2 Chronicles 12:6

Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) Whereupon.—And.

The princes of Israel.—See Note on 2Chronicles 12:1. “princes of Judah “. (2Chronicles 12:5) is the meaning.

Humbled themselves.—Literally, bowed (2Chronicles 7:14). (Comp. Jonah 3:5-6.)

The Lord is righteous.—Comp. Exodus 9:27 (the exclamation of Pharaoh); and Ezra 9:15.

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 12:6. Whereupon the princes and the king humbled themselves — They penitentially acknowledged their sin, and patiently accepted the punishment of it, saying, The Lord is righteous — We have none to blame but ourselves: let God be clear when he is judged. Thus it becomes us, when we are under the rebukes of divine providence, to justify God, and judge ourselves. “Even princes and kings,” says Henry, “must either bend or break; either be humbled or ruined.”

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:1-16 Rehoboam, forsaking the Lord, is punished. - When Rehoboam was so strong that he supposed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his outward profession of godliness. It is very common, but very lamentable, that men, who in distress or danger, or near death, seem much engaged in seeking and serving God, throw aside all their religion when they have received a merciful deliverance. God quickly brought troubles upon Judah, to awaken the people to repentance, before their hearts were hardened. Thus it becomes us, when we are under the rebukes of Providence, to justify God, and to judge ourselves. If we have humbled hearts under humbling providences, the affliction has done its work; it shall be removed, or the property of it be altered. The more God's service is compared with other services, the more reasonable and easy it will appear. Are the laws of temperance thought hard? The effects of intemperance will be found much harder. The service of God is perfect liberty; the service of our lusts is complete slavery. Rehoboam was never rightly fixed in his religion. He never quite cast off God; yet he engaged not his heart to seek the Lord. See what his fault was; he did not serve the Lord, because he did not seek the Lord. He did not pray, as Solomon, for wisdom and grace; he did not consult the word of God, did not seek to that as his oracle, nor follow its directions. He made nothing of his religion, because he did not set his heart to it, nor ever came up to a steady resolution in it. He did evil, because he never was determined for good.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They said, The Lord is righteous - i. e., they acknowledged the justice of the sentence which had gone forth against them 2 Chronicles 12:5.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. the princes of Israel—(compare 2Ch 12:5, "the princes of Judah").

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

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.

Geneva Study Bible

Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is {d} righteous.

(d) Therefore he justly punishes you for your sins.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

6. Whereupon] R.V. Then.

princes of Israel] Called “princes of Judah” in 2 Chronicles 12:5; cp. note on 2 Chronicles 11:3.

humbled themselves] i.e. they fasted and put on sackcloth; cp. 1 Kings 21:27; 1 Kings 21:29.

The Lord is righteous] Cp. Pharaoh’s confession (Exodus 9:27), and the Psalmist’s address to God, “That thou mayest be justified (lit. “mayest be righteous”) when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest” (Psalm 51:4). The “righteousness” of God is made known to man in His judgment whether the judgment be of condemnation (as here) or of acquittal (as 1 John 1:9, R.V.).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - Note, as very apt parallel passages, Jeremiah 13:15, 18; Exodus 9:27. 2 Chronicles 12:6

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

After the capture of the fenced cities of Judah, he marched against Jerusalem. - 2 Chronicles 12:5. Then the prophet Shemaiah announced to the king and the princes, who had retired to Jerusalem before Shishak, that the Lord had given them into the power of Shishak because they had forsaken Him. בּיד עזב, forsaken and given over into the hand of Shishak. When the king and the priests immediately humbled themselves before God, acknowledging the righteousness of the Lord, the prophet announced to them further that the Lord would not destroy them since they had humbled themselves, but would give them deliverance in a little space. כּמעט, according to a little, i.e., in a short time. פּליטה is accusative after ונתתּי. My anger shall not pour itself out upon Jerusalem. The pouring out of anger is the designation of an exterminating judgment; cf. 2 Chronicles 34:25.