2 Chronicles 13

CHAPTER 13

Abijah King of Judah (13:1–22)

(1 Kings 15:1–8)

1–7 The account of Abijah’s reign given here is much longer than the corresponding account in 1 Kings, where Abijah is given a very negative evaluation (1 Kings 15:3). In this section, the writer of 2 Chronicles focuses on one battle Abijah fought, in which the Lord gave him victory.

The battle in question was against Jeroboam and all Israel (verse 4)—here meaning the northern kingdom. Abijah was outnumbered two to one. Abijah first tried to persuade the Israelites not to fight; it is always better to try reason before using force—especially if one is outnumbered! Abijah told the Israelites that he, as a member of the house of David, was the true king of “all Israel”; this was in accordance with the COVENANT God had made with David, in which God promised that David’s throne would be established forever³ (2Samuel7:16). Abijah stood on a mountain to deliver his message to the Israelites (verse 4). In his attempt to persuade the Israelites to come over to his side, Abijah belittled Jeroboam and the scoundrels gathered around him (verse 7).

8–9 Abijah continued his message to the Israelites by equating the kingdom of Judah with the kingdom of the LORD. Even though they had Jeroboam’s golden calves with them (1 Kings 12:28–30), the Israelites would not be able to prevail over Judah, because the Lord was on Judah’s side. Jeroboam had even driven out the Lord’s priests and Levites and established a priesthood of his own (2 Chronicles 11:14–15); how could he expect the Lord to fight for him!

10–12 Abijah then stated that Judah had not forsaken the Lord, but was observing all His requirements⁴ (verse 11). Because of this, the Lord would fight for Judah. “Men of Israel,” Abijah said, “do not fight against the LORD . . . you will not succeed” (verse 12).

13–18 The men of Israel did not listen to Abijah. In these verses the writer describes the ensuing battle and how the Lord routed Jeroboam and all Israel (verse 15). We are not told by what means the Lord routed Israel; He could have used supernatural means or He could simply have emboldened the men of Judah. The writer concludes by saying that the men of Judah were victorious because they relied on the LORD (verse 18). Thus it is all the more sad that in spite of Abijah’s reliance on the Lord in this one battle, he is said to have committed all the sins his father had done before him (1 Kings 15:3).

What was the cause of Abijah’s sinfulness? In 1 Kings 15:3, we are told that his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD . . . as the heart of David his forefather had been. Sinfulness arises from a divided heart. None of us can avoid sinning in this life, but we can have an undivided heart. We must strive to have a heart like David’s, for he was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

19–22 Abijah, with the Lord’s help, inflicted a decisive defeat on Jeroboam and Israel. The writer notes that sometime after the battle the Lord struck Jeroboam down (verse 20); we are not told how.