KING OF EGYPT · UNITED KINGDOM

Shishak. He sheltered Jeroboam, then plundered Jerusalem in Rehoboam's fifth year.

REIGNEDi

Not given c. 943–923 BC (dates vary)

CAPITAL

Not stated

HOUSE

Not stated 5th of 9 in Egypt

SCRIPTURE SAYS

“Jeroboam "fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon".”

PROPHETS

Shemaiah

EGYPT: 9 RULERS PHARAOH OF JOSEPH'S DAY → HOPHRA

ON THE WORLD STAGE

The powers of the day

ISRAEL (THE NORTH)

Jeroboam I

JUDAH

Rehoboam

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · 10TH CENTURY BC

Shoshenq I's relief at Karnak

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · 10TH CENTURY BC

What the Karnak list does not say

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · SHOSHENQ I'S 21ST YEAR

The Silsileh quarry stela

SUCCESSION

Before and after

THE REALM

The places Scripture names

Egypt. Only places Scripture names are shown, each where the Atlas puts it.

WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS

What Scripture says of him

  • Jeroboam "fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon". 1 Kings 11:40
  • "In the fifth year of king Rehoboam ... Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem" and took the treasures of the temple and the palace and Solomon's shields of gold. 1 Kings 14:25–26
  • Chronicles: he came "because they had transgressed against the LORD", with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen and peoples without number: "the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians". 2 Chronicles 12:2–3
  • Shemaiah: "Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak." 2 Chronicles 12:5
  • When Judah humbled itself, the LORD said his wrath would not be poured out "by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless they shall be his servants". 2 Chronicles 12:7–8

DEALINGS

Dealings with God's people

  • Chronicles ties the invasion to Rehoboam's forsaking "the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him". 2 Chronicles 12:1–2
  • The king and princes humbled themselves and said, "The LORD is righteous". 2 Chronicles 12:6
  • Rehoboam replaced Solomon's gold shields with brass. 1 Kings 14:27
  • Jeroboam, fleeing Solomon, went to Shishak and stayed in Egypt until Solomon's death. 1 Kings 11:40
  • Judah was to serve Shishak, "that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries". 2 Chronicles 12:8
  • His army brought "the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians" (Chronicles). 2 Chronicles 12:3

EVENTS

Wars, works and turning points

UNDATED IN SCRIPTURE

PROPHETS

The prophets who spoke about him

  • Sh Shemaiah “Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.”

TWO ACCOUNTS

Where the accounts differ

How much is told

1 KINGS

2 CHRONICLES

Why he came

1 KINGS

2 CHRONICLES

DATES DIFFER

When was it?

SCRIPTURE'S NUMBERS

No years given

No regnal years. Scripture dates his invasion only by Rehoboam's fifth year (1 Kgs 14:25; 2 Chr 12:2).

HORNUNG, KRAUSS AND WARBURTON (2006), FOR SHOSHENQ I

c. 943–923 BC[1]

Table, p. 493: 943–923.

BREASTED (1906), FOR SHOSHENQ I

c. 945–924 BC[2][4]

Chronological table: "21 (+0?) years 945–924 B.C." He dates the campaign "probably about 926 B.C." (vol. IV §709).

T. NICOL, ISBE (1915), FOR SHOSHENQ I

c. 952–930 BC[14]

"952–930 BC".

Probably about 926 BC

J. H. Breasted (1906)

Breasted places the campaign in Rehoboam's fifth year, "probably about 926 B.C.", in the latter half of Shoshenq's reign, before the year-21 building that carried its relief. 1 Kings 14:25 [4]

About 926/925 BC

Rehoboam's fifth year on McFall's revision of Thiele (1991)

McFall's table starts Rehoboam in 931/930 BC, so Rehoboam's fifth year, when Scripture puts the invasion, falls about 926/925 BC. 1 Kings 14:25 2 Chronicles 12:2 [31]

IN SCRIPTURE

Every passage

CHAPTERS · 5

1 Kings 11 1 Kings 12 1 Kings 14 2 Chronicles 10 2 Chronicles 12

PASSAGES · 5

1 Kings 11:40 1 Kings 12:2 1 Kings 14:25–28 2 Chronicles 10:2 2 Chronicles 12:1–12

WHAT SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SAY

  • Scripture does not say why Shishak sheltered Jeroboam.
  • Scripture does not say that Shishak fought for Jerusalem; both books say he "came up against Jerusalem" and took its treasures.
  • Scripture names none of the fenced cities he took.
  • None of the Egyptian records used for this page names Rehoboam or Jeroboam.

IDENTIFICATIONS THIS PAGE RELIES ON

  • Scholars' viewShishak is identified with Shoshenq I, founder of Egypt's 22nd dynasty. Champollion, reading the Karnak relief in 1828, wrote that the identity he had proposed was confirmed there; Breasted (1906) and Nicol (1915) follow it. 1 Kings 14:25 [8][4][14]

