Shishak Invades Judah

(1 Kings 14:25-28)

1At the height of his power, after he had consolidated his rule, Rehoboam abandoned the LORD’s Law, along with all of Israel with him. 2Because he had been unfaithful to the LORD, during the fifth year of King Rehoboam’s reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem 3with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 cavalry. The Lubim, Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians who invaded from Egypt with Shishaka were innumerable. 4Shishakb captured the fortified cities of Judah and invaded as far as Jerusalem.

5Right then, Shemaiah the prophet approached Rehoboam and the princes of Judah who had gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he told them, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You abandoned me, so I’ve abandoned you to Shishak.’”

6In response, the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and declared, “The LORD is righteous.”

7When the LORD observed that they had humbled themselves, the LORD spoke to Shemaiah, “They have humbled themselves, so I won’t destroy them. Instead, I’ll grant them some deliverance by not pouring out my indignation on Jerusalem, using Shishak to do it. 8Nevertheless, they will become his slaves so they may learn to differentiate between what it means to serve me and to serve the kingdoms of these nations.” 9So King Shishak of Egypt invaded Jerusalem and looted the treasure stores in the LORD’s Temple and in the royal palace. He took everything, including the golden shields that Solomon had made. 10After this, King Rehoboam made shields out of bronze to take their place, committing them to the care and custody of the commanders of those who guarded the entrance to the royal palace. 11As often as the king entered the LORD’s Temple, the guards came and transported the shieldsc to the Templed and then brought them back to the guard’s quarters. 12After he had humbled himself, the LORD stopped being angry with him, and did not destroy Rehoboame completely. Furthermore, conditions became good in Judah.

The Death of Rehoboam

(1 Kings 14:21-22; 29-31)

13King Rehoboam consolidated his reign in Jerusalem. Rehoboam was 41 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that that LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to establish his name. Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah from Ammon. 14He practiced evil by not setting his heart to seek the LORD. 15Now Rehoboam’s accomplishments, from first to last, are written in the records of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, enrolled by genealogy, are they not? 16Later, Rehoboam died, as had his ancestors, and his son Abijah became king to replace him.