Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 12:4
He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative tracks Shishak’s invading army as it advances through Judah, reaching Jerusalem just before Shemaiah confronts Rehoboam and the gathered leaders about divine judgment.
The words — The Hebrew verb יִלְכֹּד (yil.kod) denotes a decisive seizure, while מְצֻרֹת (me.tzu.rot) specifies the fortified strongholds Rehoboam had previously constructed in Judah.
The thread — This campaign echoes the defensive network Rehoboam established in Judah (2 Chronicles 11:5) and parallels later invasions that sweep through the land (2 Kings 18:17; Isaiah 8:8).
Why it lands — The account demonstrates that military preparations cannot override divine judgment, requiring readers to recognize that political security is subordinate to covenant faithfulness.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 11:5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.
- 2 Kings 18:17 Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh, along with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced up to Jerusalem and stationed themselves by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.
- Isaiah 8:8 It will pour into Judah, swirling and sweeping over it, reaching up to the neck; its spreading streams will cover your entire land, O Immanuel!
- Isaiah 10:11 and as I have done to Samaria and its idols, will I not also do to Jerusalem and her idols?”
- Isaiah 36:1 In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked and captured all the fortified cities of Judah.
- Jeremiah 5:10 Go up through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not finish them off. Strip off her branches, for they do not belong to the LORD.