But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “You shall not go up or fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is from me.” ’ ” So they listened to Yahweh’s word, and returned and went their way, according to Yahweh’s word.
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But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam hurried to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against David’s house to this day. When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed David’s house, except for the tribe of Judah only. When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “You shall not go up or fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is from me.” ’ ” So they listened to Yahweh’s word, and returned and went their way, according to Yahweh’s word.
Parallel Translations
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But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
“Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,
‘Yahweh says, “You shall not go up or fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is from me.” ’ ” So they listened to Yahweh’s word, and returned and went their way, according to Yahweh’s word.
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But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
Show all 3 translations
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But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying:
'Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying:
Thus saith the LORD: Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel; return every man to his house; for this thing is of Me.' So they hearkened unto the word of the LORD, and returned and went their way, according to the word of the LORD.
Cross-references (22)
- Numbers 14:42 (v24) Don’t go up, for Yahweh isn’t among you; that way you won’t be struck down before your enemies.
- 1 Kings 11:29-38 (v24) At that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the way. Now Ahijah had clad himself with…
- 1 Kings 12:15 (v24) So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about from Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh spoke…
- 2 Chronicles 11:2 (v22) But Yahweh’s word came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
- 2 Chronicles 11:4 (v24) ‘Yahweh says, “You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me.” ’ ” So they…
Show all 22 cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 25:7-8 (v24) A man of God came to him, saying, “O king, don’t let the army of Israel go with you, for Yahweh is not with Israel, with all the children…
- Deuteronomy 33:1 (v22) This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
- 1 Kings 12:17 (v23) But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
- 1 Kings 13:1 (v22) Behold, a man of God came out of Judah by Yahweh’s word to Bethel; and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense.
- 1 Kings 13:4-5 (v22) When the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar,…
- 1 Kings 13:11 (v22) Now an old prophet lived in Bethel, and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel.…
- 1 Kings 17:18 (v22) She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!”
- 1 Kings 17:24 (v22) The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that Yahweh’s word in your mouth is truth.”
- 2 Kings 4:16 (v22) He said, “At this season, when the time comes around, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your…
- 2 Kings 4:22 (v22) She called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the servants, and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God, and…
- 2 Kings 4:25 (v22) So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold,…
- 2 Kings 4:27 (v22) When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said,…
- 2 Chronicles 12:5-7 (v22) Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and…
- 2 Chronicles 25:10 (v24) Then Amaziah separated them, the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again. Therefore their anger was greatly kindled…
- Hosea 8:4 (v24) They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn’t approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made…
- 1 Timothy 6:11 (v22) But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
- 2 Chronicles 28:9-15 (v24) But a prophet of Yahweh was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and said to them, “Behold,…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv22, 24 That is, the Prophet.
That is, the Prophet.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv22–24 1Ki 12:22 But the word of God came unto…
1Ki 12:22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
Ver. 22. But the word of God came.] God is said to have come to Balaam, to Laban, and to other profane wretches; but his "word" came only to "his holy prophets, which have been since the world began."
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv22, 24 The man of God, i.e. the prophet, so called,…
The man of God, i.e. the prophet, so called, partly to distinguish him from others of that name; see Neh 6:10; Jer 29:31; and partly to add the more weight to his words.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv22–24 Thus saith the Lord,.... A common preface the prophets…
Thus saith the Lord,.... A common preface the prophets used when they spoke in the name of the Lord:
ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel; and that because they were their brethren; though that is not the only reason, another follows:
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return every man to his house, for this thing is from me; it was according to the will of God, as Josephus rightly says (o); it was by his ordination and appointment, though Jeroboam and the people sinned in the way and manner in which they brought it about; and therefore to fight against Israel, in order to regain the kingdom, would be fighting against God, and so to no purpose:
they hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart according to the word of the Lord; they knew Shemaiah was a prophet of the Lord, and they believed the message he brought came from him, and therefore hearkened and were obedient to it; and with the consent of Rehoboam were disbanded, and returned to their habitations, being satisfied with, and submissive to, the will of God, both king and people.
(o) Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 8. c. 8. sect. 3.)
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v24 From me - This event is from my counsel…
From me - This event is from my counsel and providence, to punish Solomon's apostasy.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v24 Verse 24. For this thing is from me.] That…
Verse 24. For this thing is from me.] That is, the separation of the ten tribes from the house of David.
