REHOBOAM, Sylvester Hassell Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, did well for a few years of his reign. He ruled wisely, and walked in the way of the better days of his father and grandfather. His reign was honored and revered, and so devotional was he that numbers of the priests, Levites and people of Israel, moved into Judea away from the idolatry and oppression of their own rulers.
But a sudden change came over the mind of Rehoboam. So soon as he felt established on his throne and everything seemed prosperous around him, he forsook the law of the Lord and plunged into idolatry and almost every vice, and drew most of his subjects with him. God brought down his high looks and defiant attitude by sending Shishak, king of Egypt, to look after him. He invaded Judah, took the fenced cities, and approached Jerusalem.
He and his princes came down at once, at the preaching of the prophet Shemaiah and the approach of Shishak’s army, confessed their faults and pleaded for mercy, as did the Ninevites at the preaching of Jonah. The Lord hearkened and saved them from destruction by causing the invading forces to turn away after they had taken the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house and Solomon’s shields of Gold.
There was strong opposition by God’s spiritual children in Judea all the time to the wicked devices of the king; but they were in the minority, as usual, and could not prevail. Rehoboah did better after this, but never altogether reformed (II Chron. 11:5-23; 12:1-16; I Kings 14:22-24). (Hassell’s History ppg 124, 125)