John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
2 Chronicles 6:1
Ver. 1. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:2
Ver. 2. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:3
Ver. 3. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:4
Ver. 4. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:5
Ver. 5. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:6
Ver. 6. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:7
Ver. 7. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:8
Ver. 8. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:9
Ver. 9. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:10
Ver. 10. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:11
Ver. 11. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:12
Ver. 12. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:13
Ver. 13. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:14
Ver. 14. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:15
Ver. 15. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:16
Ver. 16. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:17
Ver. 17. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:18
Ver. 18. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:19
Ver. 19. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:20
Ver. 20. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:21
Ver. 21. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:22
Ver. 22. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:23
Ver. 23. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:24
Ver. 24. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:25
Ver. 25. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:26
Ver. 26. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:27
Ver. 27. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:28
Ver. 28. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:29
Ver. 29. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:30
Ver. 30. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:31
Ver. 31. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:32
Ver. 32. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:33
Ver. 33. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:34
Ver. 34. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:35
Ver. 35. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:36
Ver. 36. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:37
Ver. 37. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:38
Ver. 38. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:39
Ver. 39. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:40
Ver. 40. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:41
Ver. 41. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1".
2 Chronicles 6:42
Ver. 42. See Gill on "2Ch 5:1"
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
2 Chronicles 7:1
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 7
In this chapter is an account of the Lord's acceptance of the sacrifices offered at the dedication of the temple by fire, to the great surprise and encouragement of the people, 2Ch 7:1, and of the feast kept on that account, and the feast of tabernacles, 2Ch 7:8, and of the Lord's appearance to Solomon, giving an answer to his prayer, 2Ch 7:13.
Ver. 1. Now when Solomon had made an end of praying,.... The prayer recorded in the preceding chapter:
the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; which was the token God gave of his acceptance of them, of which there had been several instances before, Le 9:24, 1Ki 18:38,
and the glory of the Lord filled the house; the glory of the Shechinah of the Lord, as the Targum, see 1Ki 8:11.
2 Chronicles 7:2
Ver. 2. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord,.... They went in to carry the ark thither, but not being able to stand to minister, they came out, and could not reenter:
because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house; both the holy place, and the holy of holies, see 1Ki 8:10.
2 Chronicles 7:3
Ver. 3. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down,.... From heaven upon the sacrifice, and consumed it, which was all visible to the eye; or it may be this was a distinct fire from the former, since it seems to have come down upon the house, and so may denote a bright, shining, glorious light; the same with what follows:
and the glory of the Lord upon the house; for not only the house was filled with the glory, but there was a bright stream of light and glory over it, very dazzling and surprising:
they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement; of the great court, where they were assembled:
and worshipped and praised the Lord: worshipped him by praising him:
saying, for he is good; in his nature, promises, and blessings; is good, and does good:
for his mercy endureth for ever; this was the close of their song of praise.
2 Chronicles 7:4
Ver. 4,5. Then the king and all the people,.... Of these two verses,
See Gill on "1Ki 8:62",
See Gill on "1Ki 8:63".
2 Chronicles 7:5
Ver. 5. See Gill on "2Ch 7:4".
2 Chronicles 7:6
Ver. 6. And the priests waited on their offices,.... Performed them, some in offering sacrifices, others in blowing trumpets, as it may be explained from the latter part of the verse:
the Levites also with instruments of music of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord; under a divine direction, on which the Levites played to the songs of praise offered to the Lord, and by which they made music sacred to him:
because his mercy endureth for ever; which, as it was the close of their songs of praise, was the cause of them:
when David praised by their ministry; the songs sung being composed by him, and the instruments they played upon being of his invention, and used by his order:
and the priests sounded trumpets before them; or rather over against them, that is, over against the Levites, as they were singing and playing on the instruments of music:
and all Israel stood; while this sacred and delightful service was performing, they both stood up, and stood by the priests and Levites, and joined with them in praising the Lord.
2 Chronicles 7:7
Ver. 7-10. Moreover, Solomon hallowed the middle of the court,.... From hence, to the end of 2Ch 7:10 is the same with 1Ki 8:64.
See Gill on "1Ki 8:64",
See Gill on "1Ki 8:65",
See Gill on "1Ki 8:66", only mention is made in 2Ch 7:9 of the dedication of the altar, as if distinct from the dedication of the house, and hallowing the middle of the court, see Nu 7:10 in imitation of which the Heathens dedicated their altars, in which they used ashes and water, as Pausanias {y} relates, and had also feasts, as here, at the dedication of their temples {z}, in which they have been imitated by Christians; and many of our country feasts, as they are called, were first kept at the dedication of churches to such and such a saint.
{y} Eliac, 1. sive, l. 5. p. 312. {z} Plin. Ep. l. 4. ep. 1.
2 Chronicles 7:8
Ver. 8. See Gill on "2Ch 7:7"
2 Chronicles 7:9
Ver. 9. See Gill on "2Ch 7:7"
2 Chronicles 7:10
Ver. 10. See Gill on "2Ch 7:7"
2 Chronicles 7:11
Ver. 11. Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord,.... With which begins 1Ki 11:1,
See Gill on "1Ki 11:1".
2 Chronicles 7:12
Ver. 12-22. And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night,.... From hence, to the end of the chapter, much the same things are related as in 1Ki 9:2,
See Gill on "1Ki 9:2",
See Gill on "1Ki 9:3",
See Gill on "1Ki 9:4",
See Gill on "1Ki 9:5",
See Gill on "1Ki 9:6",
See Gill on "1Ki 9:7",
See Gill on "1Ki 9:8",
See Gill on "1Ki 9:9", excepting 2Ch 7:13 which contain an answer to the particular requests made by Solomon in case of a famine or pestilence, that when the people of Israel should humble themselves in prayer and supplication, the Lord would be attentive to them, and forgive them, 2Ch 6:26 and which is given as a specimen, and as encouragement to expect the same treatment in all other cases mentioned in Solomon's prayer, they so behaving.
2 Chronicles 7:13
Ver. 13. See Gill on "2Ch 7:12".
2 Chronicles 7:14
Ver. 14. See Gill on "2Ch 7:12".
2 Chronicles 7:15
Ver. 15. See Gill on "2Ch 7:12".
2 Chronicles 7:16
Ver. 16. See Gill on "2Ch 7:12".
2 Chronicles 7:17
Ver. 17. See Gill on "2Ch 7:12".
2 Chronicles 7:18
Ver. 18. See Gill on "2Ch 7:12".
2 Chronicles 7:19
Ver. 19. See Gill on "2Ch 7:12".
2 Chronicles 7:20
Ver. 20. See Gill on "2Ch 7:12".
2 Chronicles 7:21
Ver. 21. See Gill on "2Ch 7:12".
2 Chronicles 7:22
Ver. 22. See Gill on "2Ch 7:12".
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
2 Chronicles 8:1
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 8
This chapter contains much the same, with a little variation, as what is related in 1Ki 9:10.
