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. Ver. 1. _When Rehoboam had established the kingdom._] For the first three years of his reign, when the rent was but newly made, and he might well fe... [ Continue Reading ]
_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,_ Ver. 2. _In the fifth year of Rehoboam._] In his fourth year they fell from God's service to idolatry, and did evil as they could. Had th... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. _The Lubims._] Or, Lybians. Nah 3:9 _ The Sukkiims._] Or, Scenites, such as dwelt in tents. The same are calle... [ Continue Reading ]
And he took the fenced cities which [pertained] to Judah, and came to Jerusalem. Ver. 4. _And he took the fenced cities._] There is no fence against God; no shielding ourselves against his fire. The Turks do so in Hungary and other parts of Christendom for the punishment of Popish artolatry and oth... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 5. _Then came Shemaiah the prophet._]... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD [is] righteous. Ver. 6. _Whereupon the princes of Israel._] That is, Of Judah, as 2 Chronicles 12:1 . _And the king humbled themselves._] But feignedly and forcedly, _see _ 2Ch 12:14 as was that of Pharaoh and... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 7. _They hav... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries. Ver. 8. _That they may know my service._] Know by woeful experience, the worth of my work and wages by the want thereof, and the contrary miseries. They that serve not God with... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 9. _So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem._] Josephus sait... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 10. _Instead of which, &c._] See on 1 Kings 14:27 .... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 11. _And when the king entered into the house of the Lord._] He went no more - for a while at least - to the high places. “ παθων δε τε νηπιος εγνω. ” _The gu... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 12. _And also in Judah things went well._] Or, And yet in Judah there were good things; many in whom good things were found, as 1 Kings 14:13, and... [ Continue Reading ]
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] Naam... [ Continue Reading ]
And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. Ver. 14. _Because he prepared not._] Some good resolutions he had, but they were flashy and fleeting: he drew them not into execution, but was soon off all again; his quicksilver was not fixed. See 2 Chronicles 12:6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 15. _In the book of Shemaiah the prophet._] Not now extant; though God, if he had... [ Continue Reading ]
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead. Ver. 16. _And was buried in the city of David._] Burial of the dead is neither to be altogether slighted, as it was by the Cynics, nor to be performed with too much pomp and cost. Of C... [ Continue Reading ]