2 Chronicles 12:1 kjv
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.
2 Chronicles 12:1 nkjv
Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel along with him.
2 Chronicles 12:1 niv
After Rehoboam's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 12:1 esv
When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.
2 Chronicles 12:1 nlt
But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the Law of the LORD, and all Israel followed him in this sin.
2 Chronicles 12 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Chr 11:5-12 | Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up cities... | Rehoboam's initial strengthening/fortifying |
| 2 Chr 11:13-17 | The priests and Levites who were in all Israel gathered to Rehoboam from all their districts... | Migration of faithful, initial strength of Judah |
| Deut 8:11-14 | Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments... Lest, when you have eaten... then your heart be lifted up | Warning against forgetting God in prosperity |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Spiritual danger of self-strengthening/pride |
| Deut 31:16 | And the LORD said to Moses: "...this people will rise and play the harlot with the foreign gods..." | Prophecy of Israel's future apostasy |
| Judg 2:19 | But whenever the judge died, they turned back and behaved worse than their fathers... | Cycles of apostasy after periods of blessing |
| 1 Sam 8:7 | The LORD said to Samuel: "...for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them." | Israel's history of rejecting divine rule |
| Jer 2:13 | For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me... and hewn out cisterns for themselves... | God's lament over His people's apostasy |
| 1 Kings 14:22 | And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy... | Parallel account focusing on evil and provocation |
| 2 Chr 12:2 | In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD. | Immediate consequence of Rehoboam's actions |
| Isa 9:16 | For those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up. | Leaders' influence on a nation's spiritual state |
| Matt 15:8-9 | 'These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me...teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' | Forsaking God's law linked to a distant heart |
| 1 Tim 6:17 | Charge them who are rich in this present world...not to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God... | Danger of trusting in earthly security/wealth |
| Heb 10:26 | For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins... | Seriousness of willful rejection of God's ways |
| Ezra 9:10 | And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments... | Lament over national transgression |
| Neh 9:26 | Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against You, and cast Your law behind their backs... | Another instance of throwing off God's law |
| Ps 19:7-8 | The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul... the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart... | The benefits and nature of God's law |
| Rom 7:12 | So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. | The holiness and goodness of God's Law |
| Josh 24:20 | If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm... | Warning about the consequences of forsaking God |
| Deut 28:15 | But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God...all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. | Covenant curses for disobedience |
| 1 Cor 10:12 | Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. | Warning against overconfidence after perceived strength |
| 2 Tim 4:10 | For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world... | Individual example of forsaking due to worldly love |
| Jer 17:5 | Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength..." | Warning against self-reliance and trust in human strength |
2 Chronicles 12 verses
2 Chronicles 12 1 Meaning
This verse records a pivotal turning point in the reign of Rehoboam, King of Judah, following his establishment of a strong kingdom. After gaining stability and considerable power, Rehoboam, along with all the people of Judah, intentionally abandoned the Law of the LORD. This act signifies a deliberate turning away from divine instruction and the covenant relationship with God, illustrating the human tendency to forsake spiritual discipline and obedience during times of perceived security and prosperity.
2 Chronicles 12 1 Context
2 Chronicles 12:1 marks a sharp departure from the previous chapter. 2 Chronicles 11 details Rehoboam's efforts to strengthen his kingdom after the division, building fortified cities and accumulating resources. Significantly, the priests and Levites, along with faithful individuals from the northern kingdom of Israel, migrated to Judah due to Jeroboam's idolatry, thereby swelling Judah's spiritual and physical strength. This period is portrayed as a time of great prosperity and security for Rehoboam and his kingdom. However, immediately upon reaching a point of stability and self-perceived invincibility, the focus shifts dramatically from God's blessings and the adherence to His covenant to a blatant abandonment of the divine Law. The Chronicler uses this narrative to highlight a core theological principle: prosperity and security, without humble reliance on God, often lead to spiritual decline and eventual judgment.
2 Chronicles 12 1 Word analysis
- And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - va-yĕhî): A common narrative connector in Hebrew, indicating a sequence of events or a significant transition. Here, it introduces the tragic turning point after the preceding period of success.
- when Rehoboam (רְחַבְעָם - Rəḥabʿam): Son of Solomon and king of Judah. His name ironically means "He enlarges the people" or "the people are enlarged." Despite initially benefitting from faithful followers and God's blessings, his actions led to spiritual contraction for his people.
- had established (הֵכִין - hēḵîn): From the root כוּן (kun), meaning to make firm, prepare, make stable, secure. It signifies that Rehoboam had put the kingdom on a solid footing, suggesting a state of stability and success rather than a tenuous beginning. This sense of accomplished security is crucial to the verse's meaning.