Ver. 1. And it came to pass at the end of twenty years,....
See Gill on "1Ki 9:10".
2 Chronicles 8:2
Ver. 2. That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon,.... Which Solomon first gave to him, but he not liking them, returned them to him, 1Ki 9:12,
Solomon built them; or rebuilt them, being very much out of repair, which might be one reason of Huram's not accepting them:
and caused the children of Israel to dwell there; they being inhabited by others, the remains of the Canaanitcs perhaps; see 2Ch 8:7.
2 Chronicles 8:3
Ver. 3. And Solomon went to Hamathzobah,.... In an hostile manner, which is the only instance of any warlike expedition of Solomon's. This was Coelesyria, which though subdued in the times of David, perhaps rebelled, and now Solomon went forth to reduce it:
and prevailed against it; took it.
2 Chronicles 8:4
Ver. 4. And built Tadmor in the wilderness,.... Of which
See Gill on "1Ki 9:18"
and all the storehouses which he built in Hamath; a country in Syria, which he made himself master of, and where he laid up store of provision and ammunition to keep it, should any attempt be made to rescue it out of his hands. According to an Arabic writer {a}, Solomon in the twenty fourth year of his reign having demolished Antioch, built seven cities, of which Tadmor was one.
{a} Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. dyn. 3. p. 53.
2 Chronicles 8:5
Ver. 5. Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether,.... Only mention is made of the latter in 1Ki 9:17,
fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars; fortified cities in the tribe of Ephraim.
2 Chronicles 8:6
Ver. 6-12. And Baalath,.... See 1Ki 9:18. From hence, to the end of 2Ch 8:11, it is the same with 1Ki 9:19.
See Gill on "1Ki 9:19".
See Gill on "1Ki 9:20".
See Gill on "1Ki 9:21".
See Gill on "1Ki 9:22".
See Gill on "1Ki 9:23".
See Gill on "1Ki 9:24".
2 Chronicles 8:7
Ver. 7. See Gill on "2Ch 8:6".
2 Chronicles 8:8
Ver. 8. See Gill on "2Ch 8:6".
2 Chronicles 8:9
Ver. 9. See Gill on "2Ch 8:6".
2 Chronicles 8:10
Ver. 10. See Gill on "2Ch 8:6".
2 Chronicles 8:11
Ver. 11. See Gill on "2Ch 8:6".
2 Chronicles 8:12
Ver. 12. Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord,.... Meaning not barely at the time he rebuilt the above cities, for it was his constant practice:
on the altar of the Lord, which he had built before the porch; the brasen altar, which was at the entrance into the temple, within the court; of which see 2Ch 4:1.
2 Chronicles 8:13
Ver. 13. Even after a certain rate every day, according to the commandment of Moses,.... The daily sacrifice, morning and evening, Ex 29:38,
on the sabbaths, and on the new moons; when there were additional sacrifices, Nu 28:9, &c.
and on the solemn feasts three times in the year, [even] in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles; which serves to explain the three times in 1Ki 9:25.
2 Chronicles 8:14
Ver. 14. And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service,.... The twenty four courses which served weekly in their turns, 1Ch 24:1
and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as duty of every day required; who also had their courses by lot, to sing the praises of God, when the priests sacrificed, or blew the trumpets, 1Ch 25:1,
the porters also by their courses at every gate; from hence Dr. Lightfoot concludes that these were divided into twenty four classes, as the priests and Levite singers were:
for so had David the man of God commanded, 1Ch 26:1, who in all these affairs acted as a prophet, under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit of God.
2 Chronicles 8:15
Ver. 15. And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites,.... The priests and Levites departed not from it, not from the commandment of Solomon, according to the order of David, but in all things obeyed it:
concerning any matter; which related to the office of either of them, sacrificers, singers, or porters:
or concerning the treasures; such of the Levites as had the care of them were faithful to their trust, see 1Ch 26:20, &c.
2 Chronicles 8:16
Ver. 16. Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord, and until it was finished,.... The materials were prepared, and the money for the expenses; and even the very stones and timber were made fit for the building, so that there was nothing to retard the completion of it:
so the house of God was perfected; in the space of seven years, in all the parts, and according to the form and pattern of it, see 1Ki 6:38.
2 Chronicles 8:17
Ver. 17-18. Then went Solomon to Eziongeber,.... Being now at leisure to look after his navy, to carry on merchandise; and of this, and the following verse, and the reconciliation of them with 1Ki 9:26,
See Gill on "1Ki 9:26",
See Gill on "1Ki 9:27",
See Gill on "1Ki 9:28".
2 Chronicles 8:18
Ver. 18. See Gill on "2Ch 8:17".
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
2 Chronicles 9:1
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 9 & 10
The ninth chapter is the same with 1Ki 10:1 excepting 2Ch 9:26, which agrees with 1Ki 4:21, the same with
1Ki 11:41, only in 2Ch 9:29 it is more largely expressed that the acts of Solomon's reign were written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer, against Jeroboam the son of Nebat; or rather "concerning Jeroboam", as the Septuagint and some other versions {b}, in which Iddo is called Joel; and by Theodoret said to be the same that prophesied of Jeroboam and his altar, See Gill on "1Ki 13:1"; the books mentioned are since lost.
{b} le peri Sept. de, Junius & Tremellias, Piscator.
2 Chronicles 9:2
Ver. 2. See Gill on "1Ki 10:1".
2 Chronicles 9:3
Ver. 3. See Gill on "1Ki 10:2".
2 Chronicles 9:4
Ver. 4. See Gill on "1Ki 10:3".
2 Chronicles 9:5
Ver. 5. See Gill on "1Ki 10:4".
2 Chronicles 9:6
Ver. 6. See Gill on "1Ki 10:5".
2 Chronicles 9:7
Ver. 7. See Gill on "1Ki 10:6".
2 Chronicles 9:8
Ver. 8. See Gill on "1Ki 10:7".
2 Chronicles 9:9
Ver. 9. See Gill on "1Ki 10:8".
2 Chronicles 9:10
Ver. 10. See Gill on "1Ki 10:11".
2 Chronicles 9:11
Ver. 11. See Gill on "1Ki 10:12".
2 Chronicles 9:12
Ver. 12. See Gill on "1Ki 10:13".
2 Chronicles 9:13
Ver. 13. See Gill on "1Ki 10:14".
2 Chronicles 9:14
Ver. 14. See Gill on "1Ki 10:15".
2 Chronicles 9:15
Ver. 15. See Gill on "1Ki 10:16".
2 Chronicles 9:16
Ver. 16. See Gill on "1Ki 10:17".
2 Chronicles 9:17
Ver. 17. See Gill on "1Ki 10:18".
2 Chronicles 9:18
Ver. 18. See Gill on "1Ki 10:19".
2 Chronicles 9:19
Ver. 19. See Gill on "1Ki 10:20".
2 Chronicles 9:20
Ver. 20. See Gill on "1Ki 10:21".
