2 Chronicles 12 12

2 Chronicles 12:12 kjv

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.

2 Chronicles 12:12 nkjv

When he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.

2 Chronicles 12:12 niv

Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD's anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.

2 Chronicles 12:12 esv

And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. Moreover, conditions were good in Judah.

2 Chronicles 12:12 nlt

Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD's anger was turned away, and he did not destroy him completely. There were still some good things in the land of Judah.

2 Chronicles 12 verses

2 Chronicles 12 12 Meaning

When Rehoboam humbled himself before the Lord, the divine wrath that was intended to completely destroy him and the kingdom of Judah was averted. This act of humility prompted God's mercy, ensuring that destruction was not total. Furthermore, the presence of some moral or spiritual "good" within Judah contributed to the Lord's decision not to completely devastate the nation, signaling a divine preservation of a remnant or an underlying faithfulness that pleased Him.

2 Chronicles 12 12 Context

Chapter 12 of 2 Chronicles details the consequence of King Rehoboam and Judah's unfaithfulness to the Lord. Following three years of stability and adherence to God's law, Rehoboam "abandoned the law of the LORD" (12:1), leading to a swift invasion by King Shishak of Egypt, fulfilling prophetic warnings (12:2-5). The prophet Shemaiah delivers a message that because they have abandoned God, God has abandoned them to Shishak (12:5). Upon hearing this, Rehoboam and the princes of Israel humble themselves, acknowledging God's righteousness in their judgment (12:6). Verse 7 records God's immediate response to this humility: He declares He will not destroy them completely, but will give them over to Shishak to experience servitude, so they might know the difference between serving God and serving earthly kingdoms. Verse 12 then elaborates on the extent of God's mercy, explicitly connecting Rehoboam's act of humbling with the turning away of divine wrath and the preservation of good in Judah. Historically, this event signifies the continued decline of the united kingdom but also the Chronicler's emphasis on God's consistent responsiveness to repentance, however brief or superficial. Culturally, the act of humbling involved expressions of contrition such as wearing sackcloth and admitting guilt, recognized forms of appeasing divine anger in the ancient Near East, though the Chronicler always points to the heart of repentance directed toward Yahweh.

2 Chronicles 12 12 Word analysis

• When he humbled himself (בְּהִכָּנְעוֹ - bəhiḵḵānəʿô):
  • "he": Refers to King Rehoboam. His personal response is highlighted, as his position as king influenced the nation's spiritual state.
  • "humbled himself": From the Hebrew root kana' (כנע), meaning to be subdued, to submit, to abase oneself. It implies an internal change of posture and admission of guilt, not merely outward ceremony. This is crucial; God responds to genuine submission. It’s a deliberate act of choosing to submit to divine judgment rather than resisting it, thereby acknowledging God's rightful authority. The Chronicler frequently uses this term to describe kings (e.g., Manasseh, Hezekiah) who repent, resulting in divine favor.
• the wrath of the Lord (יְהוָה הֶחָרוֹן - YHVH heḥārôn):
  • "the wrath": From Hebrew charon (חָרוֹן), signifying fierce, burning anger, often specifically divine wrath. It highlights the serious nature of God's displeasure against sin and idolatry. It signifies a just and active judgment in response to the covenantal breaches committed by Rehoboam and Judah.
  • "of the Lord": Emphasizes that this wrath is divine, emanating from the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It is righteous wrath, not capricious anger.
• turned from him (וְשָׁב מִמֶּנּוּ - wəšāv mimmennû):
  • "turned": From Hebrew shuv (שׁוּב), meaning to turn, return, or repent. Here, it is God who turns, signifying His withdrawal of immediate and full judgment. It underlines God's readiness to relent from decreed punishment when there is a change of heart (humility) from His people. This illustrates His compassion and covenant faithfulness.
  • "from him": Indicates a redirection or cessation of the targeted divine judgment from Rehoboam.
• so as not to destroy him completely (לְבִלְתִּי כַלּוֹת - lĕbiltî ḵallôt):
  • "so as not": A negative purpose clause, showing the direct consequence of Rehoboam's humility. It’s a purposeful withholding of the ultimate penalty.
  • "destroy... completely": From Hebrew kalah (כלה), to finish, consume, utterly destroy. This signifies that despite their sin deserving total annihilation as per the covenant curses, God chose to spare them from the worst outcome. This highlights God’s grace amidst His justice, indicating that His intention was not utterly punitive, but redemptive and disciplinary.
• Moreover, in Judah good was found (וְגַם בִּיהוּדָה הָיוּ דְּבָרִים טוֹבִים - wəḡam bihyhûdāh hāyû dəvārim ṭôvîm):
  • "Moreover": Hebrew we-gam (וְגַם), emphasizing an additional reason or factor contributing to God's leniency. It’s not just Rehoboam’s action but a wider divine recognition.
  • "in Judah": Points to the whole kingdom, not just the king.
  • "good was found": Hebrew tovim (טוֹבִים) meaning "good things," "good matters," or simply "good." This could refer to a remnant of faithful people who still walked with God, or perhaps genuine adherence to aspects of the law by some. It might also reflect God’s overarching plan to preserve the lineage of David and His covenant people. It demonstrates God's profound grace and hope, finding reason for mercy even when the nation collectively had gone astray. This suggests God sees past the general sinfulness and identifies something worth preserving within the collective, however small.

2 Chronicles 12 12 Bonus section

The Chronicler, writing after the Babylonian exile, frequently emphasizes the power of repentance and humility as keys to averting disaster or bringing restoration. This verse is a prime example, serving as a pastoral encouragement to his post-exilic audience, reinforcing that national well-being depends on sincere spiritual posture, particularly in leadership. While Rehoboam's humility in 2 Chronicles 12:12 was effective in averting complete destruction, his subsequent life, as stated in 2 Chronicles 12:14 ("And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD"), reveals that this particular act of humility was temporary and lacked a lasting transformation of heart. This illustrates a critical distinction: temporary contrition can mitigate immediate judgment, but genuine, sustained humility and seeking after God are required for true and lasting spiritual prosperity. The preservation was an act of grace, giving opportunity for deeper change, which Rehoboam ultimately did not embrace fully. This nuance shows that God's immediate response to outward humility does not negate the requirement for inner devotion.

2 Chronicles 12 12 Commentary

2 Chronicles 12:12 reveals the profound truth of God's character: His immediate and gracious response to humility. Rehoboam and Judah had abandoned the Lord, bringing the just judgment of Shishak's invasion upon them. Yet, upon their admission of guilt and turning in humility, God's burning wrath was not executed to its full, consuming extent. This verse demonstrates that while God's justice is certain, His mercy is available even at the eleventh hour, activated by sincere repentance. The "good" found in Judah suggests a further layer of divine compassion; perhaps there were still faithful individuals, a functional temple worship, or an overarching divine purpose to preserve the Messianic line that precluded total destruction. This combination of the king's humbling and God's recognition of a spiritual remnant highlights God’s sovereign grace, which seeks to preserve and restore, rather than only to destroy. It underlines a core message of the Chronicler: the nation's fortunes are inextricably linked to its covenant fidelity and willingness to respond to God's judgments with humility and repentance. This serves as an eternal principle: a humble heart can turn the tide of divine discipline and usher in God’s restorative grace.For instance, in a personal spiritual struggle, turning away from pride and humbling oneself before God in prayer and confession often brings a sense of His grace and a turning of adverse circumstances. In communal settings, when a community acknowledges collective wrongdoing and genuinely seeks God’s forgiveness, breakthroughs and restoration can occur, just as the Lord responded to Judah.