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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 13:1-12

Abijah's mother was called Maachah, the daughter of Absalom, 2 Chron. 11:20; here she is called Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel. It is most probable that she was a grand-daughter of Absalom, by his daughter Tamar (2 Sam. 14:27), and that her immediate father was this Uriel. But we are here to attend Abijah into the field of battle with Jeroboam king of Israel. I. God gave him leave to engage with Jeroboam, and owned him in the conflict, though he would not permit Rehoboam to do it, 2 Chron.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 13:13-22

We do not find that Jeroboam offered to make any answer at all to Abijah's speech. Though it was much to the purpose, he resolved not to heed it, and therefore he heard it as though he heard it not. He came to fight, not to dispute. The longest sword, he thought, would determine the matter, not the better cause. Let us therefore see the issue, whether right and religion carried the day or no. I. Jeroboam, who trusted to his politics, was beaten. He was so far from fair reasoning that he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 13:12

And, behold, God himself is with us for our Captain ,.... To go before our armies, and fight our battles for us: and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you ; which was one use of the trumpets, that the people might be remembered by the Lord, and saved from their enemies, Numbers 10:9 , so that this circumstance was against Jeroboam and his army, and for Abijah and his: O children of Israel, fight ye not against the Lord God of your fathers ; for fighting... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 13:13

But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them ,.... While Abijah was making his oration, he detached a party from his army, which got about, and lay in ambush, behind the army of Abijah: so they were before Judah ; Jeroboam and the greater part of his army: and the ambushment was behind them ; which Jeroboam had sent thither. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 13:14

And when Judah looked back ,.... On hearing a noise behind them: behold, the battle was before and behind ; men were set in battle array, and the battle was begun, and an attack made upon them both ways: and they cried unto the Lord ; for help against their enemies, and to deliver them out of their hands: and the priests sounded with the trumpets ; to inspire them with cheerfulness, and to suggest to them that God was with them and they need not be afraid. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 13:15

Then the men of Judah gave a shout ,.... Taking heart at the sound of the trumpets, and in order to encourage one another, and intimidate the enemy; See Gill on 1 Samuel 17:20 , and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah ; possessed them with a panic, so that they fled at once, as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 13:16

And the children of Israel fled before Judah ,.... Were in such a fright and consternation, that they could not stand their ground, or engage at all; but took to flight immediately: and God delivered them into their hand ; to be taken and slain by them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 13:12

God himself is with us - Ye have golden calves; we have the living and omnipotent Jehovah. With - trumpets to cry alarm against you - This was appalling: When the priests sound their trumpets, it will be a proof that the vengeance of the Lord shall speedily descend upon you. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 13:13

But Jeroboam caused an ambushment - While Abijah was thus employed in reproving them, Jeroboam divided his army privately, and sent a part to take Abijah in the rear; and this must have proved fatal to the Jews, had not the Lord interposed. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 13:1-20

The folly of unnatural severance, etc. The whole chapter presents to us a number of lessons, not very closely connected with one another. I. THE FOLLY OF AN UNNATURAL SEVERANCE . The first thing we read about the reign of Abijah is that there "was war between him and Jeroboam" ( 2 Chronicles 13:2 ). What else was to be expected? How, in those times, or indeed in any time, could it be otherwise? Tribes descended, as they were, from a common ancestor, speaking the same... read more

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