Rehoboam’s Later Years

Rehoboam started out pretty well as king.  Unfortunately, Like Saul, and Solomon, once he got comfortable with his position, he became less concerned with obeying god, as II Chronicles 12:1 tells us.  “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.”    As king, Rehoboam set the example for the nation, leading the people away from God’s commands.  I kings 14:22-24 describes the resulting sin.  “And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.  For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.   And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.”

Solomon had set the example in turning to other religions, and Rehoboam and the the nation of Judah carried it even further than they had under him, even going against their own consciences by accepting homosexuality and killing their own children.  During Solomon’ reign there had been peace with Egypt, but five years after Rehoboam became king, the Egyptians invaded Judah as II Chronicles 12:2-4 escribes.  “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, 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.  And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.”

Shemiah the prophet made it clear the Egyptian invasion was a result fo their sin, and Rehoboam and the pople repented, Acknowledging their debt to God, in II Chronicles 12:5-7.  “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.  Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.”

Because they repented, God forgave them.  He prevented the Egyptians from destroying them completely, but allowed them to retain control as a constant reminder of the consequences of rejecting God, In II Chronicles 12:7-8.  “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.  Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”

The Egyptians took away much of the wealth Solomon had accumulated.  Rehoboam tried to keep up the appearances, but was forced to substitute less valuable materials in his efforts. as we see in II Chronicles 12:9-11.  “So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.  Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.  And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.”

Because he repented, God allowed Rehoboam to reign for twelve more years after the Egyptian invasion, and Judah prospered during that reign, as II Chronicles 12;12-13 explains.  “And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.  So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.”

Rehoboam was the son of an Ammonite woman, one of those who had led Solomon into idolatry.  He had not been fully committed to the Lord, as II Chronicles 12:14 explains.  “And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.”    While a great deal would happen during Rehoboam’s reign, they are not relevant to God’s purposes, and were not included in the scriptures although they were recorded in other writings, as II Chronicles 12:15-16 explains.  “Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.  And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.”  He would be succeeded by his son Abijah or Abijam.