2 Crônicas 13
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Crônicas 13
NJB (LXX versing) Abijah Succeeds Rehoboam Abijah Reigns in Judah The Reign of Abijah, His Great Victory Over the North Abijah's War with Jeroboam War Breaks Out 13:1-2a 13:1-3 13:1-2a 13:1-2a 13:1-3 13:2b-3 13:2b-7 13:2b-3 Civil War Abijah Addresses the Israelites 13:4-7 13:4-12 13:4-9 13:4-12 13:8-12 13:8-12 13:10-12 The Battle 13:13-19 13:13-20 13:13-22 13:13-18 13:13-18 The End of the Reign of Abijah Death of Jeroboam 13:19-20 13:19-23 13:20 13:21-22 13:21-14:1 13:21-22 Etc.
2 Crônicas 13:1-2
13:1 "In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam" This is the only place in Chronicles that the parallel reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah are mentioned. This is regularly done in Kings. "Abijah" This was Rehoboam's favorite son (cf. 2 Chr. 11:22). The parallel is in 1 Kings 15, but there it is a much briefer account and his name is spelled "Abijam." Obviously the Chronicler is using a different written source. "Micaiah" The LXX has "Maacah" both here and in 1 Kgs. 15:2, but there are two different fathers listed. here, Uriel 1 Kgs. 15:2, Abishalom (possibly grandfather, cf. 2 Chr. 11:20) This is the same name as one of Rehoboam's wives (cf. 1 Kgs. 15:2; 2 Chr. 11:20,21,22). 13:2 "He reigned three years" See SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM.
2 Crônicas 13:2-3
13:3 "400,000. . .800,000" These numbers seem inflated. This may be because literary exaggeration to highlight YHWH's victory the word "thousand" refers to a military unit The best book on these numbers is Edwin Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings. SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND
2 Crônicas 13:4-7
13:4-12 Abijah addresses Jeroboam I from Mt. Zemaraim (cf. Josh. 18:22; LXX has "Samaria"). YHWH gave David and his descendants the kingship over Israel forever (cf. 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17) Jeroboam I rebelled against Solomon (i.e., 1 Kgs. 11:26) he gathered an army of worthless men (i.e., "sons of Belial," i.e., Deut. 13:13; 1 Sam. 2:12; 10:27; 1 Kgs. 21:10) who defeated Rehoboam Jeroboam I has sinned by making rival temples with golden calves (i.e., located at Dan and Bethel, cf. 1 Kgs. 12:26-30) Jeroboam I apparently confiscated the Levitical cities of the north and drove out the Levites Judah had not forsaken YHWH (see notes at 2 Chr. 13:10-11) the Aaronic priests still minister in the Jerusalem temple because of #1-7, we have come to fight in YHWH's name; do not resist us In a real sense this challenge by Abijah represents the theology of the Chronicler (not the evil king of 1 Kgs. 15:3). the only legitimate kingdom is Judah who is of the descendants of David; the northern tribes are an illegitimate kingdom with an illegitimate temple and priesthood the only legitimate priesthood is the line of Aaron, tribe of Levi, and they are still performing the Mosaic rites in the only proper temple on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem the defeat of such a large army clearly shows YHWH's favor on Judah and rejection of Israel under Jeroboam I 13:5 "a covenant of salt" This was the physical, cultural symbol of an eternal agreement (cf. Lev. 2:13; Num. 18:19). This refers to YHWH's promise to David in 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17 (esp. vv. 13-14). See brief article in Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, p. 1752. "forever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam). 13:7 "he was young and timid" This same phrase is used by David of Rehoboam in 1 Chr. 22:5; 29:1, but at the time of Jeroboam I's rebellion he was in his early 40's. This seems to be an excuse of the Chronicler for Solomon's son's inabilities indecisive personality
2 Crônicas 13:8-12
13:8 "having with you the golden calves" In the ANE, symbols of the nations' gods and their priests went into battle with the troops. This can be seen in Israel in 1 Samuel 4, where Eli's wicked sons took the ark into battle with the Philistines and it was captured. Surprisingly, the text has "calves." One wonders if both golden calf pedestals accompanied Israel's troops. It is interesting that Judah captured the southern temple of Jeroboam I at Bethel, but the golden calf is not mentioned. The golden calf idols were with Israel but YHWH Himself was with Judah! 