2 Chronicles 9:21
Ver. 21. See Gill on "1Ki 10:22".
2 Chronicles 9:22
Ver. 22. See Gill on "1Ki 10:23".
2 Chronicles 9:23
Ver. 23. See Gill on "1Ki 10:24".
2 Chronicles 9:24
Ver. 24. See Gill on "1Ki 10:25".
2 Chronicles 9:25
Ver. 25. See Gill on "1Ki 10:26".
2 Chronicles 9:26
Ver. 26. See Gill on "1Ki 4:21".
2 Chronicles 9:27
Ver. 27. See Gill on "1Ki 10:27".
2 Chronicles 9:28
Ver. 28. See Gill on "1Ki 10:28".
2 Chronicles 9:29
Ver. 29. See Gill on "1Ki 11:41"
2 Chronicles 9:30
Ver. 30. See Gill on "1Ki 11:42"
2 Chronicles 9:31
Ver. 31. See Gill on "1Ki 11:43"
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
2 Chronicles 10:1
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 10
This chapter is not only in sense the same, but is expressed almost in the selfsame words as First Kings chapter twelve, verses one through nineteen, so there needs not anything to be added to the notes there, which the reader is referred to.
Ver. 1. See Gill on "1Ki 12:1".
2 Chronicles 10:2
Ver. 2. See Gill on "1Ki 12:2".
2 Chronicles 10:3
Ver. 3. See Gill on "1Ki 12:3".
2 Chronicles 10:4
Ver. 4. See Gill on "1Ki 12:4".
2 Chronicles 10:5
Ver. 5. See Gill on "1Ki 12:5".
2 Chronicles 10:6
Ver. 6. See Gill on "1Ki 12:6".
2 Chronicles 10:7
Ver. 7. See Gill on "1Ki 12:7".
2 Chronicles 10:8
Ver. 8. See Gill on "1Ki 12:8".
2 Chronicles 10:9
Ver. 9. See Gill on "1Ki 12:9".
2 Chronicles 10:10
Ver. 10. See Gill on "1Ki 12:10".
2 Chronicles 10:11
Ver. 11. See Gill on "1Ki 12:11".
2 Chronicles 10:12
Ver. 12. See Gill on "1Ki 12:12".
2 Chronicles 10:13
Ver. 13. See Gill on "1Ki 12:13".
2 Chronicles 10:14
Ver. 14. See Gill on "1Ki 12:14".
2 Chronicles 10:15
Ver. 15. See Gill on "1Ki 12:15".
2 Chronicles 10:16
Ver. 16. See Gill on "1Ki 12:16".
2 Chronicles 10:17
Ver. 17. See Gill on "1Ki 12:17".
2 Chronicles 10:18
Ver. 18. See Gill on "1Ki 12:18".
2 Chronicles 10:19
Ver. 19. See Gill on "1Ki 12:19".
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
2 Chronicles 11:1
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 11
In this chapter are related the preparations Rehoboam made to regain the ten tribes that revolted from him, but was forbid making the attempt by a prophet of the Lord, which he paid a regard unto, 2Ch 11:1, the fortification of several cities in Judah and Benjamin for his defence, 2Ch 11:5, the resort of several priests and Levites to him from Jeroboam, which served to strengthen his kingdom, 2Ch 11:13, and an account of his wives, and of his children, and of his disposal of them, 2Ch 11:18.
Ver. 1-4. And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem,.... After he had been at Shechem, and had given his answer to the request of the men of Israel, upon which they revolted from him: this and the three following verses are the same with 1Ki 12:21.
See Gill on "1Ki 12:21".
2 Chronicles 11:2
Ver. 2. See Gill on "1Ki 12:22".
2 Chronicles 11:3
Ver. 3. See Gill on "1Ki 12:23".
2 Chronicles 11:4
Ver. 4. See Gill on "1Ki 12:24".
2 Chronicles 11:5
Ver. 5. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem,.... The metropolis of Judah, and the capital city of his kingdom:
and built cities for defence in Judah; that is, rebuilt, enlarged, and fortified them; for otherwise they were built before, though neglected before the revolt of the ten tribes; but now it became necessary to make them more capacious and strong, to protect his people, and defend himself against Israel; for though he was forbid to act offensively, and therefore contented himself to abide in Jerusalem, and not go forth to war; yet he might lawfully put himself into a condition of defence.
2 Chronicles 11:6
Ver. 6. He built even Bethlehem,.... The place of our Lord's birth, about six miles from Jerusalem:
and Etam; another city in the tribe of Judah; see 1Ch 4:32, there was a rock of this name, Jud 15:8 and a fountain from whence waters were conveyed into the pool at Jerusalem, spoken of in Jewish writings {b}:
and Tekoah; of which place Amos the prophet was, and which was about twelve miles from Jerusalem. Rauwolff {c} speaks of it as a fortified place now; he says it has a strong and mighty castle, built on a great and high hill.
{b} Cippi Heb. p. 10. {c} Travels, par. 3. c. 22. p. 321. Ed. Ray.
2 Chronicles 11:7
Ver. 7. And Bethzur, and Shocho, and Adullam. All in the tribe of Judah, of which see Jos 15:35.
2 Chronicles 11:8
Ver. 8. And Gath,.... Which cannot be that Gath which was one of the principalities of the Philistines, but a city in the tribe of Judah; though of it we nowhere else read; unless this is the same with Moreshethgath, Mic 1:14, which is probable, since it follows:
and Mareshah; the birth place of Micah the prophet, Mic 1:1,
and Ziph; there were two cities of this name in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:24.
2 Chronicles 11:9
Ver. 9. And Adoraim,.... Called by Josephus {d} Adora, which he mentions along with Mareshah, or Marissa:
and Lachish: a royal city in the time of the Canaanites, and which fell to the lot of Judah, Jos 12:11,
and Azekah; a city situated in the plain of Judah, Jos 10:10.
{d} Antiqu. l. 13. c. 9. sect. 1.
2 Chronicles 11:10
Ver. 10. And Zorah,.... The same with Zoreah, Jos 15:33,
and Aijalon; there was a city of the tribe of Dan of this name, in the valley of which the moon stood still in the times of Joshua, Jos 10:12, but whether the same with this, and now belonging to Judah, or another of the same name, is not certain:
and Hebron; a city in the mountainous part of Judah, and a city of refuge, about twenty miles from Jerusalem, Jos 15:54,
which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities; as they were now made by Rehoboam.
2 Chronicles 11:11
Ver. 11. And he fortified the strong holds,.... Of these and other cities:
and put captains in them; garrisons of soldiers, with captains over them to defend them:
and store of victual, and of oil and wine; that they might be able to hold out a siege, should they be attacked.
2 Chronicles 11:12
Ver. 12. And in every several city he put shields and spears,.... Furnished them with these and perhaps other pieces of armour, these being put for all, to defend themselves with against an enemy, and to annoy them:
and made them exceeding strong; so that they could not be easily taken:
having Judah and Benjamin on his side: which tribes cleaved to one another, and to Rehoboam, and to the kings of the house of David, in later times, as well as to the true religion.
