1.
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.
he forsook. It is taken for granted that we know the details of 1 Kings 14:22-24 .
all. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Whole), put for the part (viz. the ten tribes).
2.
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,
fifth year. If the 390 years of Ezekiel 4:5 date back from the 5th year of Jehoiakin's captivity, they end 874, the close of Shishak's invasion.
Shisliak. There is an inscription by Shishak on the outside of the south wall of the temple of Ammon at Karnac, in which he names the "king of Judah", and gives a list of 120 fortified cities he took.
against Jerusalem. See App-53 .
transgressed. Hebrew. ma'al.
3.
With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.
4.
And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
5.
Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
6.
Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.
princes of Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .
Israel. A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ) reads "Judah", as well as in 1Ch 22:17 ; 1 Chronicles 23:2 . Otherwise "Israel" is put for "Judah".
7.
And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
some = for a little while. See note on Proverbs 5:14 .
8.
Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
My service. In contrast with the service of their enemies. The difference between God's service and men's servitude. A few codices, and six early printed editions, read "his service".
9.
So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
against Jerusalem. See note on Judges 1:8 , and App-53 .
had made. Compare 2 Chronicles 10:17 .
10.
Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.
chief = princes.
guard = runners.
11.
And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.
12.
And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.
things went well. Hebrew "there were good words [spoken]": i.e. there were congratulations.
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.
had chosen. Compare 2 Chronicles 6:6 and 1 Kings 12:25-33 .
an = the.
14.
And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
he did evil. Compare 1 Kings 14:22-24 .
prepared, or fixed. Compare Psalms 57:7 ; Psalms 108:1 , and Psalms 112:7 .
15.
Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
are they not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.
book = words.
Iddo. Compare 2 Chronicles 9:29 ; 2 Chronicles 13:22 .
seer. Hebrew. hozeh. See note on 1 Chronicles 29:29 .
wars. Compare 1 Kings 14:30 .
16.
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .
Abijah. Called Abijam (1 Kings 14:31 ). See note on 1 Chronicles 25:11 .