When the unified kingdom was split between Judea on the one hand under Rehoboam and the northern kingdom, called the kingdom of Israel, under Jeroboam on the other hand, a civil war ensued. It lasted for several years because of Rehoboam's stubbornness in putting an end to the rebellion. All his efforts were directed against the heretic kingdom north of Judea. In doing so, Rehoboam neglected his southern border, and this gave the opportunity to Pharaoh Shoshenq, named Shishak in the Bible, to lead a victorious campaign against Judea. This campaign may have been intended to come to Jeroboam's aid by weakening Rehoboam and the kingdom of Judea. Indeed, Jeroboam had fled from Jerusalem and found refuge in Egypt during the last years of Solomon's reign. During that time of exile, Shoshenq had been his protector.
Let's look at the continuation of the historical and biblical chronologies (for earlier dates, refer to the previous articles since Adam):
year 2699 (1061 BCE): reign of Saul, first king of Israel
year 2700 (1060 BCE): David against Goliath
year 2708 (1052 BCE): reign of David over all Israel
year 2745 (1015 BCE): reign of Solomon; start of the construction of the Temple
year 2752 (1008 BCE): inauguration of the Temple of Solomon
year 2781 (979 BCE): death of Solomon; his son Rehoboam succeeds him
year 2781 (979 BCE): revolt of Jeroboam; split of the kingdom
year 2785 (975 BCE): campaign of Shoshenq, "Shishak", against Judea
Here is what the biblical text says to explain why the wrath of God fell on Judea:
And Judea did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; and they irritated Him by the sins which they committed above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every leafy tree; and there were also prostitutes in the land; they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord drove out before the children of Israel. (1 Kings 14:22-24)
So God sent an enemy against Rehoboam and his kingdom:
And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; and he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all; and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. And king Rehoboam made in their stead shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. (1 Kings 14:25-27)
What evidence is there of this campaign? Its story is engraved in the stone of the temple of Karnak! It shows Pharaoh Shoshenq (biblical Shishak) capturing multiple Israelite cities, each named by a cartouche of hieroglyphs.
I hope that this article on the theme "the Bible is true" was of interest to you. Do not hesitate to send me your comments, while waiting for a next biblical episode proven by history and archaeology.
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Albert Benhamou
Private tour guide in Israel
February 2025