2 Chronicles 11:13
Ver. 13. And the priests and the Levites, that were in all Israel,.... In the ten tribes, in the cities assigned to them therein:
resorted to him out of all their coasts; as to their rightful sovereign, and chiefly for the sake of the service of the sanctuary at Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 11:14
Ver. 14. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession,.... The cities and the fields adjacent to them, which were given them in the several tribes, and were in all forty eight; see Jos 21:1 and came to Judah and Jerusalem; to the cities of Judah, which belonged to the Levites; and to Jerusalem, where they exercised their functions:
for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from exercising the priest's office unto the Lord; neither suffering them to go to Jerusalem in their courses, as they used to do by turns, nor to perform their office in their own dwellings, according to the law of God, in teaching and instructing the people.
2 Chronicles 11:15
Ver. 15. And he ordained him priests for the high places,.... Of such who were not of the tribe of Levi, and family of Aaron; see 1Ki 12:31
and for the devils; demons in the shape of goats, as this word signifies, in which form many of the Heathen deities were worshipped; idols of whatsoever kind are so called; for whosoever worships them worships not God, but devils, 1Co 10:21 the images which Jeroboam set up may be meant, and the next clause may be rendered as explanative of them:
even for the calves which he had made; one of which he set up at Dan, and the other at Bethel, 1Ki 12:28.
2 Chronicles 11:16
Ver. 16. And after them out of all the tribes of Israel,.... Besides the priests and Levites, and after their example, many of the common people, out of all the ten tribes:
such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel; to seek his face and favour, where he was to be found; to worship him according to his revealed will, and to receive doctrine or instruction from him, as the Targum:
came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers; to sacrifice where only sacrifices were to be offered up, and by the priests of the Lord, who were gone thither, and to their fathers' God, whom the ten tribes had revolted from.
2 Chronicles 11:17
Ver. 17. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah,.... Made it more numerous, and in a better condition to defend itself:
and made Rehoboam son of Solomon strong three years; established him on the throne, strengthened the government in his hands, and were the means of preserving him in the pure worship of God for the space of time mentioned, the reason of which follows:
for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon; in their good ways, which were according to the rule of the divine word; and which, as they refer to the whole of David's life and reign, some particular actions excepted, so to the former part of Solomon's reign, before he fell into idolatry, and to the latter part of it after his repentance; for that he did repent is by some concluded from hence, and may be more strongly from the book of Ecclesiastes, written by him in his old age. This is to be understood both of Rehoboam and his people, who after three years forsook the law of the Lord, 2Ch 12:1.
2 Chronicles 11:18
Ver. 18. And Rehoboam took him Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, the son of David, to wife,.... Of which son of David we nowhere else read; perhaps he might be the son of one of his concubines, or he might have two names:
and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse; who was David's eldest brother. 1Sa 17:13. She must be a granddaughter or great-granddaughter of his.
2 Chronicles 11:19
Ver. 19. Which bare him children,.... Or, "and she bore him" {d}; for it is said only of one of them, the other perhaps died without children; this may refer to the last mentioned, Abihail, whose children were
Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham; who perhaps all died in their father's lifetime, since the firstborn of a later wife succeeded him.
{d} dltw "peperit", Pagninus, Montanus.
2 Chronicles 11:20
Ver. 20. And after he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom,.... Thought by some to be Absalom the son of David, his father's brother, and his uncle, and so married his cousin; but Absalom seems to have had but one daughter, whose name was Tamar, 2Sa 14:27, and the name of this man is different from his; he is called Abishalom, 1Ki 15:2
and Uriel of Gibeah; 2Ch 13:2, of the tribe of Benjamin, whereas Absalom was of the tribe of Judah:
which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith: Abijah the firstborn, and who was successor in the kingdom, is the same with Abijam, 1Ki 14:31 of the rest we nowhere else read.
2 Chronicles 11:21
Ver. 21. And Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines, &c] Who is called Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel, 2Ch 13:2,
for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines; led thereunto by the example of his father Solomon, contrary to the command of God, De 17:17
and begat twenty eight sons and sixty daughters; to have many children was reckoned a great blessing, but it was not honourable to have them in such a way.
2 Chronicles 11:22
Ver. 22. And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maacah the chief,.... The chief of all his sons, head over them, being the son of his most beloved wife, and her firstborn however, and perhaps might be of a greater capacity than the rest of his children:
to be ruler among his brethren; or over them; gave him greater authority, and intrusted him with more power, set him above them, and treated him as heir apparent to the crown: for he thought
to make him king; either to take him into partnership in the throne with him in his lifetime, or to appoint and declare him to be his successor.
2 Chronicles 11:23
Ver. 23. And he dealt wisely,.... Acted a prudent part, in order to execute his scheme, and particularly by disposing of his other sons in different parts of his kingdom, as follows: or "he made him his son Abijah to understand" {e}; he taught and instructed him in the art of government, took a particular care of his education, that he might be fitted for it; and he might instruct him how to behave towards his brethren, for the present and hereafter, as well as towards all the people in general: or "he (Abijah) understood" {f}; had more understanding and wisdom than all the children of Rehoboam; though it seems best to interpret it of Rehoboam himself, since it follows:
and disposed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city; to be governors thereof, in whose hands he could better trust them than in any other; or else, by thus separating them, they would not be able to enter into combination against Abijah; but then he must at the same time appoint some persons to watch and observe them; or otherwise, having such, strong places in their possession, they might rebel against him; the Targum is,
"he built and repaired the cities, and appointed of all his children throughout all the countries of the house of Judah, to all the fortified cities;''
that is, to have the command of them:
and he gave them victual in abundance; that they might have no reason to complain, and might be able to hold out a siege against an enemy, should they be attacked:
and he desired many wives; either for himself, or rather for his son, since he himself had many; or "Abijah desired, or asked {g} many wives" of their parents, or of those who had the dispose of them, in imitation of his father.
{e} Nbtw "erudire faciebat", Pagninus, Grotius; "docuit", Vatablus. {f} "lntellexit", Piscator. {g} lavy "petivit", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; "postulavit", Piscator.
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
2 Chronicles 12:1
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 12
Rehoboam and his people forsaking the law of the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt is allowed by God to invade his land, and take his fenced cities, 2Ch 12:1, upon which a prophet of the Lord was sent to him and his princes, to show them the reason of it; whereupon they humbled themselves, and the Lord was pleased not to allow the enemy utterly to destroy them, yet to reduce them to servitude, and take away their riches, 2Ch 12:5, and the chapter is closed with an account of the reign and death of Rehoboam, 2Ch 12:13.
Ver. 1. And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom,.... Or when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established; the tribes of Judah and Benjamin being firmly attached to him, and great numbers from the other tribes coming over to him, and things going on peaceably and prosperously during the three years that he and his people abode by the pure worship of God:
and had strengthened himself; built fortified cities for the defence of himself and kingdom, 2Ch 11:5, he forsook the law of the Lord; after he had reigned three years, and was become strong, and thought himself safe and secure on the throne, trusting to his strength:
and all Israel with him; the greater part of them following the example of their king; of this defection, and the sins they fell into, see
1Ki 14:22.
2 Chronicles 12:2
Ver. 2. And it came to pass in the fifth year of Rehoboam,.... In the fourth year, the apostasy of him and his people began; and, in the year following, what is next related happened, as a punishment of it:
Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; of whom see
1Ki 11:40,
because they transgressed against the Lord; transgressed the law of the Lord by falling into idolatry and other abominable evils; the Targum is,
"against the Word of the Lord.''
2 Chronicles 12:3
Ver. 3. With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen; and the people were without number,.... The foot soldiers; their number, according to Josephus {h} was 400,000:
that came with him out of Egypt; the above numerous army came from thence with him, which was famous for horses and chariots of war, see
Ex 14:7, what follow seem to have joined him after he came out of Egypt, or whom he subdued in his way; the Lubim or Lybians, inhabitants of Libya, a country near Egypt the same with the Lehabim; of whom see
Ge 10:13,
the Sukkiims; who were either the Scenite Arabs, who dwelt in tents, as this word signifies; or the Troglodytes, according to the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, who dwelt in dens and caves, in which sense the word "Succah" is sometimes used, Job 38:40 and in their country was a town called Suchae, mentioned by Pliny {i}; they inhabited near the Red sea; and if Shishak is the same with Sesostris, as is thought, these people were subdued by him, as Herodotus {k} and Strabo {l} testify:
and the Ethiopians; some think these were the Cushite Arabs, and that Sesostris came into Arabia is testified by the above writers; though rather the proper Ethiopians are meant, since they are joined with the Lubim or Africans; and since, as Herodotus {m} says, he ruled over Ethiopia; and Diodorus Siculus {n} says he fought with them, and obliged them to pay him tribute.
{h} Antiqu. l. 8. c. 10. sect. 2. {i} Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 29. {k} Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 102. {l} Geograph. l. 16. p. 529. {m} Ut supra, (Euterpe, sive, l. 2.) c. 110. {n} Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 50.
2 Chronicles 12:4
Ver. 4. And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah,.... Which Rehoboam had lately built, and placed his sons in them, 2Ch 11:5, these he took without any opposition:
and came to Jerusalem; there being no army to oppose him; and so Sesostris took many countries without fighting, and among the rest Phoenicia, as Manetho {o} relates, in which Judea may be included.
{o} Apud Joseph. contr. Apion. l. 1. c. 15.
2 Chronicles 12:5
Ver. 5. Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam,.... The same as in
2Ch 11:2, there called the man of God:
and to the princes of Judah that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak; through fear of him, and for safety and protection from him, and to consult what was to be done at this critical juncture, whether to fight him, or make peace with him on the best terms they could:
and said unto them, thus saith the Lord, ye have forsaken me; his law, his word, worship, and ordinances, 2Ch 12:1,
and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak; suffered him to invade their land, take their fenced cities, and come up to Jerusalem without any opposition, as a punishment of their apostasy; and to explain this providence to them, and call them to repentance, was the prophet sent.
2 Chronicles 12:6
Ver. 6. Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves,.... Both by words acknowledging their sins, and the justice of God, and by deeds, perhaps putting on sackcloth, as was usual on such occasions, and betaking themselves to fasting and prayer:
and they said, the Lord is righteous; in giving them up into the hand of their enemies, seeing they had forsaken him, and sinned against him.
2 Chronicles 12:7
Ver. 7. And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves,.... Though but externally; the Lord takes notice of external humiliation, as he did of Ahab's, 1Ki 21:29,
the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, they have humbled themselves, therefore I will not destroy them; not now, at least not altogether, 2Ch 12:12,
but I will grant them some deliverance; yet not a complete one, for they were brought into servitude by Shishak, 2Ch 12:8, or only for a short time:
and my wrath shall not be poured out against Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak; that is, to the uttermost; that was reserved to another time, and to be done by another hand, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
2 Chronicles 12:8
Ver. 8. Nevertheless, they shall be his servants,.... tributaries to the king of Egypt:
that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries; the difference between them, how easy the one, which they might perform without taxes and tributes, and how hard and heavy the other, through the exactions and exorbitant demands of those to whom they became subjects.
2 Chronicles 12:9
Ver. 9-11. So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem,.... The Vulgate Latin version is,
"departed from Jerusalem,''
as he did, having taken it, and spoiled it of its riches, and settled a yearly tax on the inhabitants of the land; of this, and the two following verses, See Gill on "1Ki 14:26".
See Gill on "1Ki 14:27".
See Gill on "1Ki 14:28".
2 Chronicles 12:10
Ver. 10. See Gill on "2Ch 12:9".
2 Chronicles 12:11
Ver. 11. See Gill on "2Ch 12:9".
2 Chronicles 12:12
Ver. 12. And when he humbled himself,.... That is, Rehoboam; or broke his heart, as the Targum, was of a contrite spirit seemingly, for it was merely external:
the wrath of the Lord turned from him; which appeared by the departure of Shishak's army:
that he would not destroy him altogether; or make an utter destruction of him and his people:
and also in Judah things went well; prospered and succeeded after this affair of Shishak was over: or "in Judah there were good things" {p}; there were some good men, priests, Levites, and many of the common people, that did good things, kept up and abode by the pure worship and service of God; and which was another reason why the Lord would not destroy them altogether now, see Ge 18:31.
{p} Mybwj Myrbd "opera bona", V. L. "res bonae", Tigurine version, Vatablus, Rambachius.
2 Chronicles 12:13
Ver. 13. So Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem,.... Fortified that yet more for the defence of himself, after Shishak departed:
and reigned; twelve years more, for he reigned in all seventeen, and this was in his fifth year; of what follows in this verse,
See Gill on "1Ki 14:21".
2 Chronicles 12:14
Ver. 14. And he did evil,.... Committed idolatry, relapsed into that, his humiliation not being hearty and sincere:
because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord; by prayer and supplication, and by an attendance on the service and worship of God; for though he did these things outwardly, yet not sincerely and heartily; he did not engage in them seriously and in good earnest, with affection and fervour.
2 Chronicles 12:15
Ver. 15,16. Now the acts of Rehoboam,.... Of these two verses,
See Gill on "1Ki 14:29".
See Gill on "1Ki 14:30".
See Gill on "1Ki 14:31".
2 Chronicles 12:16
Ver. 16. See Gill on "2Ch 12:15".
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
2 Chronicles 13:1
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 13
This chapter begins with the reign of Abijah, 2Ch 13:1, gives an account of a battle between him and Jeroboam, previous to which Abijah made a speech to Jeroboam and his army, to vindicate his own cause, encourage his own soldiers, and intimidate the enemy, and dissuade them from fighting, 2Ch 13:3 and in the mean while Jeroboam laid an ambush for him, which greatly distressed him, 2Ch 13:13, nevertheless he obtained a complete victory over him, 2Ch 13:15, and the chapter is concluded with some account of his family and reign, 2Ch 13:21.
