“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.”
Israel, in his dominions. The kingdom of Jeroboam had long before apostatized, though there were still many true servants of God, who would not bend the knee before Baal, ver. 12. (Haydock)
“With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.”
Troglodites, who dwell in caverns, near the Red Sea. Pliny ([Natural History?] v. 8., and vi. 29.) speaks of the city Suca, which in Hebrew means a tent, as here we read succiyim, (Haydock) “dwelling in tents;” which some explain of the Arabs, who are called Scenites, on the same account. (Tirinus) — People of this description, without any fixed abode, inhabited the Stony as well as the Desert Arabia, chap. xiv. 14.
“And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. some: or, a little while”
A little help. I will not suffer them to be quite destroyed. Hebrew also signifies, “shortly.” (Calmet) — Fall, (stillabit) like drops of water, even to the last. (Haydock) — How soon is God appeased! (Tirinus) — Even when he punishes, he does not let the whole flood of his indignation fall upon the guilty. (Menochius)
“Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.”
Bearers. Hebrew, “runners,” as the guards attended the king on foot.
“And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well. and also: or, and yet in Judah there were good things”
For even. Protestants, “and also in Judah things went well;” (Haydock) or, “he spoke good words even to Juda.” (Calmet) — Septuagint, “for even in Juda there were good words, and in all pleasing.” Words are often put for works. (Haydock) — The Lord regarded the fidelity of some, and the humility of the princes. (Calmet) — This advantage was derived from tribulation, that the king entered into himself, at least for a time: (Haydock) but he was not constant, ver. 14. After the scourge was withdrawn, he presently relapsed. He had betrayed great cowardice, as even his son confessed; and had probably been treated with great indignity, (Tirinus) as it was the custom with Sesac, or Sesostris, to chain the conquered princes to his triumphal car, and to leave obscene representations of women in the country. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] viii. 4.) (Herodotus ii.) — Sesostris proceeded to the conquest of Asia. (Tirinus)
“And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. prepared: or, fixed”
Lord, with sincerity, being actuated only by a servile fear. He died impenitent. (Calmet)
“Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. book: Heb. words”
And diligently. Hebrew, “in their genealogical accounts.” (Haydock) See chap. xiii. 22.