MPV Commentary

Abijah, Succeeding, Makes War against Jeroboam, and Overcomes Him.

His mother was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel, who was also known as Maachah (see 1 Kings 15:2). She was the granddaughter of Absalom (1 Kings 15:2; compare 2 Samuel 14:1-33) and the mother of Abijah. Abijah's father was Asa, making Michaiah his grandmother.

Abijah set out to war against Jeroboam, likely due to his youthful ambition to reclaim the full hereditary dominion of his ancestors. The occasion for this war is not recorded (see 1 Kings 15:6-7), but Abijah's address suggests it arose from his desire to recover what was rightfully his.

Abijah took the field with four hundred thousand chosen men, while Jeroboam had eight hundred thousand at his disposal. These numbers are likely exaggerated, as Oriental armies often consisted of large mobs accompanying the camp in hopes of plunder. However, we know that David's census revealed a vast population capable of bearing arms (1 Chronicles 21:5; compare 2 Chronicles 14:8 and 17:14).

Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, an elevation near Beth-el (Joshua 18:22), where he harangued the enemy. This was a common practice in ancient times, where speakers would extol their own merits while pouring out invective against their adversaries. Abijah dwelled on the divine right of the house of David to the throne and upbraided Jeroboam as a usurper, his subjects as rebels who took advantage of Rehoboam's youth and inexperience.

Abijah contrasted the religious state of the two kingdoms, drawing a black picture of Jeroboam's impious innovations and gross idolatry. He highlighted the pure observance of ancient institutions in his own dominion (2 Chronicles 13:11) and concluded with an appeal to the Israelites not to fight against Jehovah, their God.

However, Jeroboam had ordered a detachment to move quietly around the base of the hill, surprising Abijah's forces from behind. A panic might have ensued if not for the leaders crying out to the Lord and the priests sounding the trumpets (Numbers 10:9; 31:6). The men of Judah responded with a war shout, followed by an impetuous rush against the foe.

The shock was resistless, and God struck Jeroboam and all Israel. They took to flight, and the merciless slaughter that ensued can be attributed to the rancorous passions enkindled by civil war.

Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, taking cities from him, including Beth-el, which he might have been strongly desirous to wrest from profanation. This sanguinary action widened the breach between the two kingdoms.

Jeroboam never recovered strength again in Abijah's days. The disastrous action at Zemaraim broke his spirits and crippled his power. The Lord struck him, and he died – an event that occurred two years after Abijah's death (1 Kings 14:20; 15:9).