They - returned to depart] This was great deference, both in Rehoboam and his officers, to relinquish, at the demand of the prophet, a war which they thought they had good grounds to undertake. The remnant of the people heard the Divine command gratefully, for the mass of mankind are averse from war. No nations would ever rise up against each other, were they not instigated to it or compelled by the rulers.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v22 1Ki 12:22-24. The word of God came to Shemaiah…
1Ki 12:22-24. The word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God — The prophet so called, partly to distinguish him from others of that name, (see Neh 6:10; Jer 29:31,) and partly to add more weight to his words. It appears this prophet was very well known in the reign of Rehoboam, whose annals he is supposed to have written. Of what authority he was in Judah, we may learn from this passage, in which he is represented as prevailing with the king, and a hundred and fourscore thousand men, to lay down their arms, and return home, instead of proceeding to make war on their brethren as they had intended, merely by declaring that the division which had happened was by the order and appointment of God. — Calmet. This thing is from me — This event is from my counsel and providence, to punish Solomon’s apostacy. They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord — Either from a conscientious regard to their duty, or because they durst not oppose so potent an adversary.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv22–23 Shemaiah was the chief prophet in Judah during the…
Shemaiah was the chief prophet in Judah during the reign of Rehoboam, as Ahijah was in Israel. See the marginal references.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v24 Them. This shews the great authority of Semeias. He…
Them. This shews the great authority of Semeias. He wrote the history of Roboam, 2 Paralipomenon xii. 15. He also foretold the irruption of Sesac, to punish the house of Israel; but not to destroy it. (Calmet) --- The obedience of Roboam deserves applause; though it would have been a vain attempt to resist God, who was resolved to punish his family. (Menochius) --- God must have touched the hearts of the leaders, to convince them that he spoke by the mouth of Semeias. (Salien) --- The Vatican Septuagint here subjoins almost the whole history of Jeroboam, improperly. (Haydock) See chap. xiv.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv22–24 22. Shemaiah — With this man of God we…
22. Shemaiah — With this man of God we here meet for the first time, and though our knowledge of him is limited to a few scattered notices, we see in them how vast a moral power the prophets of this age wielded over the king and the nation. They and the converts of their ministry were the salt that preserved the nation through many a long year of idolatrous rebellion. Shemaiah seems to have been, during Rehoboam’s reign, pre-eminently the prophet of Judah. His word on this occasion, though doubtless much against the royal will, awed the king into submission. Again, in the time of Shishak’s invasion, he appeared, and his ministry was instrumental in averting the possible consequences of that invasion — the destruction of Jerusalem. 2Ch_12:5-7. He also composed a history of Rehoboam’s reign. 1Ki_12:15.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv22–24 22. the word of God] How Shemaiah and other…
22. the word of God] How Shemaiah and other prophets received their commission is not always explained. Sometimes it is said ‘the Lord sent’ (cf. 2Sa_12:1; 2Sa_12:25). The prompting by a vision in sleep is most frequently recorded, and this we may assume in other cases to have been the way in which God’s message came.
Shemaiah] Beside the present notice of him, Shemaiah is also mentioned at the time when Shishak, king of Egypt, invaded Judæa and besieged Jerusalem (2Ch_12:5; 2Ch_12:7). He then was sent with a message of comfort to the princes of Judah. In 2Ch_12:15 he is said to have written a chronicle of the reign of Rehoboam.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v22 (22) Shemaiah the man of God.—From the notices in…
(22) Shemaiah the man of God.—From the notices in 2Ch_12:5-8; 2Ch_12:15, it would seem that, while Ahijah belonged to Shiloh in Ephraim, and continued to dwell there, Shemaiah was rather attached to Judah, and hence, that his interference to protect the new kingdom was the more striking and unexpected. In this interposition, to which probably the very preservation of Jeroboam’s half-formed kingdom was due, there is a fresh indication of the great opportunity given to that kingdom to maintain itself, under the blessing of God and in devotion to His service. The phrase “your brethren, the children of Israel,” marks this with much emphasis.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv22–24 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah This…
But the word of God came unto Shemaiah This part of the history is probably derived from the "book" which this prophet wrote. (2Ch_12:15) When Keil describes him as "a prophet who is not mentioned again," he has surely overlooked, 2Ch_12:7, 2Ch_12:8, where we find him prophesying with reference to the army of Shishak the man of God a common expression in the books of Kings. It rarely occurs in the other Scriptures. This designation is not altogether synonymous with "prophet." It is used, for example, of angels, (Jud_1:13:6, 8) of Moses, (Deu_33:1) and of David, (2Ch_8:14) and would embrace any minister or servant of God, while aybin; is restricted to the teaching order. There were false prophets, but no false men of God. It is also worth considering whether the name of prophet may not have been practically restricted to, or bestowed by preference on, those who had received a prophetic training, the "sons of the prophets" who had been taught in the schools. (Cf. 1Sa_10:5-12 1Sa_19:20; Amo_7:14) saying.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v24 This thing is from me.
1Ki_12:24
This thing is from me.
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This thing is from me
I. Some events are specially from God. God is in events which are produced by the sin and the stupidity of men. This breaking up of the kingdom of Solomon into two parts was the result of Solomons sin and Rehoboams folly; yet God was in it. God had nothing to do with the sin or the folly, but in some way, which we can never explain, God was in it alL The most notable instance of this truth is the death of our Lord Jesus Christ; that was the greatest of human crimes, yet it was foreordained and predetermined of the Most High, to whom there can be no such thing as crime, nor any sort of compact with sire How, then, was this thing from God?
