King Rehoboam
2 Chronicles 11:1-12:16

Rehoboam Secures His Kingdom

2 Chronicles 11:1-12

• When Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he assembled warriors from Judah and Benjamin to fight against Israel to restore the kingdom. (v. 1)
• The word of the Lord came to Shemaiah. The Lord said to night fight against their relatives and that everyone should go home. Rehoboam listened, and everyone went home. (v. 2-4)
• Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and fortified many cities in Judah, which enabled him to hold Judah and Benjamin. The fortified cities were located south of Jerusalem. This shows that Rehoboam feared Egypt. (v. 5-12)

Priests and Levites Come to Jerusalem

2 Chronicles 11:13-17

• The priests and the Levites who were in Israel presented themselves to Rehoboam because Jeroboam and his suns cast them out from serving as priests of the Lord and appointed their own priests for the high places, for the idols. (v. 13-15)
• Compare with 1 Kings 12 to see the gross idolatry that Jeroboam plunged the northern kingdom into. Because of this, the name Jeroboam becomes more or less synonymous with idolatry in the Books of Kings.
• Those who continued to seek God, came to jerusalem to sacrifice at the temple. To do so cost them everything ­ they left their common-lands, possessions, and friends behind. (v. 16)
• They strengthened the kingdom of Judah. For three years, they walked in the way of David and Solomon. Rehoboam was secure. (v. 17)

Rehoboam's Family

2 Chronicles 11:18-23

• Rehoboam had many wives and children. He distributed his sons throughout the land. (v. 18-23)
• The wives mentioned by name were Israelites from the royal family and not heathen women.

Egypt Plunders Jerusalem

2 Chronicles 12:1-16

• Once Rehoboam had established his kingdom and strength, he abandoned the law of the Lord, taking all of Israel with him. (v. 1)
• In his fifth year, because Rehoboam had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt came against him with a mighty army and captured fortified cities. (v. 2-4)
• This is another example of the covenantal theology that runs throughout the Old Testament.
• Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and told him that because they abandoned the Lord, the Lord had abandoned them, turning them over to the king of Egypt. (v. 5)
• King Rehoboam and the princes of Israel humbled themselves. (v. 6)
• When the Lord saw that they had humbled themselves, he declared that he would not destroy them and that his wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. However, they will become servants to Shishak. (v. 7-8)
• Shishak plundered the treasures from the temple and the palace. (v. 9)
• When Rehoboam humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him. So there was not complete destruction. In fact, conditions were good in Judah. (v. 12)
• King Rehoboam grew strong in Jerusalem and reigned. He reigned for 17 years. (v. 13)
• Rehoboam did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord. (v. 14)
• Note that we must take an active part in setting our hearts to seek the Lord.
• Rehoboam died and his son Abijah succeeded him. (v. 16)