Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 12:5
Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have forsaken Me; therefore, I have forsaken you into the hand of Shishak.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Shemaiah the prophet addresses King Rehoboam and the gathered leaders of Judah in Jerusalem as Shishak’s forces advance. The prophet delivers a direct declaration from the LORD regarding their immediate crisis.
The words — הַנָּבִיא (ha-navi') translates literally as "the prophet," establishing Shemaiah’s official capacity. בָּא (ba') means "he came," marking the prophet’s physical arrival at the assembly.
The thread — This pattern of a prophet relaying divine judgment to a royal court appears in 2 Chronicles 11:2 and 1 Kings 12:22, where Shemaiah similarly receives and announces the word of the LORD to kings and officials.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that political collapse follows deliberate abandonment of divine authority, demanding immediate humility rather than strategic defense.
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
Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the Lord, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 11:2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:
- 2 Chronicles 15:2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
- 1 Kings 12:22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:
- Deuteronomy 28:15 If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
- Judges 10:9 The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, and Israel was in deep distress.
- 2 Samuel 24:14 David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
- 2 Chronicles 12:1 After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israel with him forsook the Law of the LORD.
- Psalms 37:33 the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment.
- Jeremiah 2:19 Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.