1. First, it was so as a matter of prophecy.
2. And, secondly, this thing was from God as a matter of punishment. God setteth evil against evil that He may destroy evil, and He uses that which cometh of human folly that He may manifest His own wisdom.
II. When events are seen to be from the Lord, they are not to be fought against. Rehoboam had summoned his soldiers to go to war against the house of Israel; but, inasmuch as it was from God that the ten tribes had revolted from him, he must not march into the territories of Israel, nor even shoot an arrow against them.
1. The thing that is happening to you is of the Lord, therefore resist it not, for it would be wicked to do so. If it be the Lords will, so may it be.
2. But, next, it is also vain, for what can we do against the will of God?
3. Next, it would be mischievous, and would be sure to bring a greater evil upon us if we did resist.
III. This general principle has many special applications. I believe it often happens that events are most distinctly from the Lord, and when it is so, our right and proper way is to yield to them.
1. A case in which this principle applies is when severe afflictions arise.
2. Sometimes, also, we are troubled by certain disquieting plans proposed by our friends or our children.
3. A very pleasant phase of this same truth is when some singular mercy comes. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Tracing events back to the final cause
The scribe is more properly said to write than the pen, and he that maketh and keepeth the clock is more properly said to make it go and strike than the wheels and poises that hang upon it, and every workman to effect his works rather than the tools which he useth as his instruments. So the Lord, who is the chief agent and mover in all actions, may more fitly be said to bring to pass all things which are done in the earth than any subordinate causes, as meat to nourish, clothes to keep us warm, the sun to lighten us, friends to provide for us, etc., seeing that they are but His instruments. (T. Downame.)
Gods overrule of national events
Those who care to watch the hand of God in history may soon discern this truth in this incident. The attempts of France to acquire the sovereignty of the British Isles, and the corresponding efforts of the earlier English kings to become what their coins so long styled them, King of France, have all been marvellously foiled by the Almighty Ruler of nations to the true welfare of both. Sir A. Alison has described the scene on the French coast in 1804, when the first Napoleon surveyed the flotilla which was to carry an invading army across the Channel, and saw them broken and dispersed by Him who rules the waves. God will not suffer the might or the cunning of man to wrest the sceptre from His hands.
God in history
The Old Testament philosophy of history regards all events as at once the results of human forces and of Gods purposes, and finds no contradiction in the double aspect. Rehoboam was no less a criminal fool, Jeroboam no less a crafty traitor, because they were both working out Gods purpose. The possible co-existence of freedom of action, necessarily involving responsibility, and Gods sovereignty, is inexplicable, and as certain as it is inexplicable. Metaphysicians and metaphysical theologians may fumble at, or cut, the knot till doomsday, but it will not be untied or denied. Rehoboam ran the ship on the rocks, but God willed that it should be wrecked. But another mystery emerges, for the Divine resolve to shatter the kingdom was due to the thwarting of the Divine purpose in establishing it. Sovereign as that Divine will is, man has power to oppose it and to block its course, and lead to changes of its direction, as we sometimes hear of an army of caterpillars stopping a train. Gods methods vary, but His purposes remain the same. The ship tacks as the wind shifts, but its always steering for the one port. The unifying of the tribes into a kingdom, and the disruption of the kingdom, were equally in the Divine plan, and were both, in a real sense, also the direct results of mens sin and opposition to God. Hence it follows that the history of the world is the judgment of the world. The natural consequences of national acts are the punishments or rewards of these acts. Solomons tyranny, Rehoboams folly, the rebels indifference to the unity of the nation worked out the catastrophe, which was both a political effect, produced by political causes, and a Divine judgment, and was the latter just because it was the former. For nations, and for individuals, God makes whips to scourge them of their vices, and in the mighty maze of human acts, has so ordered the issues of things that every transgression and disobedience receives its just recompense of reward. So the undevout historian is mad. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v22 the word of God came ... it said
the word of God came ... it said
This is an idiom that is used to introduce something that God told his prophets or his people. AT: "God spoke this message ... and he said" or "God spoke these words ... and he said" (See: Idiom)
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Shemaiah
This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)
the man of God
The expression "man of God" is a respectful way of referring to a prophet of Yahweh. AT: "the man who belongs to God" or "the prophet of God"
all the house of Judah and Benjamin
Here "house" is a metonym that represents a tribe or descendants. AT: "all the people from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin" (See: Metonymy)
your brothers the people of Israel
The words "brothers" and "people of Israel" are a doublet that refer to the men of the ten northern tribes and emphasize the family relationship between them and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. (See: Doublet)
for this thing has been made to happen by me
This can be stated in active form. AT: "because I have made this thing happen" (See: Active or Passive)
translationWords
word of God
man of God
Yahweh
brother
Israel
obey
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.