2 Chronicles 13
DortAhia warreth against Jerobeam King of Israel, v.1, etc. setteth forth the justiness of his cause, 4. Trusting in God, getteth the victory, 13. Ahia’s wives, and children, 21.
1. In the eighteenth year of King Jerobeam, Ahia became King over Juda.
2. He reigned three years at Jerusalem; and his mothers name was Michaja, [Above chap.11.20. called Maacha] the daughter of Uriel [he was also called Absalom, above chap.11.20. See there the annotations, and distinguish between this Uriel and another of the same name, that was a Levite, 1 Chron.15.11.] of Gibea: [divers cities have had this name, and that from the height of the place, on which they were built, (for Gibea Hebr. Gibhah signifieth an hill:) but some conceive that here is spoken of Gibea in Benjamin; of which see Judges 20:4,5,10,20.] and there was war between Ahia, and between Jerobeam.
3. And Ahia bound on the battle [See of the meaning of this word, 1 Kings 20.on vers.14.] with an host of warlike champions, four hundred thousand chosen men: and Jerobeam set the battle in aray against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, valiant champions.
4. And Ahia gat him up from above the mountain [The sense or meaning seemeth to be this, that he being on the top of the mountain, came somewhat lower down, that he might be the better heard and understood by Jerobeam, and his people] Zemeraim, [it is conceived, that this mountain lay on the South border of Ephraim, as it bordereth on Benjamin, and hath its name from a city the same name, unless the city should have its name from the mountain. See Josh.18.22.] which is in mount Ephraim, and he said; Hearken to me, Jerobeam, and all Israel.
5. Ought ye not to know, that the LORD the God of Israel gave the Kingdom over Israel to David forever, [See 2 Sam.7.on vers.13.] to him, and to his sons, by a covenant of salt? [That is, an everlasting, and never failing covenant, which perisheth not: as that which is sprinkled and rubbed over with Salt, doth not easily perish or decay. See Numb.18.19. and the Annotat.]
6. Not wit standing Jerobeam the son of Nebat the servant of Salomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his LORD.
7. Besides, vain men, [See Judges 10.on vers.4.] children of Belial, [that is, wicked Varlets, lewd and licentious Rascal, who not onely do no good to any man, but also will not live under any Laws. See Deut.13.on vers.13.] have gathered themselves to him, and have strengthened themselves against Rehabeam the son of Salomon, when Rehabeam was young, [to wit, in mind, heart, and courage, as the following words declare. The meaning is, that he was no warrior, or expert man: compare Eccles.10.16. Otherwise, in respect of Age he was one and fourty years old, when he came to the Crown, above chap.12.on vers.13.] and tender hearted, (so) that he could not strengthen himself against them.
8. And now, ye think [Hebr. Ye are saying: to wit, within your selves. See Genes.20.on vers.11. and 1 Kings 5.on vers.5.] to strengthen your selves against the Kingdom of the LORD, [understand the Kingdom of Juda, whereof the Lord is the author and protector] (which) is in the hand of the sons of David: ye are indeed a great multitude; but ye have golden calves with you, [it may seem by these words, that they had brought the golden calves with them into the camp, as formerly the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Camp, 1 Sam.4.3,4,5, etc.] which Jerobeam made you for Gods.
9. Have ye not driven out the Priests of the LORD the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you Priests like unto the Nations of the lands? Every one, that cometh to fill his hand [That is, to put and consecrate himself into the Priests Office. See Lev.7.on vers.37.] with a young bullock? [Hebr. With a son of the bullock: that is, in a manner, which is devised by thee, and not instituted by God] and seven Rams, that same is a Priests of them, that are no Gods.
10. But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsake him: and the Priests that minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron; and the Levites are (employed) in the work. [To wit, in that work, which is prescribed them in the Law of God.]