13:9 What a castigation of Jeroboam I's new temples. He drove out the legitimate Levitical priests. He made himself priests like the pagan nations. He and his priests worshiped non-existent gods (i.e., the golden calves, 2 Chr. 13:8). the calves were meant to represent YHWH (i.e., Exodus 32), possibly as pedestals for His invisible presence but the calves were symbols of ANE fertility; they became the objects of Ba'al worship "of what are no gods"; see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM 2 Chr. 13:10 asserts Judah's exclusive worship of YHWH, which implies a difference from Israel See: SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM 13:10-11 "we have not forsaken Him. . .but you have forsaken Him" The VERB (BDB 736, KB 806, Qal PERFECT) is a recurrent VERB. 1 Kgs. 9:3; 11:33; 18:18; 19:10,14 2 Kgs. 2:2,4,6; 4:30; 17:16; 21:22; 22:17 in Chronicles it is used of forsaking the Lord ‒ 1 Chr. 28:9; 2 Chr. 7:19,22; 12:1,5; 13:10-11; 15:2; 21:10; 24:20,24; 28:6; 29:6; 34:25 forsaking His commandments ‒ 2 Kgs. 17:16 (i.e., idolatry) forsaking His temple ‒ 2 Chr. 24:18 (i.e., idolatry) This language is reminiscent of the conclusion of Deuteronomy. YHWH's people are judged because they forsake Him (cf. Deut. 28:20; 31:16) and His law (cf. Deut. 29:25), therefore, He forsakes them (cf. Deut. 31:17). Remember, Abraham's descendants were part of a conditional covenant. There were consequences for obedience and disobedience (i.e., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28)! 13:11 The legitimate priests and Levites performed the Mosaic rituals (cf. 1 Chr. 23:28-31). This verse mentions the activity of the priests (i.e., offering burnt offerings every morning), but the other activities were primarily done by Levites. The author of Chronicles seems to have a special interest in them. In the post-exilic period the distinction between priests and Levites is minimized. 13:12 This verse must have been very comforting to a post-exilic audience facing the ire of the surrounding nations (cf. Ezra ‒ Nehemiah).
2 Crônicas 13:13-19
13:13-14 Even though Jeroboam I had a better military strategy, YHWH acted on behalf of Judah and Israel was defeated. 500,000 killed cities taken back national weakness throughout Jeroboam I's remaining reign YHWH struck him and he died (2 Chr. 13:20; 1 Kings 14) 13:14-15 Notice the expected acts involving a military action. prayer to YHWH ‒ before, during, and after the battle war cry ‒ possibly involving YHWH's name blowing of trumpets by the Levitical priests SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL 13:17 What a terrible slaughter of fellow descendants of Abraham. Civil wars are horrible but it was even worse among the unique covenant people of God. In the modern western world, the individual has become supreme but remember the Bible is corporate. Each individual served a collective whole. I surely agree that God loves individuals, but His heart is also set on a people, chosen for a purpose. This supercedes the place of individuals. Even for NT believers, the goal is not benefits for the individual but service to the health and growth of the Kingdom of God (i.e., 1 Cor. 12:7,11). We are saved to serve, not to get. Be careful of western individualism. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 13:18 "because they trusted in the Lord" The reason for Judah's success in battle is clearly and emphatically identified. YHWH is said to have "routed Jeroboam" in v. 15. This clearly demonstrates the stated truth of v. 12, "God is with us as our head. . .do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers." There are three key verbs for the concept of faith/trust. The VERB "trusted" (BDB 1043, KB 1612, Niphal PERFECT) basically means "to lean on" or "support oneself on" (cf. 2 Chr. 14:11; 16:7,8; Isa. 31:1; 50:10; Mic. 3:11). This VERB is parallel with the more common VERB/NOUN to trust (BDB 53,54; see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH, AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT) in Isa. 10:20. See also the other term for "trust" (BDB 105, KB 120) in Isa. 30:12; 31:1. Trust is a crucial element of OT faith! 13:19 "Bethel" This Ephraimite city was just a few miles north of Jerusalem and was the location of the southern temple of Jeroboam I's golden calves. What a symbolic judgment! Its location was meant to be a rival to Jerusalem's temple.
2 Crônicas 13:20
There is no grim reaper. Death is in the hands of YHWH!
2 Crônicas 13:21-22
13:21-22 This is a typical, but shorter, form of the summary of Abijah's reign. This may be because part of the family information appears in 2 Chr. 13:1-2. Not surprisingly this account does not mention the evil summary of 1 Kgs. 15:3. walked in the sins of his fathers his heart was not fully devoted to YHWH 13:22 "treatise" "annals" NRSV, JPSOA "story" "the midrash" "discourse" "poems" The MT has "midrash" (BDB 205), which is found only here and 2 Chr. 24:27 in the OT, but became a famous term in later Judaism for a commentary on Scripture. Here, it refers to a prophetic record or poem (Peshitta) but not scribal embellishments.