Commentari biblici

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.

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 fear the loss of his kingdom, he seemed to have some goodness in him; but when he saw himself settled, he revolted from the Lord.

“ Luxuriant animi rebus plerunque secundis:

Nec facile est aequa commoda mente pati. ”

And all Israel with him. — Israel is here, and 2 Chronicles 12:6 , put and meant for Judah.

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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,

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 they taken away the idol temple set up by Solomon - as Zisca in Bohemia, and Cromwell here, did the monasteries, they had not likely so soon and so much corrupted themselves. But herein also Manasseh was to blame; and Constantine the Great, in that he only shut up the idol temples, and destroyed them not, which Julian the apostate did soon after set open again.

Shishak king of Egypt. — See on 1 Kings 14:25 .

Came up against Jerusalem, — Which when he had taken, he went on to other parts, and subdued all Asia, say Herodotus and Siculus.

Because they had transgressed against the Lord. — See 1 Kings 14:22-24 . Shishak probably was stirred up by Jeroboam who had lived in the court of Egypt, and married a wife there of the blood-royal, as some say - to invade Rehoboam’s country: but this he could not have done, had they not prevaricated against the Lord.

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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.

The Lubims. — Or, Lybians. Nahum 3:9

The Sukkiims. — Or, Scenites, such as dwelt in tents. The same are called Nomades and Troglodytes, of whom Mela Lib. i. saith that they were Nullarum opum domini, strident potius quam loquunur, specus subeunt, alunturque serpentibus, beggarly, barbarous, savage people, all which made against the Jews, but for the fulfilling of God’s threatenings. Deuteronomy 28:15-68

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And he took the fenced cities which [pertained] to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.

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 other abominations.

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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.

Then came Shemaiah the prophet. — See 1 Kings 12:12 . This was a great mercy that a prophet was sent unto them to exhort them to repentance, and to prescribe them a course.

Because of Sishak. — Who was but the vial through whose hands God poured out his wrath. 2 Chronicles 12:7

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Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD [is] righteous.

Whereupon the princes of Israel. — That is, Of Judah, as 2 Chronicles 12:1 .

And the king humbled themselves. — But feignedly and forcedly, see 2 Chronicles 12:14 as was that of Pharaoh and Ahab.

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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.

They have humbled themselves, … — After a sort they had. Now if the leaves of this tree of humiliation be so sovereign, what are the fruits? If the shadow so effectual, what the substance?

But I will grant them some deliverance. — Or, A little deliverance. So gracious is the Lord, and liberal to all.

And my wrath shall not be poured out. — See on 2 Chronicles 12:5 . "In the midst of judgment he remembereth mercy": and suffereth not his whole wrath to arise against sinners, lest they should be utterly taken away by that tempest.

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Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.

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 cheerfulness "in the abundance of all things, shall serve their enemies" another while "in want of all." Deuteronomy 28:47-48

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