2Ch 12: "What ominous words are spoken against Jerusalem:
'they had transgressed against Yahweh' (v 2). Yet the people imagined they were
doing the work of God, upholding his temple and honouring the throne of David.
But the divine judgment was that both king and people 'forsook the law of
Yahweh' (v 1). The power of the reign of David and the glory of that of Solomon
had now become the shadow of disaster in the reign of Rehoboam. This gave rise
to the assault by Egypt. When the law of Yahweh is ignored, the power of Sin
(Egypt) is first experienced. Shishak had given an asylum to Jeroboam when he
fled from Solomon (1Ki 11:40). His policy was to weaken Israel, and therefore he
now took opportunity to invade the land. The record in 2Ch reveals the play of
events: [1] Rehoboam forsakes the law of Yahweh, and is punished: vv 1-4. [2]
The rebuke of Shemaiah: vv 5-9. [3] Jerusalem falls to Shishak: vv 9,10. [4]
Rehoboam's policy: vv 11-16" (GEM).
2Ch 12:9
The removal by the Egyptians of the wealth and the shields of
God from Solomon's temple happened such short a time after Solomon had made all
these things. The flesh cannot sustain the kingdom of God on earth -- for that
is what Solomon reigned over (1Ch 29:23).
2Ch 12:10
This is surely a step of some spiritual significance. Was this
in Jeremiah's mind when he wrote Lam 4:1?