# 2 Chronicles 13 đź“–: Abijah Defeats Jeroboam
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Abijah’s Reign
[[#Verse 01.]]Â In the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] Abijah launched the attack with 400,000 well-trained warriors, while Jeroboam deployed against him 800,000 well-trained warriors.
[[#Verse 04.]] Abijah ascended Mount Zemaraim, in the Ephraimite hill country, and said: “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel!Â
[[#Verse 05.]] Don’t you realize that the Lord God of Israel has given David and his dynasty lasting dominion over Israel by a formal covenant?Â
[[#Verse 06.]]Â Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] Lawless good-for-nothing men gathered around him and conspired against Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was an inexperienced young man and could not resist them.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] Now you are declaring that you will resist the Lord’s rule through the Davidic dynasty. You have a huge army, and bring with you the gold calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] But you banished the Lord’s priests, Aaron’s descendants, and the Levites, and appointed your own priests just as the surrounding nations do! Anyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of these fake gods!Â
[[#Verse 10.]] But as for us, the Lord is our God and we have not rejected him. Aaron’s descendants serve as the Lord’s priests, and the Levites assist them with the work.Â
[[#Verse 11.]] They offer burnt sacrifices to the Lord every morning and every evening, along with fragrant incense. They arrange the Bread of the Presence on a ritually clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. Certainly we are observing the Lord our God’s regulations, but you have rejected him.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] Now look, God is with us as our leader. His priests are ready to blow the trumpets to signal the attack against you. You Israelites, don’t fight against the Lord God of your ancestors, for you will not win!”
[[#Verse 13.]] Now Jeroboam had sent some men to ambush the Judahite army from behind. The main army was in front of the Judahite army; the ambushers were behind it.Â
[[#Verse 14.]] The men of Judah turned around and realized they were being attacked from the front and the rear. So they cried out to the Lord for help. The priests blew their trumpets,Â
[[#Verse 15.]]Â and the men of Judah gave the battle cry. As the men of Judah gave the battle cry, God struck down Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] The Israelites fled from before the Judahite army, and God handed them over to the men of Judah.Â
[[#Verse 17.]]Â Abijah and his army thoroughly defeated them;Â 500,000 well-trained Israelite men fell dead.Â
[[#Verse 18.]] That day the Israelites were defeated; the men of Judah prevailed because they relied on the Lord God of their ancestors.
[[#Verse 19.]]Â Abijah chased Jeroboam; he seized from him these cities: Bethel and its surrounding towns, Jeshanah and its surrounding towns, and Ephron and its surrounding towns.Â
[[#Verse 20.]] Jeroboam did not regain power during the reign of Abijah. The Lord struck him down and he died.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] Abijah’s power grew; he had fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
[[#Verse 22.]] The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, including his deeds and sayings, are recorded in the writings of the prophet Iddo.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Abijah is called Abijam in 1 Kings 15:1.
2. Abijah reigned only three years (13:2).
3. His mother is named Micaiah daughter of Uriel here (13:2) and Maacah daughter of Absalom in 11:20. Many explain that "daughter" can mean granddaughter.
4. Judah had 400,000 soldiers and Israel 800,000 (13:3).
5. Abijah's speech was given from Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim (13:4).
6. A "covenant of salt" (13:5) pictures a lasting, unbreakable agreement (Numbers 18:19).
7. Abijah mocked Israel's golden calves and their unauthorized priests (13:8-9).
8. Jeroboam set an ambush behind Judah while Abijah was speaking (13:13).
9. The priests blew trumpets and Judah shouted before God gave the victory (13:14-15).
10. Judah captured Bethel, the site of one of Jeroboam's golden calves (13:19).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Son of David whose kingdom God has given forever (13:5; Luke 1:32-33). Abijah warned that no one can succeed fighting against the Lord (13:12), and no one can overthrow the reign of Jesus.
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Abijah reminded Israel that God gave the kingdom to David by a covenant of salt (13:5). What does it mean that God's covenant is lasting?
2. Judah was outnumbered and surrounded, so they cried out to the Lord (13:14). Where do you need to cry out to God right now?
3. The text says Judah won because they relied on the Lord (13:18). What does relying on God look like when the odds are against you?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 5: God gave the kingdom to David and his sons forever by a covenant of salt.
- đź“– verse 12: God is with Judah at their head, so fighting against the Lord will not succeed.
- đź“– verse 18: Judah prevails because they relied on the Lord.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[1 Kings 15#Verse 01.|1 Kings 15:1-8]] - The parallel account of Abijam's reign.
- đź”— [[Numbers 18#Verse 19.|Numbers 18:19]] - A covenant of salt forever.
- đź”— [[Numbers 10#Verse 09.|Numbers 10:9]] - Trumpets sounded before God in battle.
- đź”— [[Luke 01#Verse 32.|Luke 1:32-33]] - The Son of David will reign forever.
- đź”— [[Romans 08#Verse 31.|Romans 8:31]] - If God is for us, who can be against us?
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
📝 SOAP: [[2 Chronicles 13 - SOAP|God is Our “Secret” Weapon]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes