4. Shishak defeated the strong cities of Judah. Then Shishak brought his army to Jerusalem.
5. Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah. The leaders of Judah had gathered together in Jerusalem because they all were afraid of Shishak. Shemaiah said to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Rehoboam, you and the people of Judah have left me and refused to obey my law. So now I will leave you to face Shishak without my help.’”
6. Then the leaders of Judah and King Rehoboam were sorry and humbled themselves. They said, “The Lord is right.”
7. The Lord saw that the king and the leaders of Judah had humbled themselves. Then the message from the Lord came to Shemaiah. The Lord said, “The king and the leaders humbled themselves. So I will not destroy them, but I will save them soon. I will not use Shishak to pour out my anger on Jerusalem.
8. But the people of Jerusalem will become Shishak’s servants. This will happen so that they may learn that serving me is different from serving the kings of other nations.”
9. Shishak took the treasures from the Lord’S Temple and from the king’s palace. He also took the gold shields that Solomon had made.
10. King Rehoboam made more shields to put in their places, but they were made from bronze. He gave them to the guards on duty at the palace gates.
11. Every time the king went to the Lord’S Temple, the guards took out the shields and went with him. After they were finished, they put the shields back on the wall in the guardroom.
12. Rehoboam humbled himself, and the Lord stopped being angry with him. So he did not completely destroy Rehoboam. There was some good in Judah.