Ver. 1. Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah. See Gill on "1Ki 15:1".
2 Chronicles 13:2
Ver. 2. He reigned three years in Jerusalem,....
See Gill on "1Ki 15:2",
his mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah; see 2Ch 11:20,
See Gill on "1Ki 15:2".
and there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam; and in this chapter is an account of a battle fought between them, not recorded in the book of Kings.
2 Chronicles 13:3
Ver. 3. And Abijah set the battle in array, with an army of valiant man of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men,.... Collected such an army of select men, led them into his enemy's country, and set them in order of battle:
and Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him, with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour; double the number of Abijah s army, he having ten tribes to collect out of, and Abijah but two.
2 Chronicles 13:4
Ver. 4. And Abijah stood upon Mount Zemaraim, which is in Mount Ephraim,.... Which might have its name from a city of Benjamin of this name, to which it was near, though within the borders of Ephraim, Jos 18:22 formerly inhabited by the Zemarites, from whence it might have its name, Ge 10:18 here Abijah stood, that he might be the better heard by the armies pitched in the valley; and very probably he desired a parley, and it was granted, otherwise he would not have been safe in the position in which he was;
and said, hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel; as many as were now gathered together, and which were a great number.
2 Chronicles 13:5
Ver. 5. Ought you not to know,.... They did know what he afterwards says, but he would have them consider and acknowledge it:
that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever; to him and his seed, particularly to the Messiah, that should spring from him; but whether Abijah had this in view is a question, see 2Sa 7:13
even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt? that is, a perpetual one, which was inviolable, and never to be made void; called so, because salt preserves from corruption and putrefaction, and because made use of in sacrifices offered when covenants were made; the Targum is,
"as salt waters, which never lose their saltness.''
2 Chronicles 13:6
Ver. 6. Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up,.... Notwithstanding it was well known the kingdom was entailed on the posterity of David by an everlasting covenant; Abijah calls Jeroboam Solomon's servant, by way of great contempt, as Jarchi observes, he being the general receiver of his tax in the tribe of Ephraim, 1Ki 11:28
and hath rebelled against his lord; his rightful king and sovereign; the charge is no less than high treason.
2 Chronicles 13:7
Ver. 7. And there are gathered unto him vain men,.... Void of the fear of God, and all that is good:
the children of Belial: men unprofitable, good for nothing, or that had cast off the yoke of the law of God, were lawless and abandoned persons:
And have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon: rejected his government of them; went into a strong opposition to him, and set up another king over them:
when Rehoboam was young and tender hearted, and could not withstand them; not that he was young in years, for he was forty one years of age when he began to reign; though Joshua is called a young man when he is supposed to be between fifty and sixty years of age
Ex 33:11, and though "adolescentia" and "juventus" are both used in Latin writers for "youth", yet Varro {q} distinguishes them, and makes the former to begin at the year fifteen, and continue to the year thirty, and the latter to begin at thirty, and end at forty five; so that, according to this, Rehoboam was then in his stage of youth; but perhaps the meaning here is, that he was young in the kingdom, scarcely settled on his throne, and the advantage of that was taken; not was he cowardly and fearful; and if Abijah meant that by "tender heartedness", he not only reproached but belied his father; for he would have fought with Israel in order to have reduced them to obedience, but was forbidden by the Lord; if by "tender hearted", he means that he had a tender regard to the command of God, it is true; but that seems not to be his sense, but the former.
{q} Apud Stockim in voce ren, p. 688.
2 Chronicles 13:8
Ver. 8. And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David,.... To oppose them, prevail over them, and get it out of their hands, which is delivered to them by the Lord, as the Targum:
and ye be a great multitude; of which they boasted, and in which they trusted, being ten tribes to two, and in this army two to one:
and [there are] with you golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods; or, "but {r} there are with you", &c. which Abijah suggests would be so far from helping them, that they would be their ruin, they having, by the worship of them, provoked the Lord against them.
{r} So Grotious, Schnidt, and others.
2 Chronicles 13:9
Ver. 9. Have ye not cast out the priests of the Lord the sons of Aaron, and the Levites,.... Because they would not sacrifice to his idols, and that they might not instruct the people in the pure worship of God, and that he and his people might be free from the payment of tithes, firstfruits, &c. and their cities fall into his hands:
and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of [other] lands? after the manner of the Gentiles, without any regard to any particular tribe, which God had appointed those to be taken from:
so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams; which were five more than what were required by the law of Moses for the consecration of a priest, Ex 29:1, the same
may be a priest of [them that are] no gods; by nature, only nominal and fictitious deities, as the calves were, which had no divinity in them, see 1Ki 13:31.
2 Chronicles 13:10
Ver. 10. But as for us, the Lord [is] our God,.... The Word of the Lord, as the Targum; we know and acknowledge no other; not the calves at Dan and Bethel, nor any other idols, only the one living and true God:
and we have not forsaken him; his laws, statutes, ordinances, and worship; for though Abijah was not a religious man, yet it seems the form of religion was kept up, and temple service was observed, in his days:
and the priests which minister unto the Lord; by offering sacrifices, and burning incense:
are the sons of Aaron; and they only:
and the Levites wait upon their business; some in singing songs of praise, vocally and instrumentally, others in keeping the doors of the temple and the treasures of the house of God, and others in assisting the priests at the altar.
2 Chronicles 13:11
Ver. 11. And they burn unto the Lord, every morning and every evening, burnt sacrifices and sweet incense,.... That is, the priests; the one they did on the altar of burnt offering, and the other on the altar of incense, and both every day, morning and evening:
the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; the shewbread table, every sabbath day, when they took the old bread off, which had stood there a week:
and the candlestick of gold, with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening; these were lighted every evening, and dressed every morning; and though there were ten tables and ten candlesticks in Solomon's temple, yet only one of each was used at a time; and therefore from hence it is not to be concluded that all the rest were taken away by Shishak:
for we keep the charge of the Lord our God; observe all the rites and ceremonies, laws, and ordinances enjoined by him; the Targum is,
"the charge of the Word of the Lord our God:''
but ye have forsaken him; his fear or worship, as the same paraphrase.
2 Chronicles 13:12
Ver. 12. And, behold, God himself is with us for our Captain,.... To go before our armies, and fight our battles for us:
and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you; which was one use of the trumpets, that the people might be remembered by the Lord, and saved from their enemies, Nu 10:9, so that this circumstance was against Jeroboam and his army, and for Abijah and his:
O children of Israel, fight ye not against the Lord God of your fathers; for fighting against his people, that retained the pure worship of him, was fighting against him:
for you shall not prosper; he seems to be assured of victory.
