Background and Identity:
Shishak, also known as Sheshonk I, was the first Pharaoh of the Twenty-second Dynasty of Egypt, reigning from approximately 945 to 924 BC. He is a significant figure in biblical history due to his military campaign against the Kingdom of Judah, as recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures. Shishak's invasion is one of the earliest events in the Bible that can be correlated with Egyptian historical records, providing a valuable synchronism for biblical chronology.

Biblical Account:
The account of Shishak's campaign against Jerusalem is primarily found in 1 Kings 14:25-26 and 2 Chronicles 12:1-12. According to these passages, Shishak's invasion occurred during the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon and the first king of the divided Kingdom of Judah.

1 Kings 14:25-26 states: "In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem. He seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields that Solomon had made."

2 Chronicles 12:2-4 provides additional context: "In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and countless troops who came with him out of Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites. He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem."

Theological Significance:
The biblical narrative emphasizes that Shishak's invasion was a divine judgment against Judah for their unfaithfulness to the LORD. 2 Chronicles 12:5-6 records the words of the prophet Shemaiah, who conveyed God's message to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah: "Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, 'This is what the LORD says: You have abandoned Me; therefore, I have abandoned you to Shishak.'"

In response to this message, Rehoboam and the leaders humbled themselves, acknowledging the LORD's righteousness. As a result, God showed mercy and did not allow Shishak to destroy Jerusalem completely. However, the city was plundered, and Judah became a vassal state to Egypt, as noted in 2 Chronicles 12:7-8 : "When the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: 'They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. Nevertheless, they will become his servants, so that they may learn the difference between serving Me and serving the kings of other lands.'"

Historical Correlation:
Shishak's campaign is corroborated by Egyptian records, notably the Bubastite Portal at Karnak, which lists the cities and regions conquered by Shishak. This inscription provides archaeological evidence supporting the biblical account of his invasion. The campaign is believed to have been motivated by a desire to reassert Egyptian influence in the region and to exploit the political instability following the division of the United Monarchy.

Legacy:
Shishak's plundering of Jerusalem marked a significant moment in the history of Judah, serving as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. The loss of the treasures of the temple and the royal palace symbolized the diminished glory of Solomon's kingdom and the beginning of a period of subjugation and vulnerability for Judah. This event underscores the biblical theme of divine retribution and the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant.1 Kings 14:25,26
And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:
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2 Chronicles 12:2-9
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,
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Canaan
... names of the places captured by Shishak in Judah ... them were speedily followed by his
imprisonment in Jerusalem. ... too idle to work himself, he plunders those who ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

Who was King Rehoboam in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What happened to the Ark of the Covenant? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Egypt in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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