_A.M. 3047. B.C. 957._ Abijah sets the battle in array against Jeroboam, 2 Chronicles 13:1. He declares the justice of his cause, 2 Chronicles 13:4. Trusts in God and gains the victory, 2 Chronicles 13:13. His wives and children, 2 Chronicles 13:21; 2 Chronicles 13:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
_His mother's name was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel _ Called _Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, 1 Kings 15:2_. She might be daughter to one, and grand-daughter to the other: or the proper and natural daughter of the one, and the other's daughter by adoption.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abijah set the battle in array_ Namely, against Jeroboam, having, no doubt, God's authority to engage with him in battle. It is probable, indeed, that Jeroboam was the aggressor, and that what Abijah did was in his own necessary defence.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abijah stood upon mount Zemaraim_ Some commodious place whence his words might be heard by Jeroboam, and some of his army, who possibly were pitched in the valley. Or, the two armies being pitched near each other, Abijah desired a parley before they fought, to see if they could accommodate matters... [ Continue Reading ]
_By a covenant of salt_ A perpetual covenant. The reason of this mode of expression seems to arise from the preserving nature of salt; which, therefore, was made a symbol of friendship and fidelity. It is most likely, that in all solemn covenants which were confirmed by sacrifice, it was an ancient... [ Continue Reading ]
_Vain men, children of Belial_ Such as have cast off the yoke and the 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 politics, and especially... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord_ 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. _And ye be_ Or, _because ye be, a great multitude_ This he mentions, as b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Have ye not cast out the priests of the Lord?_ The house of Aaron, whom God appointed to minister in holy things. _And have made you priests, after the manner of the nations?_ In conformity to the custom of the idolatrous nations. _So that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the Lord is our God_ Hebrew, _Jehovah_, the only true and great God. _And we have not forsaken him_ We maintain his honour and worship, which you have ungratefully rejected. And he is able to protect us and give us success.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The show-bread upon the pure table_ So called, because it was made of pure gold, Exodus 25:23. He saith, table and candlestick, though there were ten of each, because ordinarily there was but one of each used at a time. _We keep the charge of the Lord our God _ We worship no images, have no priest... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, God himself is with us for our captain_ Here in our camp. We may be sure he is with us, because we are with him. And as a token of his presence we have here with us _his priests, sounding_ his _trumpets_ According to the law, as a testimony against you, and an assurance to us, that in the d... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come behind_ While Abijah was discoursing, he took the advantage thus afforded him of sending a party of soldiers privately to lie in ambush, and attack Abijah's army behind, while he continued to face them with his main body. It does not appear that he made any... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, the battle was before and behind_ Thus Judah was unexpectedly brought into a great strait, and put into great fear. A good cause, and one which is designed to be victorious, may be involved in difficulty and distress. _And they cried unto the Lord_ For when danger was on every side, which w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the men of Judah gave a shout_ In confidence of victory, the priests animating them by sounding the trumpets, and giving them assurance of God's presence with them. To the cry of prayer they added the shout of faith, and so became more than conquerors. _God smote Jeroboam and all Israel_ He st... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time_ And had not the determinate counsel of God been otherwise, surely so great a blow would have brought them back to the house of David. _And Judah prevailed, because they relied on the God of their fathers_ It was not by their own valour th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abijah took cities from him, Beth-el_, &c. Which, however, Jeroboam recovered afterward, as appears by the course of the history. What became of the golden calf at Beth-el, when that place came thus into the hands of the king of Judah, we are not told. Probably when Jeroboam's host was discomfited,... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord struck him_ 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, and at last killed him, 2 Chronicles 21:19. _And he died_ Not immediately, but a year or two after this time. He esc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abijah married fourteen wives_ Not now after this victory, for he died soon after it; but in the whole time of his life, before he was king, and afterward.... [ Continue Reading ]