2 Chronicles 13:13
Ver. 13. But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them,.... While Abijah was making his oration, he detached a party from his army, which got about, and lay in ambush, behind the army of Abijah:
so they were before Judah; Jeroboam and the greater part of his army:
and the ambushment was behind them; which Jeroboam had sent thither.
2 Chronicles 13:14
Ver. 14. And when Judah looked back,.... On hearing a noise behind them:
behold, the battle was before and behind; men were set in battle array, and the battle was begun, and an attack made upon them both ways:
and they cried unto the Lord; for help against their enemies, and to deliver them out of their hands:
and the priests sounded with the trumpets; to inspire them with cheerfulness, and to suggest to them that God was with them and they need not be afraid.
2 Chronicles 13:15
Ver. 15. Then the men of Judah gave a shout,.... Taking heart at the sound of the trumpets, and in order to encourage one another, and intimidate the enemy; See Gill on "1Sa 17:20",
and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah; possessed them with a panic, so that they fled at once, as follows.
2 Chronicles 13:16
Ver. 16. And the children of Israel fled before Judah,.... Were in such a fright and consternation, that they could not stand their ground, or engage at all; but took to flight immediately:
and God delivered them into their hand; to be taken and slain by them.
2 Chronicles 13:17
Ver. 17. And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter,.... As they fled, pursuing them:
so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men; such a slaughter as is not to be met with in any history, as Josephus {s} observes; though Abarbinel wonders he should say so, and affirms that he had read of larger numbers slain at once; but he is the only man that ever pretended to it; Jerom {t} makes the number but 50,000, and some copies of the Vulgate Latin {u}, and Josephus Ben Gorion, as Abarbinel {w} relates; but the true Josephus, the Targum, and all the ancient versions, agree with the Hebrew text; more than half Jeroboam's army was cut off, and 100,000 more than Abijah had in his.
{s} Antiqu. l. 8. c. 11. sect. 3. {t} Trad. Heb. fol. 84. M. {u} So that of Sixtus V. in James's Corruption of the Fathers, p. 294. {w} Comment in 1. Reg. xv. 6. fol. 250. 3.
2 Chronicles 13:18
Ver. 18. Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time,.... Humbled and weakened, but not reduced to the government of the house of David:
and the children of Judah prevailed; or grew strong:
because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers; trusted in him, and not in an arm of flesh; the Targum is,
"in the Word of the Lord God of their fathers.''
2 Chronicles 13:19
Ver. 19. And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam,.... As he and his army fled:
and took cities from him; the following ones:
Bethel with the towns thereof; the villages adjoining to it; here one of the calves was set up, which either Jeroboam took care to remove before this place fell into the hands of Abijah, or Abijah let it remain, and did not destroy it:
and Jeshanah with the towns thereof; which Reland {x} thinks is the same that is called by Jerom {y} Jethaba:
and Ephraim with the towns thereof; a city so called, thought to be the same that is mentioned in the passage, See Gill on "Joh 11:54"; it is here called, in the Targum, Ephron; so Jerom {z} calls it, and says it was Sichem.
{x} Palestin. Illustrat. p. 861. {y} De loc. Heb. fol. 92. L. {z} Trad. Heb. fol. 85. A.
2 Chronicles 13:20
Ver. 20. Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah,.... So as to bring an army into the field against him, and fight him:
and the Lord struck him; by some Jewish writers {a}, this is interpreted of Abijah; and the reason of his being stricken, they say, was because he did not destroy the calf when he took Bethel; but it is best to understand it of Jeroboam, since Abijah is afterwards said to wax mighty:
and he died; not immediately, for he lived two years after Abijah, 1Ki 14:20, but continued under a lingering disease he was smitten with, and which issued in his death.
{a} Bereshit Rabba, sect. 65. fol. 58. 8. Seder Olam Rabba, c. 16.
2 Chronicles 13:21
Ver. 21. But Abijah waxed mighty,.... In his kingdom, increasing in riches and numbers, power and authority, and in his family:
and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons and sixteen daughters; not after the above battle, nor since he began to reign; for he reigned but three years; but he, no doubt, married wives and had children before he came to the throne, as he might have others after.
2 Chronicles 13:22
Ver. 22. And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings,.... Not only his warlike actions, and his course of life, but some remarkable sayings of his, he being a man of wisdom and eloquence, as his above speech shows;
are written in the story of the prophet Iddo; who might write the history of his own times; see 1Ki 15:7.
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.
2 Chronicles 14:1
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 14
This chapter relates the death of Abijah, and the succession of Asa in his stead, 2Ch 14:1, gives a good character of the latter for his reformation in religion, and for the care he took for the safety and protection of his subjects, 2Ch 14:2, and an account is given of a large army of Ethiopians that came against him, over whom he crying to the Lord, and trusting in him, by his help obtained a complete victory, 2Ch 14:9.
Ver. 1. So Abijah slept with his fathers, 1Ki 15:8
and Asa his son reigned in his stead; in his days the land was quiet ten years; the Targum is, the land of Israel; but much better the Septuagint, the land of Judah; these ten years, in which it had rest from war, were the first three years of Asa's reign, and the first seven of Baasha's, according to Jarchi, and which seems right; after which there was war between them all their days, see 1Ki 15:32.
2 Chronicles 14:2
Ver. 2. And Asa did that which was good and right,.... See
1Ki 15:11.
2 Chronicles 14:3
Ver. 3. For he took away the altars of the strange gods,.... Or of a strange people, of the Zidonians, Ammonites, and Moabites, which had remained from the times of Solomon, and which he built for his wives, 1Ki 11:7
and the high places; built for idols; for as for those on which the true God was worshipped, they were not removed in his days, 1Ki 15:14
and brake down the images: or statues, or pillars, erected to the honour of idols, and on which the images of them were placed:
and cut down the groves; in the midst of which they stood.
2 Chronicles 14:4
Ver. 4. And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers,.... To pray to him, and him only, and attend his worship and service; this he did by a public edict:
and to do the law and the commandment: to observe all the laws of God, moral, ceremonial, and civil.
2 Chronicles 14:5
Ver. 5. Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images,.... Perhaps the high places in 2Ch 14:3 design only the high places and altars in Jerusalem, and near it; these in all the rest of the cities of the land; the "images were", as the word signifies, "sun images", either made in the form of the sun, or dedicated to it, or temples for it; See Gill on "Le 26:30",
and the kingdom was quiet before him; he had no foreign enemy to molest him, and so took that opportunity to reform divine worship, and in that he met with no opposition from his people.
2 Chronicles 14:6
Ver. 6. And he built fenced cities in Judah,.... For his defence against the kingdom of Israel and other nations, as Rehoboam had done before him; and which might have been demolished by Shishak king of Egypt, when he took them, 2Ch 11:5
for the land had rest; according to the Targum, the land of Israel rested, and gave no disturbance to the kingdom of Judah, not having recovered the blow given them by Abijah; but it is rather to be understood of the land of Judah, which, as it did not attempt the reduction of the ten tribes, so it was neither attacked by them, nor any other enemy: and he had no war in those years; in the ten years mentioned, 2Ch 14:1, neither with Israel nor any other nation: because the Lord had given him rest; that he might be at leisure to do the above things; all rest is from the Lord, civil, spiritual, and eternal.
