King James Version
2 Chronicles 13
22 verses with commentary
Abijah's Reign in Judah
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him face judgment. This pattern prov...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **Now.**—Not in the Hebrew. The verse is nearly identical with the parallel in Kings.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →He 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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>He 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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who see...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **His mother’s name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.**—Kings reads for the names “Maachah the daughter of Abishalom”; and as the chronicler has himself already designated Abijah as son of Maachah, daughter of Absalom (2Chronicles 11:20-22), there can be no doubt that this is correct, and that “Michaiah,” which is elsewhere a man’s name, is a corruption of Maachah. This is con...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →War Between Abijah and Jeroboam
And 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. Abijah set: Heb. Abijah bound together
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And 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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's th...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **Set the battle in array.**—*Began the battle.* Vulg., “cumque iniisset Abia certanien” (1Kings 20:14).
**Four hundred thousand chosen men.**—In David’s census, Judah mustered 470,000 fighting men, and Israel 1,100,000, without reckoning Levi and Benjamin (1Chronicles 21:5). The numbers of the verse present a yet closer agreement with the results of that census as reported in 2Samuel 24:9; wh...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who fors...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim.**—While the two hosts were facing each other, king Abijah addressed his foes from mount Zemaraim. as Jotham addressed the Shechemites from the top of Gerizim in the days of the judges (Judges 9:7).
**Upon.**—Literally, *from upon to mount Zemaraim;* a mark of the chronicler’s hand.
Mount Zemaraim is otherwise unknown A city so called is mentioned (Jos...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 26
1Ch 26:1-12. Divisions of the Porters.
**1-2. Concerning the divisions of the porters--**There were four thousand (1Ch 23:6), all taken from the families of the Kohathites and Merarites (1Ch 26:14), divided into twenty-four courses--as the priests and musicians.
**Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph--**Seven sons of Meshelemiah are mentioned (1Ch 26:2), whereas eight...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →Ought 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?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Ought 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?</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **Ought ye not to know.**—Literally, *is it not to you to know?* A construction characteristic of the chronicler. Abijah contrasts the moral position of his adversaries with his own, asserting (1) that their separate political existence is itself an act of rebellion against Jehovah; (2) that they have abolished the only legitimate form of worship, and established in its place an illegal *cultu...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 26
1Ch 26:1-12. Divisions of the Porters.
**1-2. Concerning the divisions of the porters--**There were four thousand (1Ch 23:6), all taken from the families of the Kohathites and Merarites (1Ch 26:14), divided into twenty-four courses--as the priests and musicians.
**Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph--**Seven sons of Meshelemiah are mentioned (1Ch 26:2), whereas eight...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who f...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **The servant of Solomon.**—See 1Kings 11:26.
**Is risen up, and hath rebelled.**—*Arose and rebelled.* (See 1Kings 11:26-40).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →And 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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And 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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspecti...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **And there are gathered.**—Omit *are.*
**Vain men** (*rĕqîm,* Judges 9:4; Judges 11:3).—Said of the followers of Abimelech and the freebooter Jephthah. Neither this nor the following phrase, “the children of Belial” (literally, *sons of worthlessness, i.e.,* men of low character and estimation) occurs again in the Chronicles. (See Judges 19:22; Judges 20:13; 1Kings 21:10; 1Kings 21:13, for th...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →And 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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And 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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immedi...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **And now ye think.**—Literally, *say, i.e.,* in your hearts (2Chronicles 2:1).
**To withstand the kingdom.**—Literally, *to show yourselves strong before the kingdom,* as in last verse.
**In **(*through*) **the hand of the sons of David.**—The meaning is, the kingdom which Jehovah holds by the instrumentality of the house of David, as His earthly representatives. (Comp. Vulg., “regno Domini q...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**5. God blessed him--**that is, Obed-edom. The occasion of the blessing was his faithful custody of the ark (2Sa 6:11, 12). The nature of the blessing (Psa 127:5) consisted in the great increase of progeny by which his house was distinguished; seventy-two descendants are reckoned.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →Have 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. to consecrate: Heb. to fill his hand
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Have 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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenan...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **The priests of the Lord . . . and the Levites.**—The Hebrew seems to include the Levites among the priests of the Lord.
