1And when Rehoboam had stablished the kingdom, and made it strong, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him,
2wherefore the fifth year of king Rehoboam, Sesak the king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem because they had transgressed against the LORD
3with twelve hundredth chariots and three score thousand horsemen. And the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt, with them of Libia, and the Succhites and the blackmoors.
4And they took the strong cities that were in Juda and came to Jerusalem.
5Then came Semeiah the Prophet to Rehoboam and to the lords of Juda that were gathered to Jerusalem for fear of Sesak, and said to them: thus sayeth the LORD, ye have left me, and therefore will I leave you also in the hands of Sesak.
6Whereupon the lords of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said: the LORD is righteous.
7And when the LORD saw that they submitted themselves, the word of the LORD came to Semeiah saying: they meek themselves, and therefore I will not destroy them. But I will deliver them somewhat, and my wrath shall not fall upon Jerusalem.
8Neverthelater they shall be his servants, to know what difference is between my service and the service of the kingdoms of other lands.
9And Sesak king of Egypt came to Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and shortly he took all. And he took also the shields of gold which Salomon made.
10Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and put them in the keeping of the captains of his guard which waited in the gate of the king's house.
11And as oft as the king went to the house of the LORD, the guard went and fetched them, and brought them again unto the guard chamber.
12And so because he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, and destroyed not all together. And thereto there were many good things yet in Juda.
13And king Rehoboam waxed mighty in Jerusalem and reigned. And Rehoboam was forty one year old when he was made king, and he reigned seventeen year in Jerusalem the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonite.
14And he did evil: for he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
15The acts of Rehoboam first and last are written in the sayings of Semeiah the Prophet and of Ado the sear of visions, so much as his genealogy and the perpetual war that was between Rehoboam and Jeroboam during their life.
16And Rehoboam laid him to sleep with his fathers and was buried in the city of David, and Abiah his son reigned in his stead.