But Rehoboam still ruled over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.
2 Chronicles 12:1 - Easy To Read Version Rehoboam became a strong king. He also made his kingdom strong. Then Rehoboam and the family group of Judah {\cf2\super [166]} refused to obey the law of the Lord. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition WHEN REHOBOAM had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. American Standard Version (1901) And it came to pass, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Jehovah, and all Israel with him. Common English Bible But as soon as Rehoboam had secured his royal power, he, along with all Israel, abandoned the LORD’s Instruction. Catholic Public Domain Version And when the kingdom of Rehoboam had been strengthened and fortified, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all of Israel with him. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And when the kingdom of Roboam was strengthened and fortified, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. |
But Rehoboam still ruled over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.
At the time that Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, became king of Judah, he was 41 years old. Rehoboam ruled in the city of Jerusalem for 17 years. This is the city in which the Lord chose to be honored. He chose this city from all the other cities of Israel. Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah. She was an Ammonite.
Other people will answer, ‘This happened because they left the Lord their God. He brought their ancestors out of Egypt. But they decided to follow other gods. They began to worship and serve those gods. That is why the Lord caused all these bad things to happen to them.’”
But even the people of Judah did not obey the commands of the Lord their God. The people of Judah lived just like the people of Israel.
Those people made the kingdom of Judah strong. And they supported Solomon’s son Rehoboam for three years. They did this because during that time they lived the way David and Solomon had lived.
Rehoboam acted wisely and spread all his sons through all the areas of Judah and Benjamin to every strong city. And Rehoboam gave plenty of supplies to his sons. He also looked for wives for his sons.
“Shemaiah, talk to Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, and the king of Judah. And talk to all the people of Israel living in Judah and Benjamin. Tell them:
King Rehoboam made himself a strong king in Jerusalem. He was 41 years old when he became king. Rehoboam was king in Jerusalem for 17 years. Jerusalem is the city that the Lord chose from all the family groups of Israel. The Lord chose to put his name there in Jerusalem. Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah. Naamah was from the country of Ammon.
The king and those leaders rejected the temple {\cf2\super [278]} of the Lord God. Their ancestors {\cf2\super [279]} followed the Lord God. They worshiped the Asherah poles {\cf2\super [280]} and other idols. God was angry with the people of Judah and Jerusalem because the king and those leaders were guilty.
The nation of Israel is full of guilt. This guilt is like a heavy weight the people have to carry. Those people are like bad children from evil families. They left the Lord. They insulted the Holy One (God) of Israel. They left him and treated him like a stranger.
People of this generation, pay attention\par to the Lord’s message!\par
“Ephraim {\cf2\super [141]} made himself very important in Israel. Ephraim spoke and people shook with fear. But Ephraim sinned—he began worshiping Baal. {\cf2\super [142]}
Why? Because you obey the laws of Omri. {\cf2\super [78]} \par You do all the \{bad\} things\par that Ahab’s family does.\par You follow their teachings.\par So I will let you be destroyed.\par People will whistle in amazement\par when they see your destroyed city.\par Then you will bear the shame\par that the other nations bring to you. {\cf2\super [79]} \par
“But Jeshurun [212] became fat and kicked {like a bull}. (Yes, you people were fed well! You became full and fat!) Then he left the God who made him! He ran away from the Rock who saved him.
You left the Rock (God) who made you; you forgot the God who gave you life.
When the people of Israel went out to fight, they always lost. They lost because the Lord was not on their side. The Lord had already warned the people of Israel that they would lose if they served the gods of the people living around them. The people of Israel suffered very much.