term "royal power" underscores the authority and dominion that Rehoboam held as king. The Hebrew word for "power" is "מַלְכוּת" (malkut), which refers to the realm or dominion of a king. This highlights the significant responsibility Rehoboam had, not only to govern but to lead the people in accordance with God's laws. The mention of "royal power" serves as a reminder of the divine mandate given to the kings of Israel to rule justly and in obedience to God.

he and all Israel with him
This phrase indicates that Rehoboam's actions were not isolated; they had a communal impact. The inclusion of "all Israel" suggests a collective turning away from God, reflecting the influence of leadership on the spiritual state of the nation. In a historical context, this highlights the importance of godly leadership and the consequences when leaders and their people stray from divine guidance.

forsook the law of the LORD
The word "forsook" comes from the Hebrew "עָזַב" (azab), meaning to abandon or leave behind. This is a strong term that conveys a deliberate turning away from God's commandments. The "law of the LORD" refers to the Torah, the divine instructions given to Israel. This forsaking was not merely a lapse in judgment but a conscious decision to reject God's covenant. Scripturally, this act of forsaking is a recurring theme that leads to divine judgment and serves as a warning to remain faithful to God's word.

(1) When Rehoboam had established the kingdom.--Rather, when Rehoboam's kingdom had been established. The construction is impersonal: when one had established Rehoboam's kingdom. The narrative is resumed from 2Chronicles 11:17.

And had strengthened himself.--And when he had become strong (hezq?h, an infinitive, used again at 2Chronicles 26:16; Daniel 11:2, and nowhere else).

He forsook the law of the Lord--i.e., lapsed into idolatry. (See 1Kings 14:22-24, where the offence is more precisely described.)

All Israel.--The southern kingdom being regarded as the true Israel. (Comp. 2Chronicles 12:6.) . . .

Verse 1. - When Rehoboam had established the kingdom... strengthened himself; i.e. while insecure and full of apprehensions, Rehoboam walked humbly and surely, but when he thought his object, simply safety, was gained, his true and worse self appeared or reappeared, and, clothed with self-confidence, he forsakes the "Law," to bring sure retribution on himself. All Israel with him. When we turn to the fuller statements of the parallel (1 Kings 14:22-24), we see that the sins that were at work were not those of king merely, but of people, especially in abominations such as those of sodomy and the immoral practices of the "groves," as well as the ecclesiastical and irreligious iniquities of "high places" and "image" worship!

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
After Rehoboam had established
כְּהָכִ֞ין (kə·hā·ḵîn)
Preposition-k | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3559: To be erect

his
רְחַבְעָם֙ (rə·ḥaḇ·‘ām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7346: Rehoboam -- 'a people are enlarged', a king of Judah

sovereignty
מַלְכ֤וּת (mal·ḵūṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4438: Royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom

and royal power,
וּכְחֶזְקָת֔וֹ (ū·ḵə·ḥez·qā·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2393: Prevailing power

he and all
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

with him
עִמּֽוֹ׃ (‘im·mōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

forsook
עָזַ֖ב (‘ā·zaḇ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

the law
תּוֹרַ֣ת (tō·w·raṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

of the LORD.
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 12:1 It happened when the kingdom of Rehoboam (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 11:23
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