13:1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to
reign over a Judah.
(a) He means Judah and Benjamin.
13:2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also
[was] b Michaiah the daughter of c Uriel of Gibeah. And
there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
(b) Or Maacah, (1Ki 15:2).
(c) Called also Absalom, for Absalom was her grandfather,
(1Ki 15:2).
13:4 And Abijah stood up upon mount d Zemaraim, which [is] in
mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all
Israel;
(d) Which was one of the peaks of mount Ephraim.
13:5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the
kingdom over Israel to e David for ever, [even] to him
and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
(e) Therefore whoever usurps it or takes it from that stock
transgresses the ordinance of the Lord. Thus like a
hypocrite he alleges the word of God for his
advantage.
13:7 And there are gathered unto him g vain men, the children
of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against
Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was h young
and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.
(g) This word in the Chaldee tongue is Racha, which our
saviour uses, (Mt 5:22).
(h) Meaning, in heart and courage.
13:9 Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of
Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the
manner of the nations of [other] lands? so that whosoever
cometh to consecrate himself with a i young bullock and
seven rams, [the same] may be a priest of [them that are]
no gods.
(i) He shows the nature of idolaters who take no trial of
the calling, life and doctrine of their ministers, but
think the most vile and greatest beasts sufficient to
serve their turn.
13:11 And they burn unto the LORD every k morning and every
evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread
also [set they in order] upon the pure table; and the
candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every
evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but
ye have forsaken him.
13:12 And, behold, God himself [is] l with us for [our]
captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry
alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not
against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not
prosper.
(l) Because their cause was good and approved by the Lord,
they did not doubt the success and victory.
13:13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment m to come about behind
them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment [was]
behind them.
(m) Contemning the good counsel which came from the Spirit
of God, he thought to have overcome by deceit.
13:18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that
time, and the children of Judah prevailed, n because
they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers.
(n) He shows that the stay of all kingdoms and assurance
of victories depends on our trust and confidence in
the Lord.
