2 Chronicles 13:1-7

Abijah King of Judah

1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah,

2 and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maakah,^[a] a daughter^[b] of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

3 Abijah went into battle with an army of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops.

4 Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Jeroboam and all Israel, listen to me!

5 Don’t you know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?

6 Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled against his master.

7 Some worthless scoundrels gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them.

2 Chronicles 13:1-7 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.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Chronicles 15:16
• 2. S 2 Chronicles 11:20
• 3. 1 Kings 15:6
• 4. Joshua 18:22
• 5. 1 Chronicles 11:1
• 6. S 2 Samuel 7:13; S 1 Chronicles 17:12
• 7. S Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19
• 8. 1 Kings 11:26
• 9. S Judges 9:4
• 10. S 1 Chronicles 29:1

Footnotes

• [a] Most Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 11:20 and 1 Kings 15:2); Hebrew "Micaiah"
• [b] Or "granddaughter"