2 Chronicles 13

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 13

1¶ Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.

2He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

3And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, [even] four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, [being] mighty men of valour.

4And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which [is] in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;

5Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, [even] to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

6Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.

7And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

8And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye [be] a great multitude, and [there are] with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.

9Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of [other] lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, [the same] may be a priest of [them that are] no gods.

10But as for us, the LORD [is] our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, [are] the sons of Aaron, and the Levites [wait] upon [their] business:

11And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also [set they in order] upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.

12And, behold, God himself [is] with us for [our] captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

13¶ But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment [was] behind them.

14And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle [was] before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

15Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

16And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.

17And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.

18Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers.

19And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.

20Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.

21But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

22And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, [are] written in the story of the prophet Iddo.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Abijah of Judah engaged in a significant battle against King Jeroboam of Israel, despite being outnumbered. Abijah delivered a powerful speech, asserting Judah's faithfulness to the LORD and the Davidic covenant, while condemning Israel's idolatry and false priesthood. The LORD intervened, granting Judah a decisive victory and a great slaughter over Israel, because Judah relied upon Him.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with King Abijah of Judah commencing his reign and immediately engaging in war with King Jeroboam of Israel. Though Jeroboam's army significantly outnumbered Judah's, Abijah addressed the Israelite forces from Mount Zemaraim. He reminded them of the LORD's eternal covenant with David and condemned Jeroboam's rebellion, the use of golden calves, and the establishment of false priests. Abijah contrasted this with Judah's steadfast adherence to the LORD, maintaining the true priesthood and proper temple worship. As the battle commenced, Jeroboam attempted an ambush, but Judah cried out to the LORD, and the priests sounded their trumpets. Consequently, God smote Jeroboam and all Israel, leading to a massive defeat for Israel and a great slaughter of 500,000 men. Judah's victory was attributed to their reliance upon the LORD God of their fathers. Abijah then pursued Jeroboam, capturing several cities, and Jeroboam never recovered strength, being struck by the LORD.

Long Summary

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam's reign over Israel, Abijah began his three-year rule over Judah, initiating a significant conflict between the two kingdoms. Abijah assembled an army of four hundred thousand chosen men, while Jeroboam countered with a force twice as large, comprising eight hundred thousand mighty men of valour. Before the battle, Abijah ascended Mount Zemaraim and delivered a fervent address to Jeroboam and all Israel. He asserted that the LORD God of Israel had given the kingdom to David and his sons forever by a covenant of salt, highlighting Jeroboam's rebellion against this divine decree. Abijah accused Israel of gathering "vain men" and "children of Belial" to strengthen themselves against Rehoboam, and of attempting to withstand the kingdom of the LORD. He specifically condemned their idolatry, manifested in the golden calves made by Jeroboam, and their rejection of the legitimate Aaronic priesthood in favor of self-appointed priests. In stark contrast, Abijah declared that Judah remained faithful to the LORD, maintaining the true priests and proper sacrificial worship, including burnt sacrifices, sweet incense, and the shewbread. He proclaimed that God Himself was Judah's captain, with His priests sounding trumpets, and warned Israel against fighting the LORD, lest they fail to prosper. Despite Abijah's appeal, Jeroboam cunningly deployed an ambush to surround Judah. When Judah discovered they were encircled, they cried out to the LORD, and the priests sounded their trumpets in alarm. At that moment, God intervened, smiting Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. The children of Israel fled, suffering a tremendous slaughter of five hundred thousand chosen men. Judah prevailed decisively, a victory explicitly attributed to their reliance upon the LORD God of their fathers. Abijah pursued Jeroboam, capturing key cities such as Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephrain. Jeroboam's power was broken, and he never regained strength, eventually being struck by the LORD and dying. Abijah, conversely, waxed mighty, expanding his family and influence.

Core Concepts

  • Covenant of SaltAbijah references this as the eternal covenant God made with David and his sons concerning the kingdom of Israel. It signifies an unbreakable, enduring agreement, often associated with fidelity and permanence.
  • Idolatry of IsraelThe chapter highlights Israel's sin of worshipping golden calves, which Jeroboam had set up as gods. This act is presented as a direct rebellion against the LORD and a forsaking of true worship.
  • Legitimate PriesthoodAbijah emphasizes that Judah maintained the true priests, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, who ministered according to God's law. This contrasts sharply with Israel's practice of appointing priests "after the manner of the nations."
  • Divine Intervention in BattleDespite being significantly outnumbered and ambushed, Judah's victory is explicitly attributed to God smiting Jeroboam and all Israel. This demonstrates God's active role in the conflict, favoring those who rely on Him.
  • Reliance on the LORDThe narrative explicitly states that Judah prevailed "because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers." This underscores the theological principle that faithfulness and trust in God lead to success and divine favor.
  • Consequences of RebellionJeroboam's rebellion against the Davidic line and his promotion of idolatry ultimately led to his kingdom's severe defeat and his own demise, as the LORD struck him. This illustrates the divine judgment against disobedience.
  • Davidic Kingdom's LegitimacyAbijah's speech strongly asserts the divine right and eternal nature of the kingdom given to David and his descendants, positioning Judah as the rightful inheritor of God's covenant promises.