Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 12

Introduction

The narrative of this chapter is much fuller than its parallel in 1 Kings 14:21-31. It emphasizes the religious causes of Rehoboam’s misfortunes, mentions the number and composition of Shishak’s forces, the appearance and words of the prophet Shemaiah, the penitence of the king and the princes, and the compassion of Jehovah.

Verse 3

3. The Lubim Libyans, Daniel 11:43; probably identical with the Lehabim of Genesis 10:13. They were an African nation, apparently under Egyptian rule, and are repeatedly mentioned in connexion with the Egyptians and Ethiopians. Compare 1 Chronicles 16:8; Nahum 3:9. They peopled the African coast along the Mediterranean, west of Egypt.

The Sukkiim “This name does not occur elsewhere. The Seventy, who rendered the word by ‘Troglodytes,’ regarded the Sukkiim probably as the ‘ cave-dwellers’ along the western shore of the Red Sea, who are mentioned by Strabo and others; but the conjecture of Gesenius, that the word means ‘tent dwellers,’ is plausible, and would point rather to a tribe of Arabs.” Rawlinson. The Ethiopians inhabited the country south of Egypt, which was watered by the Upper Nile. Compare 2 Kings 19:9; Esther 1:1.

Verse 5

5. Shemaiah the prophet See note on 1 Kings 12:22. The powerful influence of this prophet over the king and the princes is here very noticeable. The time had not yet come when the kings of Judah dared treat Jehovah’s prophets with contempt. Compare 2 Chronicles 16:10; 2Ch 24:19 ; 2 Chronicles 33:10.

Verse 15

15. Book of Shemaiah Probably an account of his life and prophecies written by himself.

Iddo the seer concerning genealogies Apparently a different work from that mentioned in 1 Chronicles 9:29. Comp. 2 Chronicles 13:22, and Introduction.