Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 13

Verses 1-22

In the reign of Abijah there was terrible war between Judah and Israel. The king himself was evil, as the Book of the Kings declares. Here, however, he was speaking and acting for his people. His address, in which he at tempted to persuade Israel to submission, is very remarkable. It is a strange mixture of misrepresentation and religion. The misrepresentation is in his statement of the reason for the rebellion of Israel, which culminated in the crowning of Jeroboam. He attributed the rebellion to the influence of evil men whom he described as "sons of Belial."

How often in process of time men misrepresent the reasons from which differences spring. There is no doubt that the contrasts which Abijah drew between the nations were true, and that Judah more nearly represented the true ideal of the nation of God than did Israel. This, however, does not justify his misrepresentation of the real beginning of disaffection in Israel. From the standpoint of righteousness, the condition of Israel was deplorable, and Jeroboam was a veritable incarnation of evil. His method of warfare as here recorded was mean and despicable. To surprise a foe from ambush in the midst of conference is inexpressibly wicked. The God of the nations Himself acts, and the power of Jeroboam was broken utterly by the victory of Judah.