Chronicles II 13:5

5 not for you to know that the Lord God of Israel has given a king over Israel for ever to David, and to his sons, by a covenant of salt?

Chronicles II 13:5 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 13:5

Ought you not to know
They did know what he afterwards says, but he would have them consider and acknowledge it:

that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for
ever;
to him and his seed, particularly to the Messiah, that should spring from him; but whether Abijah had this in view is a question, see ( 2 Samuel 7:13 2 Samuel 7:16 )

even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
that is, a perpetual one, which was inviolable, and never to be made void; called so, because salt preserves from corruption and putrefaction, and because made use of in sacrifices offered when covenants were made; the Targum is,

``as salt waters, which never lose their saltness.''

Chronicles II 13:5 In-Context

3 And Abia set the battle in array with an army, with mighty men of war, four hundred thousand mighty men: and Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand, mighty warriors of the host.

4 And Abia rose up from the mount Somoron, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear ye, Jeroboam, and all Israel:

5 not for you to know that the Lord God of Israel has given a king over Israel for ever to David, and to his sons, by a covenant of salt?

6 But Jeroboam the of Nabat, the servant of Solomon of David, is risen up, and has revolted from his master:

7 and there are gathered to him pestilent men, transgressors, and he has risen up against Roboam the of Solomon, while Roboam was young and fearful in heart, and he withstood him not.