2 Chronicles 13:16-22

16 The Israelites fled from the Judeans, and God let the Judeans overpower them.

17 Abijah and his army dealt the Israelites a crushing defeat - half a million of Israel's best soldiers were killed.

18 And so the people of Judah were victorious over Israel, because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam's army and occupied some of his cities: Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, and the villages near each of these cities.

20 Jeroboam never regained his power during Abijah's reign. Finally the Lord struck him down, and he died.

21 Abijah, however, grew more powerful. He had fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

22 The rest of the history of Abijah, what he said and what he did, is written in [The History of Iddo the Prophet.]

2 Chronicles 13:16-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 13

This chapter begins with the reign of Abijah, 2Ch 13:1,2, gives an account of a battle between him and Jeroboam, previous to which Abijah made a speech to Jeroboam and his army, to vindicate his own cause, encourage his own soldiers, and intimidate the enemy, and dissuade them from fighting, 2Ch 13:3-12 and in the mean while Jeroboam laid an ambush for him, which greatly distressed him, 2Ch 13:13,14, nevertheless he obtained a complete victory over him, 2Ch 13:15-20, and the chapter is concluded with some account of his family and reign, 2Ch 13:21,22.