How does this verse connect with God's warnings in Deuteronomy 28? The Setting of 2 Chronicles 12:3 “with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and innumerable troops who came with him from Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites.” • Judah, under Rehoboam, had “abandoned the Law of the LORD” (v. 1). • God permitted a vast coalition army from Egypt to invade—an immediate, visible consequence of covenant unfaithfulness. Echoes of Deuteronomy 28’s Warnings • Deuteronomy 28 was given as Israel’s covenant charter: blessings for obedience, curses for rebellion. • Shishak’s invasion embodies those covenant curses: – Foreign domination (Deuteronomy 28:25, 33). – Military defeat and dread (Deuteronomy 28:25). – Siege, plunder, and loss of wealth (Deuteronomy 28:49–52). • The Chronicler intentionally highlights the overwhelming size and multinational makeup of Shishak’s forces to mirror Moses’ prophecy of “a nation… whose language you will not understand” (Deuteronomy 28:49). Key Parallels Between Shishak’s Invasion and Deuteronomy 28 • Deuteronomy 28:25 — “The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies.” – 2 Chronicles 12:2–3 — Judah faces defeat; Rehoboam cannot stop Shishak’s chariots and cavalry. • Deuteronomy 28:33 — “A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land.” – 2 Chronicles 12:9 — Shishak carries off the treasures of the temple and palace. • Deuteronomy 28:48 — “You will serve your enemies… He will place an iron yoke on your neck.” – 2 Chronicles 12:8 — God says, “They will become his servants so that they may learn the difference between serving Me and serving the kings of other lands.” • Deuteronomy 28:49–52 — “The LORD will bring a nation… fierce-looking… They will lay siege to all the cities.” – 2 Chronicles 12:4 — Shishak captures the fortified cities of Judah en route to Jerusalem. Why the Connection Matters • Scripture’s reliability shines: what Moses foretold centuries earlier unfolds exactly in Rehoboam’s day. • God’s covenant faithfulness includes both blessing and discipline; He keeps every word. • The narrative warns every generation: turning from God’s law invites the very consequences He lovingly spelled out beforehand (Galatians 6:7; Hebrews 12:6). |
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