Thematic Bible: Rehoboam (latter part of his reign)


Thematic Bible



And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah and was forty one years old when he began to reign, and reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah an Ammonite. And Judah wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD and angered him above all that their fathers did, with their sin which they sinned. For they also made them hill altars and images and groves on every high hill and under every green tree. read more.
And thereto there was a stews of male children in the land, and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. And the fifth year of king Rehoboam came Shishak king of Egypt up to Jerusalem, and took away the treasure of the house of the LORD, and the treasure of the king's house and all that was to be had. And he took away the shields of gold which Solomon made. In whose stead, king Rehoboam made brazen shields and put them in the keeping of the captains of the guard which waited at the door of the king's house. And as oft as the king went in to the house of the LORD, they of his guard bare them, and ever brought them again into the guard chamber. The rest of the acts of king Rehoboam and all he did, are written in the book of Acts of the kings of Judah. And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their lives. And Rehoboam laid him to rest with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonite. And Abijam his son reigned in his room.

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and four score thousands of chosen men and good warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, and to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. Then came the word of God unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, "Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the remnant of the people and say, read more.
'Thus sayeth the LORD: Go not, nor yet fight against your brethren the children of Israel, but return every man to his house, for this doing is of the LORD.'" And they obeyed the word of the LORD and returned and departed according to the word of the LORD.

so that Rehoboam reigned over no more of the children of Israel than dwelt in the cities of Judah. Then king Rehoboam sent to them Hadoram that was over the tribute, and the children of Israel stoned him with stones that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed and gat him up in his chariot to fly to Jerusalem. And so Israel departed from the house of David unto this day. read more.
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin to the number of nine score thousand choice men of war to fight with Israel, for to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, "Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel that are in Judah, and to Benjamin, and say, 'Thus sayeth the LORD. Go not nor fight with your brethren: But return every man to his house, for this thing is done of me.'" And they obeyed the words of the LORD and returned from going against Jeroboam. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built strong cities in Judah: as Bethlehem, Etam and Tekoa; Bethzur, Socoh and Adullam; Gath, Mareshah and Ziph; Adoraim, Lachish and Azekah; Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron: Which were the strong cities of Judah and Benjamin. And when he had repaired such strong cities, he put captains in them and store of victuals, and of oil and wine. And he ordained in all cities shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. And so Judah and Benjamin were under him. And the priests and Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him, out of all their coasts. Insomuch that the Levites left their suburbs and possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them out from ministering unto the LORD. And he ordained him priests of hill altars - both to field devils and also to the calves which he had made. And after them came there men out of all the tribes of Israel, which gave over their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel, and came to Jerusalem to offer unto the LORD God of their fathers. And so they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon mighty three years long - for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse, which bare him children: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. And after her, he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom which bare him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. But Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines for he took eighteen wives and three score concubines, and begat three score daughters and twenty eight sons. And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maacah the chief ruler among his brethren, for to make him king. And he played wisely and scattered of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin in every strong city. And he gave them abundance of victuals, and asked many wives. And when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and made it strong, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him; wherefore, the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Shishak the king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD, with twelve hundred chariots and three score thousand horsemen. And the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt, with them of Libya, and the Sukkiims and the black Moors. And they took the strong cities that were in Judah and came to Jerusalem. Then came Shemaiah the Prophet to Rehoboam and to the lords of Judah that were gathered to Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and said to them, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Ye have left me, and therefore will I leave you also in the hands of Shishak.'" Whereupon the lords of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "The LORD is righteous." And when the LORD saw that they submitted themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah saying, "They have humbled themselves, and therefore I will not destroy them. But I will deliver them somewhat, and my wrath shall not fall upon Jerusalem. Neverthelater, they shall be his servants, to know what the difference is between my service and the service of the kingdoms of other lands." And Shishak king of Egypt came to Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and shortly he took all. And he took also the shields of gold which Solomon made. Instead of which, king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and put them in the keeping of the captains of his guard which waited in the gate of the king's house. And as oft as the king went to the house of the LORD, the guard went and fetched them, and brought them again unto the guard chamber. And so because he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, and destroyed not all together. And thereto there were many good things yet in Judah. And king Rehoboam waxed mighty in Jerusalem and reigned. And Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he was made king, 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 Ammonite. And he did evil: for he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. The acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are written in the sayings of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer of visions - so much as his genealogy, and the perpetual war that was between Rehoboam and Jeroboam during their life. And Rehoboam laid him to sleep with his fathers and was buried in the city of David, and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.