2 Chron. 13 Abijah warreth against Jeroboam king of Israel. 2 Chron. 2:1–3; declareth the right of his cause, 2 Chron. 13:4–12; trusteth in God; overcometh Jeroboam, 2 Chron. 13:13–20. His wives and children, 2 Chron. 13:21–22.

Michaiah the daughter of Uriel, called Maachah the daughter of Absalom, 1 Kings 15:2. She might be daughter to one, and granddaughter to the other; or the proper and natural daughter of the, one, and the other’s by adoption, of which there are instances in Scripture; or the same person might be…

Abijah set the battle in array against Jeroboam. We need not scrupulously inquire into the lawfulness of this war, for this Abijah, though here he makes a fair flourish, and maintained the better cause, yet was indeed an ungodly man, 1 Kings 15:3, and therefore minded not the satisfaction of his…

Upon Mount Zemaraim; some commodious place whence his voice might be heard by Jeroboam, and some of his host, who possibly were pitched in the valley. Or the two armies being pitched near to one another, Abijah might desire a parley, before they fight; whereupon Jeroboam, and some of his commanders…

i.e. By a perpetual covenant, which thy usurpation can not disannul. For the phrase, See Poole “Num. 18:19”.

The children of Belial; such as have cast off the yoke and obedience which they owed both to God and to their king. When Rehoboam was young; not in age, for he was then forty-one years old, but in his kingdom, which he had but newly obtained, and in experience in politic, and especially in…

The kingdom of the Lord in the land of the sons of David; that kingdom which was not set up by vain men in pursuance of their own ambition and discontent, as yours was, but ordained and established by God himself in the house of David.

To consecrate himself, i. e. to make himself a priest. See Poole “Lev. 7:37”. That are no gods; that have nothing of the nature or power, though you give them the name of gods.

The Lord, Heb. Jehovah, the only true and great God. We have not forsaken him; we maintain his honour and worship, which you have ungratefully rejected.

The pure table; so called, because it was made of pure gold, Ex. 25:23–24. The candlestick; he saith table and candlestick, though there were ten of each, 2 Chron. 4:7–8; either, 1. Because Shishak had carried away all but one. Or, 2.

With sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you; upon the sounding whereof God hath solemnly promised to assist his people, Num. 10:9. Fight ye not against the Lord God of your fathers; you have not only us for your enemies, but God, even the God whom your fathers honoured and served, to their own…

Whilst Abijah was discoursing, Jeroboam takes the advantage of it to lay an ambush.

By strengthening the hearts and hands of the men of Judah, and taking away the spirits and power of their enemies; and, it may be, by some extraordinary assistance.

A vast number: but it hath been oft observed and recorded by sacred and profane historians, that in those ancient times there were very numerous armies, and ofttimes very great slaughters; and if this slaughter was more than ordinary, there is nothing strange nor incredible, because the Almighty…

They put their trust in him, and confidently expected help from him; which is a disposition of heart that God prizeth and taketh kindly. See 2 Kings 18:5, 2 Chron. 20:20, Ps. 22:4, Dan. 3:28.

Beth-el; which Jeroboam recovered afterwards, as appears by the course of the history, though it be not particularly mentioned, which is the case of many other considerable things.

The Lord struck him, i.e. Jeroboam, as appears from the contrary condition of Abijah described in the next verse. Him God might strike, either with vexation and horror of mind; or with some painful and lingering, but incurable, disease, like that of Jehoram, which tormented him two years together,…

Not now after this victory, for he died presently after it; but in the whole time of his life, before he was king and afterward.