11. And they [To wit, the Priests] do kindled before the LORD burnt-offerings, every, morning, and every evening [Hebr. In morning in morning, in evening in evening: So in the sequel; that is, every morning, and every evening. See this phrase Gen.7.2. and the Annotations] also incense of sweet-smelling spices, [see hereof Exod.30.34, etc.] besides, the disposing of the bread [meaning, the Shew-bread, whereof see Lev.24.5. etc.] upon the pure Table, [see of this Table, Exod.25.23,etc.it is called pure, because it was overlaid with pure Gold, Exod.25.24.] and the golden Candlestick, [see of this, Exod.25.31, etc.] and the lamps thereof, to cause (them) to burn every evening, [according to the Law, Lev.24 2,3, etc. 2,3, etc] for we observe the charge of the LORD our God: [see Lev.8.on vers.35.] but ye have forsake him. [See above chap.12.on ver.1.]
12. Therefore behold, God is with us at the top, [Hebr. In, or, at the head; that is, in the front, in the battalia. See Deut.20 9. MIch.2.13. Others, for an head; that is, for a Captain and Protector] and his Priests with sounding trumpets, [see of the use of these trumpets in war, Numb.10.9.] to sound and alarm against you: O children of Israel, fight not against the LORD God of your fathers: [see Gen.26.on vers.24. So below vers.18.] for ye shall not prosper.
13. But Jerusalem caused an ambushment to turn about, for to come behind them: [Namely, those of Juda. This ambushment consisted of a part of his forces, which had hid themselves close in the field, to fall upon those of Juda unawares in the war] so they [namely, the camp of the Israelites] were before the face of Juda, and the ambush (was) behind them. [namely, those of Juda]
14. Now when Juda looked back, behold, they had the battle before and behind; and they cried unto the LORD: and the Priests sounded with the Trumpets. [To wit, to hearten on those of Juda, and to excite and stir them up to manly courage.]
15. And the men of Juda sounded an alarm: and it came to pass, when the men of Juda sounded an alarm; that God smote Jerobeam, and all Israel, [That is, discomsited them, or gave them the overthrow. So 1 Sam.4 2. Below chap.14.12. Or plagued them with terror, astonishment, confusion, or, otherwise] before Ahia, and Juda.
16. And the children of Israel fled before the face of Juda, and God gave them into their hand.
17. Ahia then, and his people smote them with a great blow; [That is, with a great overthrow of them. So Josh.10.10. 1 Kings 20:21. This phrase is also used of other sore judgements, whereby God, beside the cause of war, slayeth many people at once, as Numb.11.33. 1 Sam.19.] for of Israel (there) fell (down) slain five hundred thousand chosen men.
18. Thus the children of Israel were humbled [That is, pressed down, and brought under. So Judges chap.8.28. Psalm. 106. Vers.42, etc.] at that time, and the children of Juda grew mighty, because they had relied on the LORD God of their fathers.
19. And Ahia pursued after Jerobeam, and took the cities from him, Bethel, [See of this city Gen.12.on vers.8. Here Jerobeam had set up one of the golden calves, 1 Kings 12:29.] with her dependent places, [Hebr. Daughters. So Numb.21.25,29,32. And in the sequel] and Jesana, with her dependent places, and Ephron, [lying in the Tribe of Benjamin, called also Phra, Josh.18.23.] with her dependent places.
20. And Jerobeam retained no strength more [To wit, to war against Ahia] in the days of Ahia: but the LORD smote him, that he died. [it seemeth that Jerobeam after this over throw had a long continuing sickness, whereof he at length died in the second year of King Asa’s reign. Others, undertstand this Abia, who reigned but three years, above vers.2. so that he did not live long after this victory, below chap.14.1.]
21. So Ahia strengthened himself; and he took unto him fourteen wives; [To wit, some while he was King, and some before, while his fathers was yet alive] and begat two and twenty sons, and sixteen daughters.
22. Now the rest of the acts of Ahia, both his ways, [That is, his deeds and works] and his words; are written in the history of the Prophet Iddo. [See 2 Chron.9.on vers.29.]