2 Chronicles 12:14
New International Version
He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the LORD.

New Living Translation
But he was an evil king, for he did not seek the LORD with all his heart.

English Standard Version
And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
And Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

King James Bible
And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

New King James Version
And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
But he did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

NASB 1995
He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

NASB 1977
And he did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he did evil because he did not set his heart to seek Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek and worship and honor the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
Rehoboam did what was evil, because he did not determine in his heart to seek the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Rehoboam did what was evil, because he did not determine in his heart to seek the LORD.

American Standard Version
And he did that which was evil, because he set not his heart to seek Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
but he still did wrong and refused to obey the LORD.

English Revised Version
And he did that which was evil, because he set not his heart to seek the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He did evil things because he was not serious about dedicating himself to serving the LORD.

Good News Translation
He did what was evil, because he did not try to find the LORD's will.

International Standard Version
He practiced evil by not setting his heart to seek the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
And Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

NET Bible
He did evil because he was not determined to follow the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
He did that which was evil, because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

World English Bible
He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he does evil, for he has not prepared his heart to seek YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
and he doth the evil thing, for he hath not prepared his heart to seek Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will do evil, for he prepared not his heart to seek Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But he did evil, and did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But he did evil, and he did not prepare his heart so as to seek the Lord.

New American Bible
He did evil, for he had not set his heart to seek the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
He did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he did evil before the LORD, for he did not prepare his heart to worship the LORD and to seek him with all his heart.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he did evil before LORD JEHOVAH and he did not order his heart for the worship of LORD JEHOVAH, to seek him with all his heart.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he did that which was evil, because he set not his heart to seek the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he did evil, for he directed not his heart to seek the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death of Rehoboam
13Thus King Rehoboam established himself in Jerusalem. He 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 in which to put His Name. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. 14And Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD. 15Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer concerning the genealogies? There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their days.…

Cross References
1 Kings 11:6
So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely.

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.

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 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 19:3
However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”

2 Chronicles 20:33
The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts on the God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 26:5
He sought God throughout the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. And as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.

2 Chronicles 30:19
who sets his heart on seeking God—the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not cleansed according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.”

2 Chronicles 34:3
In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images.

Psalm 78:8
Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Psalm 78:37
Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Jeremiah 3:10
Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 33:31
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.

Hosea 10:2
Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.


Treasury of Scripture

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

he prepared [heb] he fixed

2 Chronicles 11:16
And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 19:3
Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.

2 Chronicles 30:19
That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.

to seek

Deuteronomy 5:29
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Psalm 105:3,4
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD…

Isaiah 45:19
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

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Applied Evil Heart Prepared Seek Seeking True.
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Applied Evil Heart Prepared Seek Seeking True.
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














And he did evil
This phrase refers to King Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who reigned over the southern kingdom of Judah. The Hebrew word for "evil" is "רַע" (ra), which encompasses not only moral wickedness but also actions that are harmful or destructive. In the context of Rehoboam's reign, this evil is characterized by idolatry and a departure from the ways of the LORD. Historically, Rehoboam's reign was marked by a division in the kingdom and a decline in spiritual fidelity, which led to the invasion by Shishak, king of Egypt. This serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments.

because he did not set his heart
The phrase "set his heart" is derived from the Hebrew "נָכַן לֵב" (nakan lev), which implies establishing or preparing one's inner being with intention and purpose. In biblical terms, the heart is the center of one's will, emotions, and intellect. Rehoboam's failure to set his heart indicates a lack of deliberate commitment to follow God. This highlights the importance of intentionality in one's spiritual life, emphasizing that a passive or indifferent approach to faith can lead to moral and spiritual decline.

to seek the LORD
The Hebrew word for "seek" is "דָּרַשׁ" (darash), which means to inquire, require, or pursue diligently. Seeking the LORD involves an active pursuit of God's presence, will, and guidance. In the historical context of Israel, seeking the LORD was often associated with worship, prayer, and adherence to the covenant. Rehoboam's failure to seek the LORD reflects a broader theme in the Old Testament, where the prosperity and peace of the nation are directly linked to the king's faithfulness to God. This serves as an inspirational call for believers to earnestly seek God in all aspects of life, recognizing that true wisdom and strength come from a relationship with Him.

(14) And he did evil.--Syriac adds "before the Lord." The nature of his evil-doing is explained immediately: "for he directed not his heart to seek Jehovah." This estimate of Rehoboam's conduct seems to refer to the early years of his reign, which ended in the catastrophe of Shishak's invasion. 1Kings 14:22, says, "And Judah did evil in the eyes of Jehovah "; and then goes on to tell of the acts of apostacy which brought that judgment upon the nation.

The phrase "direct or prepare the heart to seek the Lord," recurs 2Chronicles 19:3; 2Chronicles 30:19; Ezra 7:10.

The book.--History.

Concerning genealogies.--For registration (lehithyah?sh). On the authorities here named, see the Introduction. The important particulars about the reign which are not given in Kings, e.g., the fortification of the southern cities, the migration of the priests, and Rehoboam's private relations, were probably drawn by the chronicler from these sources. . . .

Verse 14. - These summarizing moral estimates of the character of the succeeding kings are, indeed, common to the compilers of both Chronicles and Kings, though absent, in the case of Rehoboam, from the parallel.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And Rehoboam did evil
וַיַּ֖עַשׂ (way·ya·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he did not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

set
הֵכִין֙ (hê·ḵîn)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

his heart
לִבּ֔וֹ (lib·bōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

to seek
לִדְר֖וֹשׁ (liḏ·rō·wōš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (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 12:14 He did that which was evil because (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 12:13
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