Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Chronicles 12:7

"And when Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves: I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak." — 2 Chronicles 12:7 (ASV)

Compare the repentance of Ahab with that of the Ninevites (Jonah 3:5–10), which produced similar revocations of divine decrees that had been pronounced by the mouth of a prophet.

Some deliverance. Rather, this means “deliverance for a short space.” Because of the repentance, the threat of immediate destruction was withdrawn; but the menace was still left impending, so that the people might be more moved to contrition and amendment.