2 Chronicles 14:7
Ver. 7. Therefore he said unto Judah,.... To the nobles and principal men of the kingdom:
let us build these cities; which he, no doubt, particularly mentioned by name, and pointed at; that is, repair and fortify them, and put them into a better condition of defence:
and make about them walls and towers, gates and bars; which are always made to fortified places, to protect the inhabitants, and keep out an enemy:
while the land is yet before us; in our power, no enemy in it, nor any to hinder or molest:
because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side; had set up his pure worship, reformed abuses in it, and removed idolatry from it, and closely attended to the service of the sanctuary, which was well pleasing to God; the happy effect of which they experienced, rest from all their enemies round about them:
so that they built, and prospered; they began, and went on, and finished, there being nothing to hinder them.
2 Chronicles 14:8
Ver. 8. And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand,.... These were armed with a large sort of shield, to protect them, and with spears, to push at an enemy when they came near them, and to close quarters with them:
and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand; these had also a lesser sort of shields, to defend their bodies, and bows and arrows, to annoy an enemy at a distance:
all these were mighty men of valour; able bodied men, valiant and courageous; perhaps Asa gathered these together, on hearing that the Ethiopians were preparing to attack him, as follows.
2 Chronicles 14:9
Ver. 9. And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian, with an host of thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots,.... According to Josephus {b}, this army consisted of 900,000 foot, and 100,000 horsemen, and certain it is there were horsemen among them, 2Ch 16:8 some say these were not the Ethiopians in Africa, beyond Egypt, being, as is said, too far off for such an army to travel, and it would be hard to say what should induce them to it; and besides it is urged, the king of Egypt would never have suffered them to pass through his dominions, as they must to come to Judea; but that they were the Cushite Arabs, that inhabited Midian, part of Arabia Petraea, and Arabia Felix, near Judaea, See Gill on "Nu 12:1", but since this great host consisted of Lubim or Libyans, inhabitants of Africa, as well as of Ethiopians, 2Ch 16:8, these Ethiopians seem to be rather those in Africa, who were masters of Egypt and Libya, as well as Ethiopia, quickly after the death of Shishak, or Sesostris, see 2Ch 12:2, which accounts for the size of this army, and their passage through Egypt: that there were two sorts of Ethiopians, the western and eastern ones, the one that dwelt in Africa, the other in Asia, appears clearly from Homer {c}, Herodotus {d}, and Heliodorus {e}, the former of which seem here meant; nor need this army be thought incredible, especially since they were joined by the Lubim or Libyans, and assisted by the Philistines, as appears by what follows; besides, the two armies of Israel and Judah we read of in the preceding chapter, when put together, exceed this; see also 2Ch 17:14, so the armies of Tamerlane and Bajazet, that of the former being 1,600,000, and that of the latter 1,400,000 {f}:
and came unto Mareshah; a city in the tribe of Judah, on the borders of it, 2Ch 11:8.
{b} Antiqu. l. 8. c. 12. sect. 1. {c} Odyss. 1. ver. 23, 24. {d} Polymnia, sive, l. 7. c. 69, 70. {e} Ethiopic. l. 9. c. 6. {f} Laonic. Chalcocond. de rebus Turc. l. 3. p. 98, 102.
2 Chronicles 14:10
Ver. 10. Then Asa went out against him,.... Notwithstanding he brought so great an army with him:
and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah; where the Ethiopians were; he did not stay till they got further into his country, but marched against them when on the frontiers of it, and chose the valley to pitch in, as being more to the advantage of his smaller army; see Jud 1:17.
2 Chronicles 14:11
Ver. 11. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God,.... Or prayed, as the Targum, with vehemence, being in distress; this he did before the battle began, at the head of his army, and for the encouragement of it:
and said, Lord, [it is] nothing with thee to help; nothing can hinder from helping, his power being superior to all others, and even infinite, and none besides him could:
whether with many, or with them that have no power; numbers make no difference with him, nor the condition they are in; whether numerous and mighty, or few and feeble; he can as easily help the one as the other, see 1Sa 14:6,
help us, O Lord our God; who are few and weak in comparison of the enemy:
for we rest on thee; trust in thee, and rely upon thee for help; the Targum is,
"on thy Word we lean:''
and in thy name we go against this multitude; expressing faith in him, expecting help from him, encouraging and strengthening themselves in him, going forth not in their own name and strength, but in his; the Targum is,
"in the name of the Word of the Lord:''
O Lord, thou [art] our God: and thou only we know, and serve no other, and we are thy people, called by thy name:
let not man prevail against thee; for should this enemy prevail against them, it would be interpreted prevailing against their God.
2 Chronicles 14:12
Ver. 12. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah,.... With consternation and terror; they were thrown into a panic:
and the Ethiopians fled; before them, just as Jeroboam and Israel had, as related in the preceding chapter, 2Ch 13:15.
2 Chronicles 14:13
Ver. 13. And Asa, and the people that [were] with him, pursued them unto Gerar,.... A city of the Philistines, Ge 20:1,
and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; they were thrown into such a fright, and into so much confusion, that they could not put themselves in order, and rally again; or there fell such a vast number of them, that there were scarce any remaining alive, which seems to be the sense of the words used:
for they were destroyed before the Lord, and before his host; the army of Israel, which the Lord was, as it were, the Commander of, fought for, and led them in the pursuit, and gave them victory; or it may mean an host of angels, employed in destroying this great army; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions of 2Ch 14:12 read,
"the angel of the Lord smote the Ethiopians:''
and they carried away very much spoil; which they found in their camp, and with their slain; even much gold and silver, as Josephus {g} says.
{g} Ut supra, (Antiq. l. 8. c. 12.) sect. 2.
2 Chronicles 14:14
Ver. 14. And they smote all the cities round about Gerar,.... The cities of the Philistines, who were auxiliaries and confederates with these Ethiopians, and colonies from them, according to Theodoret, and who says, about Eleutheropolis was a place, called, in his time, Geraron Saton:
for the fear of the Lord came upon them; so that they had no power to defend themselves, and oppose the men of Judah:
and they spoiled all the cities; of the goods and substance that were in them:
for there was exceeding much spoil in them; great wealth and riches of one kind or another.
2 Chronicles 14:15
Ver. 15. They smote also the tents of cattle,.... The people that dwelt in tents for the sake of the pasturage of their cattle; the Scenite Arabs, so called from dwelling in tents:
and carried away sheep; which those Arabs were feeding in Palestine, and which this great army brought with them for their support:
and camels in abundance; which is another circumstance proving them to be Arabs, who abounded with camels:
and returned to Jerusalem; with their spoil, and with great joy.
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible.