Chapter 12
This verse:
1 When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. [2Ch 12:1 ESV]
Is this use of Israel a reference to the north and what they had already done, or is this Israel "universal", and includes Judah and Benjamin with the 10 tribes? It is not clear to me. Maybe it means that Rehoboam's kingdom joined the north in rebellion against God.
In Jeroboam's 5th year, Shishak of Egypt comes north with an army and sacks Jerusalem. This is a huge army, "without number". MSB says this invasion is recorded on an extant stone tablet, saying Shishak's army made it to the Sea of Galilee, but was unable to completely conquer both Judah and Israel. Shishak ruled Egypt from 945-924 BC.
God lets Rehoboam and the princes know that this invasion is from Him, to punish them for their rebellion against Him. They humble themselves, and God partially relents. They are not all killed, but instead become servants to Shishak. This verse explains God's purpose in sparing them:
8 Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries." [2Ch 12:8 ESV]
They are to get a first hand, object lesson in the difference between serving God and serving the Kings of men.
Shishak takes all the treasure of the Temple, of the Kings house, and so on. He thoroughly sacks the place. He also destroys many of the fortified cities. And this invasion was from the south. Very likely they opened the gates to him as a way of saving their own lives, and Judah becomes a vassal state with a vassal king as a result. It is likely important to remember for the next few chapters that Judah is now subject to Egypt's rule, while Israel is still independent.
The chapter ends with the death of Rehoboam after a 17 year reign. His son Abijah reigns in his place. It mentions that Rehoboam's mother was an Ammonite. If I remember right, this was one of the countries Israel was not to intermarry with.
2022 - These verses:
12 And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. Moreover, conditions were good in Judah. ... 14 And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD. [2Ch 12:12, 14 ESV].
12 seems to say that Rehoboam turned from his evil ways, so that God was no longer angry at him. But 14 says that on the whole, when his life and reign are evaluated, his life was evil. Is the point here that he only humbled himself when he was scared to death of King Shishak, and thought that all was lost, and then when he was "safe" again, he maybe didn't "fight" against God, but was also not committed to God? Just kind of went out and came in and yawned a lot and didn't sweat over things of God? If we look back at how this chapter opened it says:
1 When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. [2Ch 12:1 ESV]. Surely seems like he only turned to God when he was having problems. And when he was established, he not only turned away but he turned others away also. Leaders bear the responsibility for the actions of those who are lead very often in the Bible. So the summary verse - 14 - seems to be that on balance, between his own shortcomings and the shortcomings he inspired in others, his reign was an evil reign.
The last few verses say that Rehoboam's acts are recorded in the chronicles of Shemaiah the prophet, and Iddo the Seer. We don't have these chronicles today. Rehoboam dies at the age of 58, after reigning for 17 years.
First notes 8/20/18
How did the kings of Judah and Israel not figure out that when they followed God their kingdoms prospered, and when they followed other gods or themselves, they were attacked. How could their attention span be so short? How could they not study history and realize how things worked?