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2 Chronicles 12 · a question people ask

Was Rehoboam a good king or a bad one? The chapter seems to say both.

In the text

It says both things, and gives its reason for its verdict. For three years "they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon" (11:17). Then "he abandoned the LORD’s law" (12:1). When Shishak came, he humbled himself, and "the LORD’s wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Judah" (12:12). But the chapter's last word on his reign is "He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek the LORD" (12:14) (tap seek). The verdict names the heart, not one act. The chapter doesn't say more about how the humbling of 12:12 and the verdict of 12:14 fit together, and these notes leave them side by side.

The verses

“So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.”
2 Chronicles 11:17 · World English Bible
“When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the LORD’s law, and all Israel with him.”
2 Chronicles 12:1 · World English Bible
“When he humbled himself, the LORD’s wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Judah.”
2 Chronicles 12:12 · World English Bible
“He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek the LORD.”
2 Chronicles 12:14 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Chronicles 12

2 Chronicles 12: They have humbled themselves

In Hebrew, the verb that says Rehoboam's kingdom "was established" (12:1) is the verb of "he didn’t set his heart to seek the LORD" (12:14): the kingdom was established, the heart was not set. And the LORD's word answered Judah with its own verb: they had forsaken him, so he left them to Shishak (12:1, 12:5).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions