Shishak

40So Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam ran away to Egypt, to King Shishak. He stayed there until Solomon died.

Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

NoteShishak was the king of Egypt at that time. Egypt was far away, so Jeroboam would be safe there.

25In Rehoboam's fifth year as king, Shishak the king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem.

And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:

NoteEgypt was a huge and powerful country far to the south. Its army was much bigger than Judah's.

26He took the treasures from the LORD's house and from the king's palace. He took it all, even the gold shields Solomon had made.

And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

NoteThe LORD's house was the temple in Jerusalem, the big building Solomon made for God. The gold shields were for show in parades, not for fighting.

27So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to put in their place. He gave them to the leaders of the guards who watched the palace door.

And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king’s house.

NoteBronze is a brown metal. It cost far less than gold. The new shields looked like the old ones but were worth much less.

28Whenever the king went to the LORD's house, the guards carried the shields. Then they took them back to the guardroom.

And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber.

1Rehoboam became a strong king with firm control. Then he stopped obeying God's law. All Israel stopped obeying too.

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.

NoteGod's law was the set of rules God gave his people. The rules told them how to live and how to worship him.

2In Rehoboam's fifth year as king, Shishak, the king of Egypt, attacked Jerusalem. This happened because the people had not been faithful to the LORD.

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,

NoteEgypt was a big, powerful country to the south with its own king. "The LORD" in capital letters is God's own special name.

3Shishak came with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 men on horses. Too many soldiers came with him from Egypt to count. Among them were Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites.

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.

NoteChariots were small carts with wheels, pulled by fast horses. Soldiers rode in them to fight. Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites were people from lands near Egypt. They fought as part of Shishak's army.

4He captured the walled cities of Judah. Then he came all the way to Jerusalem.

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

NoteWalled cities had thick, high walls built all around them. The walls kept enemies out and kept people safe inside.

5Shemaiah was a prophet. He came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah. They had gathered in Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah said, "The LORD says this: 'You left me. So I have left you in Shishak's hands.'"

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.

NoteA prophet was someone who told people what God said. Judah was the part of the land where Rehoboam was king. The rest of the people had made another man their king.

6Then the leaders of Israel and the king made themselves humble. They said, "The LORD is right in what he does."

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

NoteTo be humble means to stop being proud. They admitted they had done wrong and did not make excuses.

7The LORD saw that they had made themselves humble. So the LORD spoke to Shemaiah again. He said, "They have made themselves humble. I will not destroy them. I will rescue them soon. My anger will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.

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.

Note"Poured out" is a word picture, like water tipped from a jug. It means God's anger would not come pouring down on the city.

8But they will have to serve Shishak. Then they will learn the difference. Serving me is not the same as serving kings of other lands."

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

NoteServing another king meant obeying him and sending him money. The people would not be free to rule themselves.

9So Shishak, the king of Egypt, attacked Jerusalem. He took the treasures from the LORD's temple and from the king's palace. He took everything. He even took the gold shields that Solomon had made.

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.

NoteThe temple was the special building in Jerusalem for worshiping God. Solomon was Rehoboam's father, the king before him. Treasures are valuable things like gold, silver, and jewelry.

10So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them. He gave them to the officers who guarded the palace door.

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.

NoteBronze is a brown metal. It is strong, but it costs far less than gold. The new shields looked poorer than the ones that were taken.

11Whenever the king went into the LORD's temple, the guards carried the shields. Afterward they put them back in the guardroom.

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.

NoteA guardroom was the room where the guards kept their weapons and waited.

12Because Rehoboam made himself humble, the LORD stopped being angry with him. God did not destroy him completely. Things went well in Judah.

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.