2 Chronicles 12 7

2 Chronicles 12:7 kjv

And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

2 Chronicles 12:7 nkjv

Now when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

2 Chronicles 12:7 niv

When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: "Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.

2 Chronicles 12:7 esv

When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: "They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

2 Chronicles 12:7 nlt

When the LORD saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah: "Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 12 verses

2 Chronicles 12 7 Meaning

2 Chronicles 12:7 illustrates a pivotal moment where God's threatened, severe judgment is mitigated by His people's act of humility. Having strayed from the Lord and invited an invasion by Pharaoh Shishak, Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah confessed their unrighteousness and humbled themselves. Upon seeing this internal shift and external acknowledgment of dependence, God immediately responds through His prophet Shemaiah. He declares that the nation will not suffer total destruction, but will experience a partial deliverance. This verse showcases God's readiness to extend mercy and restrain His fierce wrath when humility and repentance are present, even while allowing certain consequences of sin to remain as discipline. It underscores divine justice tempered by compassion and fidelity to covenant.

2 Chronicles 12 7 Context

Chapter 12 opens by recounting that after securing his kingdom, King Rehoboam and all Israel abandoned the Law of the Lord. This act of spiritual apostasy incurred God's immediate judgment, manifest in the invasion by Shishak, king of Egypt, with a vast army. Shishak seized fortified cities in Judah, threatening Jerusalem itself. When the prophet Shemaiah delivers God's message of impending judgment – that they would be delivered into Shishak's hand because they had forsaken the Lord – Rehoboam and the princes respond with humility, confessing, "The LORD is righteous!" This verse (2 Chr 12:7) is God's direct and merciful response to that profound act of humility, showing His willingness to restrain full wrath. The immediate historical context places this event around 925 BC, confirming a documented Egyptian campaign under Sheshonk I. For the chronicler, Shishak's invasion is not merely a political event but a divine intervention, a disciplinary measure for Judah's unfaithfulness.

2 Chronicles 12 7 Word analysis

• When the LORD: This signifies God's active presence and immediate awareness. "LORD" (Yahweh, YHWH) emphasizes His covenantal identity and sovereign authority as the God who watches over His people.

• saw: The Hebrew verb rā’āh means to observe or perceive. It indicates God's omniscience and attentiveness, that He keenly discerned the internal attitude and external actions of their humility. God sees beyond outward appearance into the heart.

• that they humbled themselves: The core action. The Hebrew niḵnā‘û (Nifal perfect of kāna‘) denotes "to be subdued," "to abase oneself," or "to submit." It's an intentional act of self-humiliation, an admission of their sin, acknowledging God's righteous judgment and their dependence on Him.

• the word of the LORD: This highlights divine revelation. It's a specific, authoritative message from God, communicated through a chosen prophet. It underlines God's direct intervention and communication in human affairs.

• came to Shemaiah: Indicates God's consistent use of prophets as messengers to communicate His will and judgments, often at critical moments for His people. Shemaiah was a known prophet active during Rehoboam's reign.

• saying, 'They have humbled themselves;': The repetition of this phrase (from the first part of the verse) serves as God's direct confirmation and emphatic acknowledgment of their humble response. God affirms their repentance.

• therefore I will not destroy them: God's merciful decision to withhold total annihilation. The Hebrew šāmad means to utterly cut off, to exterminate. This signals a turning point from deserved judgment to an act of divine preservation.

• but I will grant them some deliverance: Hebrew pelēṭāh qaṭṭan. Pelēṭāh means "escape" or "survival," signifying being spared. Qaṭṭan means "small" or "little," indicating a partial, not complete, deliverance. They would escape utter destruction, but still endure hardship as servants to Shishak (as detailed in verse 8). It's a mixed outcome of grace and discipline.

• and My wrath: Hebrew ḥărôn 'apî, "burning of My nose/anger." This idiom expresses the intensity and fierceness of God's righteous anger and displeasure over their rebellion.

• will not be poured out: The verb nātak ("to pour out") creates a powerful imagery of unrestrained, overwhelming judgment, like a deluge. God's act of "not pouring out" demonstrates active restraint of His full indignation.

• on Jerusalem: The target of judgment, representing not only the city but also the people, the temple, and the Davidic dynasty. God's specific mercy ensures the holy city's preservation from complete obliteration.

• through Shishak.: Identifies Shishak not as an independent conqueror but as an instrument of divine judgment. God is sovereign, using even pagan kings to achieve His purposes, but restraining them according to His will.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came... saying, 'They have humbled themselves;'": This immediate and direct sequence highlights God's divine observation, immediate communication, and explicit acknowledgment of the people's repentance. It's a demonstration of divine response to human humility.
  • "therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance": This pairing vividly illustrates the blend of justice and mercy. While deserving of complete annihilation due to their rebellion, God's compassion steps in to preserve them, yet a consequence (partial deliverance and subservience) remains.
  • "and My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.": This emphasizes God's active control over the impending disaster. His "wrath" is depicted as something potentially overwhelming, but actively withheld and channeled through a designated agent (Shishak) to ensure a disciplined, rather than utterly destructive, outcome.

2 Chronicles 12 7 Bonus section

• The Power of Repentance, however imperfect: This account highlights that God looks upon sincere humility, even if it does not lead to complete moral reformation or lasts indefinitely. Rehoboam’s future actions (e.g., v. 14 indicates he "did evil") suggest his humility was perhaps momentary or not deeply rooted, yet it was sufficient for God to extend grace in that specific moment of crisis.
• God's Purpose in Judgment: The partial deliverance and being made servants to Shishak, as noted in the subsequent verses (12:8), serve a pedagogical purpose. God declares: "that they may know My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries." The bitter experience of foreign domination was to teach them that serving other nations (or their gods) was far more burdensome than serving the Lord.
• Consistent Theme in Chronicles: The Chronicler frequently underscores the principle of immediate retribution and reward. Here, national humility quickly brings about the relaxation of an impending divine judgment, reinforcing the message that God directly and responsively governs the affairs of His people based on their obedience or repentance.

2 Chronicles 12 7 Commentary

2 Chronicles 12:7 powerfully conveys God's nature as both righteous Judge and merciful Father. The crisis with Shishak, explicitly sent as divine judgment for Judah's forsaking the Lord, is suddenly tempered when King Rehoboam and his officials express humility. This act of "humbling themselves," an admission of guilt and turning toward God, catches the divine eye. God immediately responds, revealing through Shemaiah that total destruction would be averted. While the invasion's sting would not be completely removed, ensuring the consequence of sin, the city of Jerusalem and its people would not suffer utter desolation. This episode showcases God's prompt compassion toward even a fragile, possibly temporary, repentance, providing hope that genuine humility can avert or mitigate the severest expressions of divine wrath, reaffirming God's desire for reconciliation.