2 Chronicles - Chapter 13

2 Chronicles 13.1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah. 2 Chronicles 13.2 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. 2 Chronicles 13.3 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. 2 Chronicles 13.4 And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel; 2 Chronicles 13.5 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? 2 Chronicles 13.6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord. 2 Chronicles 13.7 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. 2 Chronicles 13.9 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. 2 Chronicles 13.10 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: 2 Chronicles 13.11 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. 2 Chronicles 13.12 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. 2 Chronicles 13.13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them. 2 Chronicles 13.14 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. 2 Chronicles 13.15 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. 2 Chronicles 13.16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand. 2 Chronicles 13.17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. 2 Chronicles 13.18 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. 2 Chronicles 13.19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephraim with the towns thereof. 2 Chronicles 13.20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died. 2 Chronicles 13.21 But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters. 2 Chronicles 13.22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.

2 Chronicles : Chapter 13

Judah's Victory and Faithfulness to the Divine Covenant

Chapter 13 of the book of 2 Chronicles immerses us in the reign of Abijah, a king of Judah. ​​This dynamic story illustrates how God intervenes in the struggles of his people. Through the confrontation between Judah and Israel, we discover Abijah's inspired speech on the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant, which leads to a surprising victory for Judah.

Chapter Key Themes

This chapter explores several crucial themes that still resonate in our faith today:

We invite you to explore with us five biblical passages that illuminate these principles and enrich our understanding of Abijah's story.

Illuminating Bible Passages

1. 1 Kings 15:5: "For David had done what was pleasing to the LORD and had not failed to obey the LORD's commands all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite." This verse sets the context for the mention of David in 2 Chronicles 13:5, emphasizing the importance of the Davidic Covenant.

2. Psalm 60:12: "With God we will prevail, and he will trample our adversaries." This psalm reflects Abijah's trust in God during the battle against Jeroboam, as described in 2 Chronicles 13.

3. Deuteronomy 32:30: "How can one man chase away a thousand, or two make ten thousand flee, without the Rock who sold them, and without the Lord who redeemed them?" This verse illustrates how God grants victory in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, such as Abijah's victory over Jeroboam.

4. Exodus 25:30: "Place the bread of the Presence on this table, that it may be always before me." This instruction, mentioned by Abijah in 2 Chronicles 13:11, recalls the importance of correct practices in Judah's worship.

5. Leviticus 24:5-6: "Take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two tenths of an ephah for each loaf. Place them in two rows of six on the pure gold table before the Lord." These verses provide further details on the bread of the Presence mentioned in 2 Chronicles 13:11, highlighting the significance of this practice in our worship of God.

Meditating on these passages, we are invited to strengthen our trust in God, to pray fervently in times of crisis, and to remain faithful to the covenant He has established with us. May this story of Abijah inspire us to seek divine victory in our own spiritual struggles.