2 Chronicles 13 11

2 Chronicles 13:11 kjv

And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.

2 Chronicles 13:11 nkjv

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.

2 Chronicles 13:11 niv

Every morning and evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the LORD our God. But you have forsaken him.

2 Chronicles 13:11 esv

They offer to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt offerings and incense of sweet spices, set out the showbread on the table of pure gold, and care for the golden lampstand that its lamps may burn every evening. For we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have forsaken him.

2 Chronicles 13:11 nlt

They present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD every morning and evening. They place the Bread of the Presence on the holy table, and they light the gold lampstand every evening. We are following the instructions of the LORD our God, but you have abandoned him.

2 Chronicles 13 verses

2 Chronicles 13 11 Meaning

This verse comprehensively describes the faithful adherence of the kingdom of Judah to the divinely prescribed worship practices at the Jerusalem Temple, particularly in stark contrast to the idolatry of the northern kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam. It highlights their consistent daily burnt sacrifices, incense offerings, arrangement of the shewbread, and maintenance of the golden lampstand as stipulated by Mosaic law. Abijah, the king of Judah, articulates this meticulous obedience as "keeping the charge of the Lord our God," simultaneously indicting Jeroboam and his people for having "forsaken Him" by abandoning these divine statutes and establishing unauthorized worship.

2 Chronicles 13 11 Context

This verse is part of Abijah's impassioned speech to Jeroboam and the Northern Kingdom of Israel just before a significant battle between the two entities (2 Chr 13:4-12). Abijah, the king of Judah, uses this opportunity to highlight the fundamental religious division that existed: Judah’s adherence to the covenant God of Israel and His ordained worship at the Jerusalem Temple, versus Israel’s apostasy initiated by Jeroboam. The verses leading up to this describe Judah's legitimate lineage through David and their faithful priests (13:5-10). This specific verse provides the detailed evidence of Judah's fidelity to God's laws, itemizing the cultic practices that Northern Israel had abandoned or corrupted. It is a polemic against unauthorized worship, arguing that Judah’s worship is valid because it directly follows divine commands.

2 Chronicles 13 11 Word analysis

• And they burn unto the Lord:

  • burn (וַיַּקְטִירוּ, wayyaqṭīrû): From the verb קָטַר (qatar), meaning "to make smoke rise," "to offer up in smoke." It specifically refers to offering sacrifices or incense, signifying that the essence or aroma ascends to God. This isn't just about combustion, but an act of worship where something is consumed and its smoke directed towards the divine, signifying dedication and communication.
  • unto the Lord (לַיהוָה, laYHWH): Directs the action and worship specifically towards Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This immediately sets Judah’s worship apart from the worship of other deities or golden calves. It emphasizes the rightful recipient of their devotion.

• every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense:

  • every morning and every evening (בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר וּבָעֶרֶב בָּעֶרֶב, babboqer babboqer ūbā‘erev bā‘erev): The repetition ("every morning, every morning" in Hebrew) emphasizes the regularity, consistency, and perpetual nature of these offerings. It indicates strict adherence to the prescribed daily rituals of the Tabernacle/Temple, mandated in Exod 29:38-42 and Num 28:3-8. This highlights their discipline and obedience.
  • burnt sacrifices (עֹלוֹת, ‘ōlōt): Plural of עוֹלָה (‘olah), a "whole burnt offering" or "ascending offering." The entire animal was consumed on the altar, signifying complete dedication and atonement.
  • sweet incense (קְטֹרֶת סַמִּים, qeṭōret sammîm): "Incense of spices," referring to the specific, divinely prescribed blend of fragrant spices for incense (Exod 30:34-38). This incense was burned on the golden altar, and its rising smoke symbolized the prayers and praises of the people ascending to God (Psa 141:2; Rev 8:3-4).

• the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table;

  • shewbread (לֶחֶם פָּנִים, leḥem pānîm): Literally "bread of presence" or "bread of faces." These were twelve loaves of unleavened bread, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel in the presence of God. They were arranged weekly on the table of shewbread in the Holy Place (Lev 24:5-9). Its consistent presence signified God's constant provision and covenant relationship with Israel.
  • pure table (הַשֻּׁלְחָן הַטָּהוֹר, hashulḥan hattaṭhôr): The table made of acacia wood overlaid with gold, specifically designated for the shewbread (Exod 25:23-30). "Pure" (tahor) indicates ritual cleanliness and separation for sacred use, underlining its holiness and separation from common use.

