Why did Shishak king of Egypt come up against Jerusalem?

Shishak came against Jerusalem after Rehoboam and the people of Judah had fallen into deep sin and idolatry. God allowed this foreign king to attack as a form of discipline. Judah had turned from the Lord, so their strength and wealth were no longer protected as before. Shishak likely knew about the great treasures stored in the temple and the king’s house and came to take them. His attack showed how far Judah had fallen from the days of David and Solomon, when God’s favor and glory were so clear.

What treasures did Shishak take from Jerusalem in Rehoboam’s time?

Shishak carried away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house. This included the gold, silver, and valuable items that David and Solomon had stored up for the temple and the palace. He also took all the gold shields that Solomon had made, which had been a public sign of royal honor and wealth. The loss of these treasures showed that Judah’s sin had brought them from great riches down to shame and weakness before a foreign ruler.

Why did Rehoboam replace Solomon’s gold shields with brass shields?

After Shishak took away Solomon’s gold shields, Rehoboam no longer had the wealth to make new gold ones. Instead, he made brazen, or bronze, shields to take their place and gave them to the royal guard. These were carried whenever the king went to the house of the Lord and then stored again in the guard chamber. This change from gold to brass pictured the loss of glory under Rehoboam. The kingdom still had ceremony and show, but it no longer had the same honor, strength, and blessing it once knew.

What does this passage show about the effect of sin on a nation?

This passage shows that sin does not stay hidden or harmless. Judah turned to idols and copied the sins of the nations God had removed before them. As a result, they became weak and poor. God allowed Shishak to strip away the treasures of the temple and palace. The people who once had rich worship and strong defenses now watched a foreign king walk off with what they had trusted in. It paints a clear picture of how turning from God leads to loss, shame, and constant trouble instead of peace.

Why was there war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days?

The two kingdoms were divided after Rehoboam refused to lighten the people’s burdens. Jeroboam ruled the northern tribes and Rehoboam ruled Judah. Even though Rehoboam was stopped from launching a full civil war early on, there remained ongoing hostility and border conflict between the two. The text says there was war all their days, meaning tension, skirmishes, and unrest never really stopped. This constant strain fits with the larger picture of a divided people who had turned away from God’s ways and no longer walked together in unity.

Who was Naamah the Ammonitess, and why is she mentioned again?

Naamah was Rehoboam’s mother and an Ammonite woman. Her name is repeated at the end of his story, drawing attention to her background among a people who did not worship the Lord. Her influence likely helped turn Rehoboam’s heart away from faithful worship. His marriage connection back to her people hints at how the earlier choice to join closely with unbelieving nations had long-lasting effects. The mention of Naamah reminds readers that the alliances and marriages made in one generation can shape the faith and direction of the next.

Who was Abijam, and what role does he play after Rehoboam’s death?

Abijam was the son of Rehoboam and Naamah. When Rehoboam died after seventeen years of ruling in Jerusalem, Abijam became king in his place. His name at the end of the passage marks the passing of the throne to the next generation in the line of David. While this passage does not yet tell his story, it shows that even in a time of decline and judgment, God kept David’s family on the throne in Judah. Abijam’s reign continues the history of how Judah’s kings responded to God’s commands.

How might Rehoboam’s loss of treasure affect how we think about earthly wealth today?

Rehoboam’s experience reminds us that earthly wealth can disappear quickly. The treasures that David and Solomon had stored for years vanished in one invasion. Gold shields that once showed royal glory were gone and replaced with cheaper metal. This warns us not to put our hope in money, status, or outward show. They can be taken away by events beyond our control. What matters far more is staying close to God. When people turn from him, even great treasures cannot keep them safe, but when they walk with him, he is their true security.

1Kgs.14.25

1 Kings 14:25

KJV

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

Shishak Raids Jerusalem

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

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.

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.

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.

¶ Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.

And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.

Cross References

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