**Cast out.**—*Banished* (Jeremiah 8:3).
**After the manner of the nations of other lands.**—Literally, *like the peoples of the lands;* that is, priests of all classes of the nation, and not members of the divinely chosen tribe of Levi. (See 1Kings 12:31; 1Kings 13:33). Th...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**6. mighty men of valour--**The circumstance of physical strength is prominently noticed in this chapter, as the office of the porters required them not only to act as sentinels of the sacred edifice and its precious furniture against attacks of plunderers or popular insurrection--to be, in fact, a military guard--but, after the temple was built, to open and shut the gates, which were extraordina...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →But 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:
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>But 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:</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **We have not forsaken him.**—Comp. 1Kings 15:3. “he walked in all the sins of his father,” “his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God.” But that passage is by no means incompatible with the present as some have asserted. What Abijah here states is surely true—viz.,that Judah had maintained the Levitical priesthood, and its associated worship. And the following words prove this to be hi...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →And 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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And 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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(11) **Every morning and every evening.**—For the daily sacrifice, see Exodus 29:38-42; for the “sweet incense,” or *incense of spices,* Exodus 30:7.
**The shewbread also** **. . .**—Literally, *and a pile of bread on the pure table.* The construction is uncertain. The words seem to depend loosely on the verb *they offer* (“they burn”) at the beginning of the sentence. But perhaps they should be t...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →And, 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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And, 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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological p...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(12) **God himself.**—*The* (true) *God.* So in 2Chronicles 13:15. Literally, *and behold there are with us at the head the God and his priests, and the trumpets of alarm to sound alarm against you.* (See Numbers 10:9; Numbers 31:6.) The trumpets were “the divinely appointed pledges that God would remember them in war.” The Syriac gives this verse thus: “But ye have forsaken him, and gone after de...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those wh...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(13) **But Jeroboam caused** **. . .***—Now Jeroboam had brought the ambush round, in order to attack* (literally, *approach*)* them in the rear* (literally, *from behind them; so they* (Jeroboam and his main body) *were in front of Judah, and the ambush was in their rear.*
**The ambush.**—The troops which Jeroboam had detached for that service.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**10. Simri the chief ... though ... not the first-born--**probably because the family entitled to the right of primogeniture had died out, or because there were none of the existing families which could claim that right.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God pros...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(14) **And when Judah looked back, behold the battle was before and behind.**—Comp. the account of the ambuscade by which Ai was taken (Joshua , 8); and Gibeah (Judges 20),
**Judah looked back.**—Not *prepared* (Bertheau) (See Joshua 8:20).
**Sounded.**—*Were sounding.* Literally, *trumpeting.*
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →Then 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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Then 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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek G...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(15) **Then the men of Judah gave a shout.**—The same verb (*hāria‘*) occurred in 2Chronicles 13:12, in the sense of *sounding an alarm* with the “trumpets of alarm” (*t’rû‘ah.*) Here our version gives the right sense. Immediately after the priests had blown a blast upon the trumpets, the warriors raised a shout or war- cry. (Comp. Judges 7:18-20).
**God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**12. Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men--**These were charged with the duty of superintending the watches, being heads of the twenty-four courses of porters.
1Ch 26:13-19. The Gates Assigned by Lot.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him face judgment. This patt...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**13. they cast lots--**Their departments of duty, such as the gates they should attend to, were allotted in the same manner as those of the other Levitical bodies, and the names of the chiefs or captains are given, with the respective gates assigned them.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while tho...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(17) **Slew them with a great slaughter.**—Literally, *Smote in them a great smiting.* Numbers 11:33.
