Changes

In the third year of his reign, Rehoboam felt settled in power. At this time he fell away from the way of God, and the way of King David.<ref name=Konig/> (Throughout the history of the Southern Kingdom, King David's example would forever be the "gold standard" of regal behavior in the sight of God.) Specifically, the people of the Southern Kingdom built altars to [[Baal]] and set up [[high place]]s and [[Asherah]] poles throughout the land. They also joined several cults and indulged in the sinful practices of these cults.<ref name=GeoCities/>

In the third year of his reign, Rehoboam felt settled in power. At this time he fell away from the way of God, and the way of King David.<ref name=Konig/> (Throughout the history of the Southern Kingdom, King David's example would forever be the "gold standard" of regal behavior in the sight of God.) Specifically, the people of the Southern Kingdom built altars to [[Baal]] and set up [[high place]]s and [[Asherah]] poles throughout the land. They also joined several cults and indulged in the sinful practices of these cults.<ref name=GeoCities/>

In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, he suffered Divine retribution for this negligence. [[Pharaoh]] [[Shishak]] (of whom the most likely candidate is [[Thutmose III]]), invaded with an army of 1200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and an innumerable coalition force from [[Libya]], [[Ethiopia]], and a third nation called "Sukkiim." (The Libyan connection makes Sheshonq I's candidacy stronger, because Sheshonq was the founder of the twenty-second or "Libyan" dynasty in [[Egypt]].) As this force was approaching, Shemaiah delivered another dire message to Rehoboam: that the Lord would not defend them, because they had forsaken Him. The leadership of the Southern Kingdom showed contrition and admitted that this invasion was indeed an act of Divine Justice.<ref name=GeoCities/>

In the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, he suffered Divine retribution for this negligence. [[Pharaoh]] [[Shishak]] (of whom the most likely candidate is [[Thutmose III]]), invaded with an army of 1200 chariots, 60,000 cavalrymen, and an innumerable coalition force from [[Libya]], [[Ethiopia]], and a third nation called "Sukkiim." As this force was approaching, Shemaiah delivered another dire message to Rehoboam: that the Lord would not defend them, because they had forsaken Him. The leadership of the Southern Kingdom showed contrition and admitted that this invasion was indeed an act of Divine Justice.<ref name=GeoCities/>

The Lord, seeing this contrition, restrained Shishak from destroying Judah utterly. But Shishak plundered Jerusalem of all the golden shields and other appointments of the palace and the [[Temple of Jerusalem|Temple]].<ref name=Konig/> Rehoboam commissioned brass shields, and had them brought out only on state occasions, and kept under lock and key between such occasions.<ref name=GeoCities/>

The Lord, seeing this contrition, restrained Shishak from destroying Judah utterly. But Shishak plundered Jerusalem of all the golden shields and other appointments of the palace and the [[Temple of Jerusalem|Temple]].<ref name=Konig/> Rehoboam commissioned brass shields, and had them brought out only on state occasions, and kept under lock and key between such occasions.<ref name=GeoCities/>