Mount Zemaraim

2 Chronicles 13:1-12

13 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah. ² He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.

And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. ³ Abijah set the battle in order with an army of valiant warriors, four hundred thousand choice men. Jeroboam also drew up in battle formation against him with eight hundred thousand choice men, mighty men of valor.

⁴ Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, and said, “Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel: ⁵ Should you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? ⁶ Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord. ⁷ Then worthless rogues gathered to him, and strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and inexperienced and could not withstand them. ⁸ And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and with you are the gold calves which Jeroboam made for you as gods. ⁹ Have you not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests, like the peoples of other lands, so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of things that are not gods? ¹⁰ But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests who minister to the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties. ¹¹ And they burn to the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense; they also set the showbread in order on the pure gold table, and the lampstand of gold with its lamps to burn every evening; for we keep the command of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken Him. ¹² Now look, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!”

 

The Bible Knowledge Commentary – 2 Chronicles 13:1-12

1. Abijah (chap. 13)

13:1–2a. By a different chronological system at use in Judah from that in Israel,Abijah began his reign in the 18th year … of Jeroboam of Israel but only in the 17th year of his father Rehoboam, though both began to rule at the same time. Thus Abijah came to power in 913 b.c. and reigned until 911 (see comments on his mother Maacah at 11:20–21).

13:2b–12. Abijah took up the hostilities with Jeroboam which had prevailed in the days of Abijah’s father. So massive had the strife between them become that Judah fielded 400,000 … men and Israel 800,000 during some point of their antagonism at least (vv. 2b–3). Hoping to forestall a bloody encounter, Abijah addressed his Israelite brothers from Mount Zemaraim, perhaps a short distance east of Bethel (cf. Josh. 18:22). He reminded them that the true kingship lay with David’s dynasty, not with Jeroboam. God had made with David … a covenant of salt, suggesting durability (cf. comments on Lev. 2:13; Num. 18:19). In fact Jeroboam’s rebellious action was possible only because Rehoboam … young (i.e., relatively so, for he began reigning at age 41; cf. 2 Chron. 12:13) and naive as he was, had been duped by his counselors (13:7).

The Israelites indeed had a vast army, Abijah said, but since they had exiled the true priests and Levites (cf. 11:14b–15) and chosen other gods (golden calves; cf. goat- and calf-idols, 11:15) they could have no hope of victory for the Lord God was on the side of Judah. God is with us; He is our Leader, Abijah affirmed (13:8–12). (However, cf. Abijah’s sins, 13:21; 1 Kings 15:3.) Abijah referred to only 1 lampstand, though Solomon’s temple had 10 (2 Chron. 4:7). Perhaps this 1 was the original lampstand Moses made for the tabernacle.

 

God in all His holiness is only your creator until you accept Him. After you accept Him, He becomes your God, your Father, your creator. He will cleanse you of your sins and accept you into the kingdom of His heaven and hear your prayers.

Love God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. Also, love your neighbor as you love yourself.

God is testing us every day and has given us the right to make our own choices. Do you know which ones are the right choices in God’s mind?

Fear God, love God, honor God, and trust God with all your heart, mind and soul and you will receive and experience the joy of the promises of God’s blessings in His time. And always remember to ask the Father for His help and guidance in all things.

 

Prayer:   Father, blessed is your Holy name. We are grateful for Your Son our risen Christ and Your Spirit. We praise You for the opportunity to glorify Your Son and live with Him forever. We also praise you for the opportunity to be able to choose Jesus as our Lord and Savior and to be elect children of Yours. We praise you for the laws You have set down to teach us, to keep our lives in harmony, to learn how to treat others and how to live within your boundaries. Please bless those who have read this article for they too are seeking Your righteous truth, love, wisdom and understanding.

Father, I pray these brothers and sisters have or will come to realize that Your existence is a treasure of grace and love that You have for all Your elect children.

May God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Christianity be our guiding lights for eternity. Let it be Your will Lord not mine. Please come Lord Jesus.

I pray in Jesus sweet name and to His glory through the power of The Holy Spirit,

Amen.