• and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening:

  • candlestick of gold (מְנֹרַת הַזָּהָב, menorat hazzahāv): The golden lampstand or Menorah (Exod 25:31-40), made of pure, hammered gold. It provided continuous light in the Holy Place, a dark sanctuary, symbolizing God's perpetual presence, guidance, and illumination (Exod 27:20-21).
  • lamps thereof, to burn every evening: The perpetual kindling and maintenance of the lamps in the Menorah (Exod 27:21). This routine signified an ongoing source of divine light within the sanctuary, contrasting sharply with the spiritual darkness of idolatrous worship.

• for we keep the charge of the Lord our God; but ye have forsaken him.

  • for we keep the charge (כִּי שֹׁמְרִים אֲנַחְנוּ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶרֶת, kī shomrim anaḥnu ’et-mishmeret): שֹׁמְרִים (shomrim) means "keepers" or "guardians," indicating diligent observance and preservation. מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mishmeret) refers to a "charge," "duty," "ordinance," or "obligation." This phrase declares Judah's faithful custody and diligent adherence to God's commandments, embodying covenant fidelity.
  • the Lord our God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, YHWH ’Eloheinu): Abijah asserts a specific covenant relationship – "our God" – implying possession and intimate loyalty, emphasizing Yahweh's unique identity as Israel's God.
  • but ye have forsaken him (וְאַתֶּם עֲזַבְתֶּם אֹתוֹ, ve’attem ‘azavtem ’otô): A powerful and direct accusation. עָזַבְתֶּם (‘azavtem), from עָזַב (‘azav), means "to abandon," "to leave," "to neglect," "to desert." This word carries the weight of deliberate apostasy and a breaking of the covenant relationship. It refers not merely to forgetting but actively turning away from and abandoning God’s worship and statutes, as seen in Jeroboam’s establishment of alternative worship sites and idols. This forsaking encompasses breaking allegiance and deserting a prior commitment to God.

2 Chronicles 13 11 Bonus section

• Symbolism of Temple Elements: The listed items were not just rituals but carried deep theological significance:
  • Burnt Offerings: Symbolized complete dedication, atonement for sin, and total surrender to God.
  • Incense: Represented prayer, praise, and the presence of God; its ascending smoke conveyed the lifting of the people's petitions.
  • Shewbread: Signified God’s constant presence with His people, His provision for them, and their continuous communion with Him. It also foreshadowed Christ as the "Bread of Life" (Jn 6:35).
  • Menorah (Candlestick): Symbolized divine light, guidance, the Spirit of God, and the presence of God. It illuminated the Holy Place, which had no natural light, emphasizing God as the source of all spiritual light, and foreshadowed Christ as the "Light of the World" (Jn 8:12).
• Contrast in Authenticity: This verse draws a profound distinction between authentic worship, which aligns with God’s unchanging will, and syncretistic or innovative worship that reflects human invention and often leads to idolatry. The consistency of Judah's adherence reflects the faithfulness of God Himself, who maintains His covenant, unlike human wavering.
• Continuity of Priesthood: Integral to keeping "the charge" was the rightful priesthood from the sons of Aaron and the Levites. The northern kingdom’s forsaking of God included establishing a non-Levitical priesthood (2 Chr 13:9), further validating Judah's claims.

2 Chronicles 13 11 Commentary

2 Chronicles 13:11 serves as a foundational declaration by Abijah, defining the stark spiritual and theological boundary between Judah and Israel. Judah's worship is presented as righteous because it is meticulously compliant with God’s established commands, whereas Israel’s worship is condemned as illegitimate due to their departure from divine instruction. The detailed enumeration of sacrifices, incense, shewbread, and the menorah highlights the specific components of legitimate worship within the Mosaic covenant, emphasizing regularity ("every morning and every evening") and adherence to divine blueprint ("pure table," "candlestick of gold"). This is not merely a legalistic adherence to ritual but a commitment rooted in covenant faithfulness, as highlighted by "we keep the charge of the Lord our God." Conversely, Jeroboam's innovations—his chosen priests and idolatrous altars—are castigated as a complete abandonment ("ye have forsaken him") of Yahweh, implying not just neglect but active rejection of the true God and His ordained means of worship. The polemical nature of this verse is clear: true religion is not self-invented but divinely prescribed. It speaks to the ongoing biblical principle that genuine faith involves obedient submission to God's revealed will.