2 Chronicles 13 19

2 Chronicles 13:19 kjv

And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephraim with the towns thereof.

2 Chronicles 13:19 nkjv

And Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took cities from him: Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephrain with its villages.

2 Chronicles 13:19 niv

Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took from him the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah and Ephron, with their surrounding villages.

2 Chronicles 13:19 esv

And Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took cities from him, Bethel with its villages and Jeshanah with its villages and Ephron with its villages.

2 Chronicles 13:19 nlt

Abijah and his army pursued Jeroboam's troops and captured some of his towns, including Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their surrounding villages.

2 Chronicles 13 verses

2 Chronicles 13 19 Meaning

2 Chronicles 13:19 describes Abijah, the king of Judah, vigorously pursuing and conquering key cities from Jeroboam, the king of Israel. These cities include Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephrain, along with their surrounding villages. This victory marked a significant territorial gain for Judah and, more importantly, a theological statement, especially with the capture of Bethel, a central site of Jeroboam's idolatrous golden calf worship. It underscored the Lord's hand in favor of Judah, who had sought Him in battle, over the apostate kingdom of Israel.

2 Chronicles 13 19 Context

Chapter 13 of 2 Chronicles details the conflict between Abijah, King of Judah, and Jeroboam, King of Israel. Abijah leads a much smaller army (400,000 chosen men) against Jeroboam's significantly larger force (800,000 chosen men). Before the battle, Abijah delivers a powerful address from Mount Zemaraim, condemning Jeroboam's rebellion against the Davidic dynasty and the pure worship of God. He contrasts Judah's reliance on the Lord and the continuity of true worship in Jerusalem with Israel's apostasy, their rejection of the Levites and priests, and their embrace of golden calf idolatry at cultic centers like Bethel. Despite being outnumbered, Judah cries out to the Lord and trusts in Him. The Lord strikes Jeroboam and Israel before Abijah and Judah, resulting in a decisive victory for Judah, with Israel suffering heavy casualties (500,000 slain). Verse 19 specifically details the geographical and strategic outcome of this divine intervention: the re-conquest of territory including Bethel, a profound blow to the spiritual and political power of the northern kingdom. This narrative highlights the Chronicler's overarching theological theme: God blesses those who are faithful and punishes apostasy.

2 Chronicles 13 19 Word analysis

• And Abijah pursued Jeroboam:
  • And: Hebrew waw (וּ), a common conjunction, connecting this action to the decisive victory previously mentioned (2 Chr 13:18).
  • Abijah: אֲבִיָּה (Avivyah). King of Judah, son of Rehoboam. His name means "My Father is Yahweh." His actions here demonstrate a practical reliance on the God his name invokes. This pursuit implies a decisive rout of Jeroboam's forces, pushing deep into his territory after the battle. It's not just a win, but a comprehensive defeat and occupation.
  • pursued: Hebrew רָדַף (radaph). This verb indicates active chasing and driving the enemy back, rather than just waiting after a battle. It emphasizes the completeness of Judah's victory and the relentless nature of the Lord's judgment against Israel's idolatry.
  • Jeroboam: King of the Northern Kingdom (Israel), the originator of the golden calf cult in Bethel and Dan (1 Kgs 12:26-30). His pursuit signifies God's judgment against his apostasy.
• and captured cities from him:
  • captured: Hebrew וַיִּלְכֹּד (wayyilkod). From the root לָכַד (lakad), meaning "to seize, capture, take, lay hold of." It's a military term denoting the successful taking of fortified places, confirming territorial control.
  • cities from him: Emphasizes the shift of control. These cities were part of Jeroboam's kingdom, now they are lost to him. This is a material consequence of his rebellion against God and his kingly failure.
• Bethel with its villages:
  • Bethel: Hebrew בֵּית־אֵל (Beit-El), literally "House of God." Historically, a sacred site where Jacob encountered God (Gen 28, 35). Theologically, it became one of Jeroboam's primary centers for the golden calf cult, representing Israel's rejection of Jerusalem as the legitimate worship center. Its capture is highly significant, not merely territorial but symbolically striking at the heart of Jeroboam's false religion and the foundation of his apostate kingdom. It was a visible sign of divine judgment on idolatry.
  • with its villages: Hebrew וּבְנֹתֶיהָ (u'venoteha), literally "and its daughters." This refers to the dependent towns and surrounding smaller settlements, indicating that control was established over the entire regional administrative unit, not just the central city itself.
• and Jeshanah with its villages:
  • Jeshanah: Hebrew יְשָׁנָה (Yeshanah), meaning "old" or "ancient." A less prominent city than Bethel, its inclusion signifies additional strategic territorial gain within Jeroboam's domain. It confirms the broad extent of Abijah's conquest.
  • with its villages: Same as above, denoting full control over the area.
• and Ephrain with its villages:
  • Ephrain: Hebrew עֶפְרוֹן (Ephron). While its precise location can vary by scholarly interpretation (some identify it with Ephraim/Ophrah mentioned elsewhere), it's located in the central territory of Israel. Its capture further solidifies Judah's territorial gains in the North. It may have been a significant border town.
  • with its villages: Reinforces complete subjugation of the surrounding areas.

2 Chronicles 13 19 Bonus section

• The strategic significance of Bethel was paramount for both sides. For Jeroboam, it was a pilgrimage site competing with Jerusalem, anchoring his illegitimate kingdom's religious identity. For Judah, taking it meant striking a massive blow not just militarily but ideologically against Israel's apostasy.
• The extent of this territorial gain is emphasized by the repetition of "with its villages," indicating complete dominance over each captured locale and its surrounding economic and residential areas.
• While these territorial gains by Abijah are significant here, historical records indicate that they were not always held long-term by Judah. This points to the Chronicler's primary focus not being on enduring political boundaries but on the immediate demonstration of God's response to faithfulness and rebellion.
• The narrative serves as a warning against syncretism and idolatry for the post-exilic audience, stressing that deviations from pure worship lead to divine chastisement and loss.

2 Chronicles 13 19 Commentary

2 Chronicles 13:19 provides the tangible outcome of Judah's divinely-empowered victory against Israel. Abijah's pursuit and capture of key northern cities, particularly Bethel, goes beyond mere military triumph. For the Chronicler, it serves as powerful evidence of God's favor toward the kingdom that upheld true worship and followed the Davidic covenant. The re-capture of Bethel, the very locus of Jeroboam's idolatry, stands as a profound polemic against the northern kingdom's apostasy. It highlights that the true "House of God" remained in Jerusalem, and that any competing, idolatrous religious center would ultimately fall under divine judgment. This verse underlines the theological conviction that national prosperity and military success are directly linked to faithfulness to the Lord. It showcases how reliance on God, even against overwhelming odds, yields powerful results, correcting the religious and political rebellion embodied by Jeroboam.