SOURCES

Where this page comes from

  • E. Hornung, R. Krauss and D. A. Warburton (eds.), Ancient Egyptian Chronology (Handbook of Oriental Studies 83; facts only) (2006), Chronological table for the dynastic period, pp. 490–495; Kushite rulers, p. 496.
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. I (Chronology) (1906), §§67–75, pp. 44–47 (chronological table).
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. III (1906), §§603–605, 617, pp. 257–258, 264 (Merneptah's Hymn of Victory).
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. IV (1906), §§701–724A, pp. 344–358 (Silsileh stela; great Karnak relief; Karnak stela).
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. IV (1906), §892, pp. 454–455 (Tanis stela of Taharka).
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. IV (1906), §§974–975, 984, pp. 497–501 (Serapeum stelae of Necho's and Apries' reigns).
  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. IV (1906), §§996–1007, pp. 509–512 (Elephantine stela of Amasis).
  • J.-F. Champollion, Lettres écrites d'Égypte et de Nubie en 1828 et 1829 (1833), seventh letter (Thebes, 24 November 1828), p. 99.
  • W. M. Flinders Petrie, "Egypt", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. II (1915), pp. 911–913 (§§4–19, the connections with the Old Testament).
  • C. R. Conder, "Exodus, The", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. II (1915), pp. 1053–1055 (§§II–III, the date; the theory of Lepsius).
  • Edward Mack, "Chronology of the Old Testament", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. I (1915), p. 641.
  • M. G. Kyle, "Pharaoh", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. IV (1915), p. 2359.
  • M. G. Kyle, "Joseph", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. III (1915), pp. 1738–1739.
  • T. Nicol, "Shishak", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. IV (1915), pp. 2777–2778.
  • T. Nicol, "So", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. IV (1915), p. 2820.
  • T. Nicol, "Pharaoh Hophra", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. IV (1915), pp. 2359–2360.
  • T. Nicol, "Pharaoh-necoh", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. IV (1915), p. 2360.
  • T. G. Pinches, "Tirhakah", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. V (1915), p. 2986.
  • C. M. Cobern, "Zerah (the Ethiopian)", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, vol. V (1915), pp. 3146–3147.
  • S. R. Driver, The Book of Exodus (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1911), Introduction §4, p. xxx; p. xlii, note 5.
  • Herodotus, tr. G. C. Macaulay, The History of Herodotus, vol. 1 (1890), Book II, §§158–159, 161, 169; Book IV, §42.
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§5, 18, 55, pp. 5, 7–8, 26–27 (Sargon's annals and display inscription).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§573, 580, pp. 224–227 (the Senjirli stele).
  • D. D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§770–771, 778, pp. 292–296 (Ashurbanipal's first campaign against Egypt); §906, p. 351.
  • D. D. Luckenbill (after C. J. Gadd, The Fall of Nineveh, 1923), Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, vol. II (1927), §§1166, 1183, pp. 416, 421.
  • D. D. Luckenbill, The Annals of Sennacherib (Oriental Institute Publications 2) (1924), pp. 31–32 (Oriental Institute Prism, col. II, ll. 73–81).
  • R. W. Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (1912), pp. 324–327 (Sargon at Raphia); pp. 361–362 (Hophra).
  • D. J. Wiseman, Chronicles of Chaldaean Kings (626–556 B.C.) in the British Museum (facts only) (1956), BM 21946 (Babylonian Chronicle 5).
  • A. K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles (facts only) (1975), Chronicle 5, obverse 1–11; reverse 5–8 (read in Livius's reproduction).
  • James Ussher, The Annals of the World (English edition) (1658), Part One, p. 68.
  • L. McFall, "A Translation Guide to the Chronological Data in Kings and Chronicles", Bibliotheca Sacra 148 (facts only) (1991), numbered texts 1–68; page numbers of the author's PDF.
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Exod 1:8 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on Exod 1:8 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, tr. J. Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch, vol. 2 (1864), note on Exod 1:8 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Exod 1:8 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Exod 1:8 (read on Bible Hub).
  • J. R. Lumby, The First Book of the Kings (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1886), note on 1 Kgs 3:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 1 Kgs 3:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. J. Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Books of the Kings (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on 1 Kgs 3:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 1 Kgs 11:19 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 1 Kgs 11:19 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. A. Harper, The Books of the Chronicles (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on 2 Chr 12:9 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 1 Kgs 14:25 (read on Bible Hub).
  • W. E. Barnes, The Books of Chronicles (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1899), note on 2 Chr 12:9 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 2 Kgs 17:4 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 2 Kgs 17:4 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. J. Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Books of the Kings (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on 2 Kgs 17:4 (read on Bible Hub).
  • J. R. Lumby, The Second Book of the Kings (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1887), note on 2 Kgs 17:4 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 2 Kgs 19:9 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 2 Kgs 19:9 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on 2 Kgs 23:29 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1897), note on 2 Kgs 23:29 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. J. Martin, Biblical Commentary on the Books of the Kings (Keil and Delitzsch) (1872), note on 2 Kgs 23:29 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on 2 Chr 35:20 (read on Bible Hub).
  • W. E. Barnes, The Books of Chronicles (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1899), note on 2 Chr 35:20 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Jer 37:5 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Jer 47:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • A. W. Streane, The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1881), note on Jer 47:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. F. Keil, tr. D. Patrick and J. Kennedy, The Prophecies of Jeremiah (Keil and Delitzsch) (1874), note on Jer 47:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • R. Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and D. Brown, A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments (1871), note on Jer 47:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Jer 47:1 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Ezek 29:2 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament (1748–1763), note on Ezek 29:2 (read on Bible Hub).
  • James Ussher, The Annals of the World (English edition) (1658), Part One, pp. 12–13 (Rameses Miamun and his son Amenophis), p. 20 (Amenophis "drowned in the red Sea").

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