**Five hundred thousand chosen men.**—Or more than half of Jeroboam’s entire army.
It is hardly true to say that “there is nothing in the original to indicate that this slaughter was all on one day.” (*Speaker’s Commentary.*) On the contrary, it is perfectly evident from the whole narrative that t...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →Thus 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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Thus 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.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who se...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(18) **Were brought under.**—*Were humbled, bowed down* (the same word as in 2Chronicles 12:6). (Judges 3:30.)
**Prevailed.**—*Was strong.* (Psalm 18:13; Genesis 25:23.)
**They relied upon the Lord.**—Isaiah 10:20. (Authorised Version, “stay upon.”)
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**15. the house of Asuppim--**or, "collections," probably a storehouse, where were kept the grain, wine, and other offerings for the sustenance of the priests.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →And 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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Beth-el with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(19) **Took cities from him.**—The three cities and their districts were only temporarily annexed to Judah. According to 1Kings 15:17-21, Baasha, King of Israel, attempted in the next reign to fortify Ramah, which was only about five miles north of Jerusalem. He had probably recovered these towns before doing so (*Bertheau*)*.*
**Bethel*.****—Beitin.* (Genesis 12:8; Joshua 7:2.)
**Jeshanah.**—Not ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**16. the gate Shallecheth--**probably the rubbish gate, through which all the accumulated filth and sweepings of the temple and its courts were poured out.
**by the causeway of the going up--**probably the ascending road which was cast up or raised from the deep valley between Mount Zion and Moriah, for the royal egress to the place of worship (2Ch 9:4).
**ward against ward--**Some refer thes...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him face ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(20) **Neither did Jeroboam recover strength.**—*And Jeroboam retained strength no longer.* LXX. καὶ οὐκ ἔσχεν ἰσχὺν Ιεροβοαμ ἔτι. See 1Chronicles 29:14 (the same phrase).
**And the Lord struck him, and he died.**—All that is known of Jeroboam’s death is that it took place two years after that of Abijah (1Kings 15:8-9). The expressions of the text cannot mean, as Zöckler suggests, “visited him wit...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**17-19. Eastward were six Levites--**because the gate there was the most frequented. There were four at the north gate; four at the south, at the storehouse which was adjoining the south, and which had two entrance gates, one leading in a southwesterly direction to the city, and the other direct west, two porters each. At the Parbar towards the west, there were six men posted--four at the causewa...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake Him fac...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(21) **But Abijah waxed mighty.**—*And Abijah strengthened himself,* after his life-and-death struggle with Jeroboam. (See on 2Chronicles 12:13.)
**And married fourteen wives, and begat twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.**—Abijah reigned only three years altogether. He must, therefore, have had most of these wives and children before his accession. (2Chronicles 11:21-23 may be said to imply th...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**17-19. Eastward were six Levites--**because the gate there was the most frequented. There were four at the north gate; four at the south, at the storehouse which was adjoining the south, and which had two entrance gates, one leading in a southwesterly direction to the city, and the other direct west, two porters each. At the Parbar towards the west, there were six men posted--four at the causewa...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.</strong><br><br>This verse is part of the narrative of Judah's kings, specifically addressing Covenant faithfulness brings victory despite odds. The Chronicler's theological perspective emphasizes immediate divine retribution—kings who seek God prosper, while those who forsake H...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(22) **And his ways and his sayings.**—Or *works.* The same word has just been rendered *acts.* There is an alliteration in the Hebrew, *u-derākhav u-debhārav.*
**Story.**—*Midrash.* See margin. For the source here referred to, see Introduction, § 6.
**Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**17-19. Eastward were six Levites--**because the gate there was the most frequented. There were four at the north gate; four at the south, at the storehouse which was adjoining the south, and which had two entrance gates, one leading in a southwesterly direction to the city, and the other direct west, two porters each. At the Parbar towards the west, there were six men posted--four at the causewa...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 13
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
--Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form o...
Read full commentary →