Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Chronicles 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Chronicles 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Chronicles 13
"In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah." — 2 Chronicles 13:1 (ASV)
The history of Abijah’s reign is recorded here in much greater detail than in the book of Kings, especially regarding his war with Jeroboam.
"Three years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam." — 2 Chronicles 13:2 (ASV)
See the note on 1 Kings 15:2.
"And Abijah joined battle with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: and Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, who were mighty men of valor." — 2 Chronicles 13:3 (ASV)
Some have proposed changing the numbers here and in 2 Chronicles 13:17 to 40,000, 80,000, and 50,000, respectively. This suggestion is based partly on these smaller numbers appearing in many early editions of the Vulgate, but mainly because the larger figures are considered incredible.
However, the numbers are consistent with the census taken during David's reign (1 Chronicles 21:5), especially when combined with the fact, which the writer previously related, of a significant subsequent migration from the northern kingdom into the southern one (2 Chronicles 11:13–17).
At the time of the census, the total adult male population was 1,570,000, while the total number of fighting men now is 1,200,000. This would leave a remainder of 370,000 for the aged and infirm, which is nearly a fourth of the whole.
Furthermore, the loss mentioned in 2 Chronicles 13:17 can be understood to mean the entire Israelite loss over the course of the war, which likely continued throughout the whole reign of Abijah.
"Have ye not driven out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made you priests after the manner of the peoples of [other] lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of [them that are] no gods." — 2 Chronicles 13:9 (ASV)
Seven rams - A bullock and two rams was the offering which God had required at the original consecration of the sons of Aaron (Exodus 29:1; Leviticus 8:2). Jeroboam, for reasons of his own, enlarged the sacrifice and required it at the consecration of every priest.
"And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men." — 2 Chronicles 13:17 (ASV)
Slain - The word strictly means “pierced,” and includes both the killed and the wounded. It is translated as “wounded” in Lamentations 2:12.
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