This verse (2 Chronicles 12:15) is essentially a conclusion to the account of Rehoboam's reign. It provides a reference point for further information about him and mentions the continuing conflict between his kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam. Let's break it down:
"Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last...": This indicates that the previous verses haven't told the entire story of Rehoboam. There's more to his reign than just what's been covered in 2 Chronicles 10-12. "First and last" implies a complete account from the beginning to the end of his time as king.
"...aren’t they written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, in the genealogies?": This points to the existence of other written sources that contained more details about Rehoboam. These sources included:
Histories of Shemaiah the prophet: Shemaiah was a prophet who had already appeared in the narrative (2 Chronicles 12:5-8). This suggests that he kept records of events during Rehoboam's reign, likely from a prophetic or religious perspective.
Histories of Iddo the seer: Iddo was also a seer (another term for prophet). This indicates multiple prophetic sources were consulted and recorded events from a divine perspective.
In the genealogies: Genealogies in ancient Israel were more than just family trees. They often included historical notes and information about the people listed within them, providing context and details about their lives and actions. These genealogies might have shed light on Rehoboam's family background, his connections, and even events that influenced his reign.
The phrase "aren't they written" is a rhetorical device that strongly suggests these sources did exist and were known to the original audience of Chronicles. The author is directing readers who wanted more detail about Rehoboam to consult these other, presumably authoritative, texts.
"There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.": This highlights the ongoing conflict between the southern kingdom of Judah (ruled by Rehoboam) and the northern kingdom of Israel (ruled by Jeroboam). This conflict was a major theme in the history of the divided kingdoms, stemming from the split of the united kingdom of Israel after Solomon's death. "Continually" emphasizes that the war wasn't a single event but a series of ongoing skirmishes, raids, and possibly larger battles throughout their reigns. This instability and warfare characterized their relationship and significantly impacted both kingdoms.
In Summary:
Verse 2 Chronicles 12:15 serves as a summary and a pointer to further information. It tells us that:
The Chronicles account of Rehoboam is not exhaustive; more details can be found elsewhere.
Reliable historical sources, including prophetic writings and genealogical records, documented Rehoboam's reign.
The conflict between Judah and Israel was a constant and defining feature of Rehoboam's reign.
The verse helps the reader understand that the Chronicler is not presenting a complete picture of Rehoboam's reign but rather highlighting key events and themes, while also acknowledging the existence of other, potentially more detailed, sources.
This verse (2 Chronicles 12:15) is essentially a conclusion to the account of Rehoboam's reign. It provides a reference point for further information about him and mentions the continuing conflict between his kingdom of Judah and the kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam. Let's break it down:
"Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last...": This indicates that the previous verses haven't told the entire story of Rehoboam. There's more to his reign than just what's been covered in 2 Chronicles 10-12. "First and last" implies a complete account from the beginning to the end of his time as king.
"...aren’t they written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, in the genealogies?": This points to the existence of other written sources that contained more details about Rehoboam. These sources included:
Histories of Shemaiah the prophet: Shemaiah was a prophet who had already appeared in the narrative (2 Chronicles 12:5-8). This suggests that he kept records of events during Rehoboam's reign, likely from a prophetic or religious perspective.
Histories of Iddo the seer: Iddo was also a seer (another term for prophet). This indicates multiple prophetic sources were consulted and recorded events from a divine perspective.
In the genealogies: Genealogies in ancient Israel were more than just family trees. They often included historical notes and information about the people listed within them, providing context and details about their lives and actions. These genealogies might have shed light on Rehoboam's family background, his connections, and even events that influenced his reign.
The phrase "aren't they written" is a rhetorical device that strongly suggests these sources did exist and were known to the original audience of Chronicles. The author is directing readers who wanted more detail about Rehoboam to consult these other, presumably authoritative, texts.
"There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.": This highlights the ongoing conflict between the southern kingdom of Judah (ruled by Rehoboam) and the northern kingdom of Israel (ruled by Jeroboam). This conflict was a major theme in the history of the divided kingdoms, stemming from the split of the united kingdom of Israel after Solomon's death. "Continually" emphasizes that the war wasn't a single event but a series of ongoing skirmishes, raids, and possibly larger battles throughout their reigns. This instability and warfare characterized their relationship and significantly impacted both kingdoms.
In Summary:
Verse 2 Chronicles 12:15 serves as a summary and a pointer to further information. It tells us that:
The Chronicles account of Rehoboam is not exhaustive; more details can be found elsewhere.
Reliable historical sources, including prophetic writings and genealogical records, documented Rehoboam's reign.
The conflict between Judah and Israel was a constant and defining feature of Rehoboam's reign.
The verse helps the reader understand that the Chronicler is not presenting a complete picture of Rehoboam's reign but rather highlighting key events and themes, while also acknowledging the existence of other, potentially more detailed, sources.