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2 Chronicles 11:5-12
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah…

Isaiah 36:1
Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah,that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.

Jeremiah 5:10
Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for theyare not the LORD'S.

came

2 Kings 18:17
And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, whichis in the highway of the fuller's field.

Isaiah 8:8
And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reacheven to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

Isaiah 10:11
Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?

and came as far as Jerusalem
Jerusalem, the capital city, was the political and spiritual center of Judah. Shishak's advance to Jerusalem signifies a direct threat to the heart of the nation. Historically, this event occurred around 925 BC, during a time when Egypt was regaining power after a period of decline. Theologically, this invasion serves as a divine judgment against Rehoboam and the people of Judah for abandoning the covenant with God. The fact that Shishak did not destroy Jerusalem but instead took treasures from the temple and the royal palace (2 Chronicles 12:9) can be seen as a merciful act of God, allowing the city to remain intact. This incident foreshadows future sieges of Jerusalem, such as those by the Babylonians, and serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.

Shishak, king of Egypt, is the “he.” The verse records the historical fact that his forces overpowered Judah’s defenses.

•2 Chronicles 12:2–3 explains why: “Because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem … with twelve hundred chariots.” Disobedience opened the door to invasion.

• Scripture consistently ties defeat to covenant unfaithfulness (Deuteronomy 28:25;Judges 2:14).

• The literal capture underscores God’s justice; He had warned Solomon and Rehoboam that turning from Him would bring foreign domination (1 Kings 9:6–9;1 Kings 14:22–24).

Rehoboam had strengthened these towns earlier (2 Chronicles 11:5–12), yet human fortifications could not stand when the LORD withdrew His protection.

•Psalm 127:1 reminds us, “Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

• Shishak’s success shows that earthly security is fragile apart from faithfulness. Even “fortified” places fall when sin dulls spiritual vigilance (Isaiah 22:8).

• The loss of multiple outposts isolated Jerusalem, cutting supply lines and striking fear throughout the land—exactly the discipline God said He would bring (Leviticus 26:17).

The invaders reached Judah’s capital, bringing crisis to the very center of worship and government.

•1 Kings 14:25–26 parallels the account, noting that Shishak plundered the temple treasures, fulfilling the warning of1 Kings 9:7–9.

• Yet God’s mercy is evident: He allowed the enemy to come “as far as” Jerusalem but not to destroy it. When Rehoboam and the leaders humbled themselves, the LORD declared, “I will grant them some deliverance” (2 Chronicles 12:7).

• This pattern—discipline leading to repentance, followed by partial relief—echoes again in Hezekiah’s day (2 Chronicles 32:20–22) and ultimately foreshadows the greater deliverance in Christ (Luke 21:22–24, yetRomans 11:26).

2 Chronicles 12:4 records a literal military advance that God used to chasten His people. Shishak’s capture of Judah’s fortified cities and his approach to Jerusalem remind us that:

• No earthly defense can substitute for covenant faithfulness.

• Sin invites tangible consequences, but humble repentance invites mercy.

• Even in judgment, God keeps His promises and preserves a remnant.

The verse calls believers to trust the LORD as their true stronghold and to walk in obedience so that His protection remains over their lives.

Came to (so far as to)Jerusalem.--Comp.Isaiah 36:1-2. The verse is not in Kings. Thenius (on1Kings 14:26) says that the chronicler has here made use of "really historical notices." It is self-evident.

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