1But after Rehoboam had firmly established his kingdom, and had become strong, he forsook the law of the LORD, as did many of Israel. 2And in the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had transgressed against the LORD, Shishak, king of Egypt, invaded Judah, 3He came up out of Egypt with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen; and an army beyond numbering, including the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians. 4And he took the fortified cities that belonged to Judah, and came as far as Jerusalem. 5Then Shemaiah, the prophet, came to Rehoboam, and the leaders of Judah, all gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and told them, “Thus says the LORD, ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.’” 6Whereupon the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and said, “The LORD is righteous.” 7And when the LORD saw their change of heart, this word came to Shemaiah from the LORD, “They have humbled themselves; therefore, I will not destroy them, but I will soon give them some deliverance; and My wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by Shishak. 8But they will become his servants; that they may learn the difference between serving Me, and the serving kings of other countries.” 9So Shishak, king of Egypt, came up to Jerusalem, and took all the treasures from the Temple of the LORD, and from the king's palace. He also carried off the shields of gold which Solomon had made; 10So then King Rehoboam made shields of bronze, and equipped the officers of those who guarded the entrance of the king's house with them. 11And whenever the king entered the Temple of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and then returned them to the guard chamber. 12And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that He would not totally destroy him; and conditions in Judah also improved. 13So King Rehoboam established his reigned in Jerusalem; he was forty-one 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. Rehoboam’s mother's name was Naamah, an Ammonitess. 14And he did evil, because he did not set his heart to seek and honor 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, regarding genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam (of Judah) and Jeroboam (of Israel) continually. 16And then Rehoboam died, and was buried in the city of David; and Abijah, his son, reigned in his stead. Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |