Overview of 2 Chronicles 10:1–12:16
Unlike the Kings account of Rehoboam’s reign, which is only condemnatory regarding both Rehoboam and Judah (cf. the summary in 1 Kings 14:21–24), the Chronicler’s account relates a series of failures and successes, the Chronicler’s unique material being mainly positive (table 3.10).
TABLE 3.10: Comparison of 2 Chronicles 10–12 and 1 Kings
| 2 Chronicles | 1 Kings | |
|---|---|---|
| Division of the kingdom; the north revolts | 10:1–11:4 | 12:1–24 |
| Rehoboam’s successes, with priests and Levites and people coming from the north | 11:5–23 | — |
| Shishak of Egypt attacks(including they “abandoned [“forsook”] the law of the Lord”; “they humbled themselves,” and words of the prophet Shemaiah) | 12:1–12(vv. 1, 5–8, 12) | 1 Kings 14:25–28(—) |
| Concluding summary | 12:13–16 | 14:21, 29–31 |
While he omits details of Jeroboam’s reign in the north (1 Kings 12:25–14:18), the Chronicler’s account of Rehoboam’s successes, accompanying his faithfulness, is clearly structured as a contrast to Jeroboam (cf. Section Overview of 2 Chron. 11:5–23). His account of Shishak’s attacks is expanded to provide an example of the results of the king’s “abandoning” the Lord and subsequently “humbling himself” (12:1–12). The narrative continues the Chronicler’s encouragement to his hearers to “seek the Lord.”