2 Chronicles 13
In this chapter, we witness a confrontation between Abijah, the king of Judah, and Jeroboam, the king of Israel. Abijah gives a speech highlighting Judah's faithfulness to God and the sins of Israel under Jeroboam. The battle ends with a decisive victory for Judah, demonstrating God's support for Abijah and His rejection of Jeroboam's ways.
2 Chronicles 13:1-5 (NKJV)
1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.
2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3 Abijah set the battle in order with an army of valiant warriors, four hundred thousand choice men. Jeroboam also drew up in battle formation against him with eight hundred thousand choice men, mighty men of valor.
4 Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, and said, “Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel:
5 Should you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?
Abijah becomes king of Judah and quickly faces conflict with Jeroboam of Israel. Despite being outnumbered, Abijah leads 400,000 men against Jeroboam's 800,000. Abijah, standing on Mount Zemaraim, addresses Jeroboam and the Israelites. He reminds them that God gave David's descendants the right to rule over Israel by a lasting "covenant of salt," which signifies a permanent and binding agreement. Abijah's speech is meant to highlight the legitimacy of his rule and call out Israel's rebellion.
2 Chronicles 13:6-8 (NKJV)
6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord.
7 Then worthless rogues gathered to him and strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and inexperienced and could not withstand them.
8 And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and with you are the golden calves which Jeroboam made for you as gods.
Abijah continues his speech, accusing Jeroboam of rebelling against Solomon's son, Rehoboam, when he was young and inexperienced. He criticizes Jeroboam for leading Israel into idolatry by creating golden calves for them to worship. Abijah points out that Jeroboam's rebellion was against the kingdom of the Lord, which had been divinely ordained to remain with David's descendants.
2 Chronicles 13:9-11 (NKJV)
9 Have you not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests, like the peoples of other lands, so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of things that are not gods?
10 But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests who minister to the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties.
11 And they burn to the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense; they also set the showbread in order on the pure gold table, and the lampstand of gold with its lamps to burn every evening; for we keep the command of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken Him.
Abijah contrasts the faithfulness of Judah with the corruption in Israel. He accuses Jeroboam of expelling the rightful priests and replacing them with illegitimate ones. Abijah declares that Judah has remained faithful to God, continuing the proper worship through the sons of Aaron and the Levites. The daily sacrifices and rituals are still faithfully performed in Judah, showing their devotion, while Israel has abandoned the Lord.
2 Chronicles 13:12 (NKJV)
12 Now look, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!”
Abijah confidently proclaims that God is with Judah and leads them into battle. He warns Israel that fighting against them is equivalent to fighting against the Lord, and such an endeavor will not succeed. This is a final call for Israel to recognize their mistake and avoid confrontation, as their rebellion is against God Himself.
2 Chronicles 13:13-15 (NKJV)
13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to go around behind them; so they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.
14 And when Judah looked around, to their surprise, the battle line was at both front and rear; and they cried out to the Lord, and the priests sounded the trumpets.
15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout; and as the men of Judah shouted, it happened that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
Jeroboam attempts to use military tactics by setting an ambush to trap Judah from both sides. However, when Judah realizes they are surrounded, they cry out to the Lord, and the priests sound the trumpets as a call to action. In response, God strikes Jeroboam's forces, and Judah is victorious. This demonstrates that despite being outnumbered, God's intervention ensures Judah's success.
2 Chronicles 13:16-18 (NKJV)
16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand.
17 Then Abijah and his people struck them with a great slaughter; so five hundred thousand choice men of Israel fell slain.
18 Thus the children of Israel were subdued at that time; and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord God of their fathers.
After God intervenes, the Israelites flee, and Judah defeats them in a great slaughter, with 500,000 men from Israel dying in battle. The text emphasizes that Judah's victory was due to their reliance on God. This overwhelming victory highlights the futility of opposing God and His chosen leaders, showing that Israel's rebellion and idolatry led to their downfall.
2 Chronicles 13:19-20 (NKJV)
19 And Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took cities from him: Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephrain with its villages.
20 So Jeroboam did not recover strength again in the days of Abijah; and the Lord struck him, and he died.
Abijah capitalizes on his victory by pursuing Jeroboam and capturing several key cities. Jeroboam never recovers his strength after this defeat, and eventually, he dies as a result of the Lord's judgment. This further solidifies Abijah's position and demonstrates God's favor toward the house of David during this period.
2 Chronicles 13:21-22 (NKJV)
21 But Abijah grew mighty, married fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
22 Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, his ways, and his sayings are written in the annals of the prophet Iddo.
Abijah becomes stronger after his victory and continues to grow his family, marrying fourteen wives and having numerous children. The rest of his reign is recorded in the annals of the prophet Iddo, indicating that more detailed accounts of his rule existed in other historical records. This concludes the chapter by reflecting on Abijah's growth in power after his success over Jeroboam.