Portion For Reading 2 Chr 10-13Msg 2Chr 13
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother's name was Maacah, a daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.
There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. Abijah went into battle with a force of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops.
Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Jeroboam and all Israel, listen to me! Don't you know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt? Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled against his master. Some worthless scoundrels gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them.
1. The Lord God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? Abijah’s argument is that the dynasty of David is the only legitimate house to rule over the tribes of Israel, including these 10 northern tribes that rebelled under Jeroboam.
i. This promise God made to David was called a covenant of salt, which meant a serious covenant because it was sealed by sacrifice (sacrifices always included salt, Leviticus 2:13). A covenant of salt also had the following associations:
· A pure covenant (salt stays pure as a chemical compound).
· An enduring covenant (salt makes things preserve and endure).
· A valuable covenant (salt was expensive).
i. This promise God made to David was called a covenant of salt, which meant a serious covenant because it was sealed by sacrifice (sacrifices always included salt, Leviticus 2:13). A covenant of salt also had the following associations:
· A pure covenant (salt stays pure as a chemical compound).
· An enduring covenant (salt makes things preserve and endure).
· A valuable covenant (salt was expensive).
2. As the men of Judah shouted, it happened that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel: They added the shout of faith to their cry unto the Lord and God struck the army of Israel. We are not told how God struck them, but God certainly defended His trusting people when they could not defend themselves.
i. “So ‘God routed Jeroboam,’ though whether this was through direct supernatural intervention, or through the courage of his embattled people as they saw themselves surrounded by the enemy, is not stated.” (Payne)
ii. “It was poor business, in that it was a last resort, but it was sincere; and the answer of God was immediate, and complete victory resulted.” (Morgan)
3. The children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord God of their fathers: The Chronicler wanted the point to be clear. The reason why Judah defeated Israel even though they were surprised and outnumbered was because Judah relied on the Lord.
i. “So ‘God routed Jeroboam,’ though whether this was through direct supernatural intervention, or through the courage of his embattled people as they saw themselves surrounded by the enemy, is not stated.” (Payne)
ii. “It was poor business, in that it was a last resort, but it was sincere; and the answer of God was immediate, and complete victory resulted.” (Morgan)
3. The children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord God of their fathers: The Chronicler wanted the point to be clear. The reason why Judah defeated Israel even though they were surprised and outnumbered was because Judah relied on the Lord.
Source: David Guzik