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Jewish Publication Society Bible: 2 Chronicles 12

Book of ChroniclesHebrew Bible TranslationJewish Publication Society Bible

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This is a passage from 2 Chronicles (chapter 12), a historical-theological narrative from the Hebrew Bible belonging to the Deuteronomistic tradition of ancient Israelite religious historiography. It recounts how King Rehoboam of Judah, after consolidating power, abandoned God's law, prompting the Egyptian pharaoh Shishak to invade with a massive force and capture Jerusalem's fortified cities. The prophet Shemaiah interprets the invasion as divine punishment, and when Rehoboam and his princes humble themselves before God, the threatened total destruction is commuted — Jerusalem is spared annihilation but subjected to Shishak's plundering of the Temple and royal treasury. A theologically distinctive claim runs throughout: national calamity is a direct consequence of religious unfaithfulness, while even partial repentance can mitigate divine judgment, illustrating the Chronicler's characteristic emphasis on immediate retribution and the efficacy of humility. The passage closes with a summary verdict on Rehoboam's reign — morally negative because "he set not his heart to seek the Lord" — and a reference to now-lost source chronicles. The replacement of Solomon's gold shields with bronze ones serves as a concrete symbol of the kingdom's diminishment under unfaithful leadership.

Jewish Publication Society Bible: 2 Chronicles 12

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