- the kingdom (הַמַּמְלָכָה - ha-mamlakāh): Refers specifically to the Kingdom of Judah.
- and had strengthened himself (וּבְחִזְקָתוֹ - u-ḇəḥizqātōw): From חָזַק (ḥāzaq), meaning "to be strong, firm, mighty." The construction emphasizes that this strength was attained or manifested. It speaks to a perceived personal and national security, power, or dominance. This self-reliance and the pride accompanying it appear to be the catalyst for the subsequent spiritual downfall.
- he forsook (עָזַב - ʿāzaḇ): This is a strong verb meaning to abandon, leave, forsake, neglect. It implies a deliberate and active turning away, not just a passive drifting. It suggests a conscious choice to disengage from or reject the covenant.
- the law of the LORD (תּוֹרַת יְהוָה - tōraṯ Yahweh): "Torah" is not merely a legal code but represents divine instruction, guidance, and the whole body of God's revealed will. "Yahweh" is the covenant name of God, emphasizing the personal relationship between God and Israel. To forsake this "Torah" meant to reject the very foundation of their national and spiritual identity, the covenant relationship, and God's way of life for His people.
- and all Israel with him (וְכָל-יִשְׂרָאֵל עִמּוֹ - wə-ḵol-Yiśrāʾēl ʿimmô): "All Israel" here refers to the kingdom of Judah, the population under Rehoboam's rule, likely including those who had come from the north. This phrase emphasizes the pervasive nature of the apostasy; the king's unfaithfulness directly influenced and led the entire nation astray.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself": This phrase highlights a condition of outward success and perceived security. It subtly indicates that this strength became a stumbling block. It's not a period of weakness but a period of full confidence and material stability that ironically leads to spiritual vulnerability. The language suggests a sense of human accomplishment rather than ongoing dependence on God for strength and sustenance.
- "he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him": This demonstrates the direct causality between the king's spiritual state and the nation's. It also shows that the abandonment of God's law was a comprehensive act, a deliberate spiritual rebellion, not merely a minor deviation. The consequences of the king's choices cascaded down to affect the entire population. The "Law of the LORD" being forsaken points to the covenant relationship being broken.
2 Chronicles 12 1 Bonus section
The Chronicler’s emphasis on "the law of the LORD" (Torah) being forsaken aligns with his broader theological agenda of highlighting the centrality of obedience to the Mosaic covenant as the determinant of Judah's welfare. Unlike 1 Kings, which provides a more political history, Chronicles often explicitly links national fortunes to the king's (and people's) spiritual state regarding the temple worship and the Law. This deliberate rejection of divine instruction, especially after having received abundant blessings and secure establishment, underscores the severity of the act and provides a clear moral for the returning exiles whom the Chronicler addressed. It serves as a stark reminder that physical security and prosperity are temporary and unreliable if the spiritual foundation is eroded by disobedience.
2 Chronicles 12 1 Commentary
2 Chronicles 12:1 is a profound commentary on the human condition and the ever-present danger of prosperity. After Rehoboam successfully established his kingdom and secured his power, an insidious spiritual complacency set in. Instead of deepened gratitude and dependence on the LORD for their success, Rehoboam and his people began to rely on their own strength, wealth, and fortified cities. This self-sufficiency led to a tragic and deliberate abandonment of "the law of the LORD"—not just a set of rules, but the divine instruction and covenant relationship that was the bedrock of their national identity and their blessings.
This verse reveals a critical pattern: success without humility often breeds spiritual arrogance and negligence. The very blessings bestowed by God can become a trap if one forgets the Giver and begins to trust in the gift itself. The king's decision directly influenced the entire nation, emphasizing the immense spiritual responsibility of leadership. Their collective apostasy set the stage for immediate divine discipline, showing that God does not overlook the breach of His covenant, especially after His people have experienced His goodness.
Practical Examples:
- Individual: A believer experiences financial stability or career success and subsequently eases their prayer life, Bible study, or church commitment, thinking they no longer "need" God as acutely as when they were struggling.
- Church/Ministry: A thriving church experiences rapid growth and public acclaim, leading it to focus more on programs, metrics, or building projects, subtly drifting from the centrality of biblical teaching, evangelism, or humble service to the needy.
- Leader: A spiritual leader, after years of fruitful ministry and having established a reputation, starts making decisions based on personal wisdom or worldly advice rather than consistent, prayerful submission to God's word and guidance.