2 Chronicles 13 21

2 Chronicles 13:21 kjv

But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

2 Chronicles 13:21 nkjv

But Abijah grew mighty, married fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

2 Chronicles 13:21 niv

But Abijah grew in strength. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

2 Chronicles 13:21 esv

But Abijah grew mighty. And he took fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

2 Chronicles 13:21 nlt

Meanwhile, Abijah of Judah grew more and more powerful. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

2 Chronicles 13 verses

2 Chronicles 13 21 Meaning

This verse summarily describes King Abijah of Judah's material strength and personal prosperity, particularly following his significant military victory. It signifies that he grew powerful and that his household expanded greatly through numerous wives and many children. This outcome is presented as a manifestation of divine blessing and favor, particularly in the Chronicler's theological framework, where obedience and reliance on God lead to stability and flourishing.

2 Chronicles 13 21 Context

This verse serves as the concluding summary of King Abijah's short reign over Judah, spanning three years, and is immediately preceded by the narrative of his pivotal victory over King Jeroboam of Israel in a massive battle (2 Chr 13:3-20). The Chronicler emphasizes Abijah's impassioned plea for reliance on the Lord during the conflict, attributing Judah's triumph directly to their trust in God (2 Chr 13:18). Therefore, Abijah's subsequent prosperity—"waxing mighty," marrying many wives, and begetting numerous children—is presented not merely as biographical data but as a direct divine blessing in response to this demonstrated faith and allegiance to the true God, in stark contrast to Jeroboam's rebellion and idol worship in the Northern Kingdom. It affirms the Chronicler's consistent theological theme: God blesses those who are faithful to Him and Judah, the kingdom of the Davidic covenant, would be sustained.

2 Chronicles 13 21 Word analysis

• But: (Hebrew: וַ - "wa") This conjunction functions to introduce a contrasting or continuing statement, emphasizing a significant development following the preceding account. It sets apart Abijah's personal status after the battle.
• Abijah: (Hebrew: אֲבִיָּהוּ - 'Ăbiyyāhū) The King of Judah, son of Rehoboam. His name means "My Father is Yahweh." The verse concludes his account, which began by noting his wicked character in 1 Kgs 15:3 but the Chronicler emphasizes his reliance on God in battle here.
• waxed: (Hebrew: וַיִּתְחַזֵּק֙ - wa-yit·ḥaz·zêq, from root חָזַק - ḥāzaq) "To be strong, strengthen oneself, prevail, seize." Here, in the Hithpael stem, it denotes "he strengthened himself" or "he became mighty." This active verb suggests not merely passive growth but a dynamic process of gaining strength, power, and authority. It signifies consolidation of power following his military victory, indicative of a stable and secure reign.
• mighty: (Implied by wa-yit·ḥaz·zêq) This English rendering captures the essence of ḥāzaq, signifying great power, influence, and capability, often in a military or political sense. It underscores Abijah's heightened stature and solidified reign.
• and married: (Hebrew: וַיִּקַּ֨ח־ - wa-yīq·qaḥ, from root לָקַח - lāqaḥ) "To take, receive, acquire." In this context, "to take wives" means to marry them. This is a common Hebrew idiom for marriage.
• fourteen wives: (Hebrew: אַרְבַּ֧ע עֶשְׂרֵה֙ נָשִׁ֣ים - ’ar·ba‘ ‘eś·rê nā·šîm) This number is unusually high even for royalty (though not unheard of, as seen with Solomon), signaling significant prosperity and royal influence. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a large harem was often a display of a king's wealth, power, and prestige, indicating a strong reign. While Mosaic Law cautions against multiplying wives (Deut 17:17), the text presents this factually as part of Abijah's blessed state in the Chronicler's narrative.
• and begat: (Hebrew: וַיּוֹלֵ֤ד - wa-yō·wō·lêḏ, from root יָלַד - yālad) "To bear, bring forth, beget." This indicates Abijah's active role in fathering children.
• twenty and two sons: (Hebrew: עֶשְׂרִים֩ וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ בָּנִ֣ים - es·rîm ū·šə·na·yim bā·nîm) A remarkably large number of male offspring. Sons were crucial for ensuring the continuity of the royal line and military strength. This emphasizes dynastic stability and vitality.
• and sixteen daughters: (Hebrew: וְשֵׁשׁ־ עֶשְׂרֵה֙ בָּנ֔וֹת - wə·šêš ‘eś·rê bā·nō·wṯ) Daughters, while not directly inheriting the throne, also contributed to dynastic influence through strategic marriages and were generally seen as a sign of familial prosperity and God's blessing. The sum total of 38 children is a profound indicator of abundance.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• But Abijah waxed mighty: This phrase highlights Abijah's personal growth in power and status directly after the major battle. The Chronicler sees this as a clear sign of God's favor due to Judah's reliance on Him during the conflict. It contrasts the vulnerable state of Judah at the beginning of the chapter (13:3-7) with their secure position after divine intervention.
• and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters: This detailed list of Abijah's family serves as a tangible expression of his "might." In the ancient world, a large family, especially numerous sons, was an undeniable sign of a ruler's prosperity, virility, and divine blessing. It assured the continuation of the royal line and signified stability within the kingdom. While the multiplication of wives was later viewed with concern in Mosaic Law (Deut 17:17) and caused problems for other kings like Solomon (1 Kgs 11:3-4), the Chronicler here records it as a fact reflecting success and blessing consistent with the customs of the time, in the context of a strengthened Judah following its faithful actions. The total number of children (38) is explicitly noted, drawing attention to the abundant fruitfulness attributed to Abijah.

2 Chronicles 13 21 Bonus section

• The detail of Abijah's family size provides an insight into royal success criteria in the ancient Near East, where the continuation of a numerous progeny was paramount for dynastic security and political stability. It underscores the contrast between the well-established, divinely blessed Davidic line in Judah and the volatile, often ephemeral dynasties of the northern kingdom of Israel.
• While polygyny was a common practice among kings, and presented here as part of Abijah's blessed state, later biblical teaching, particularly in the New Testament (e.g., Matt 19:4-6; 1 Tim 3:2), strongly shifts towards a monogamous ideal, highlighting God's original design for marriage as between one man and one woman. This verse is descriptive of historical reality, not prescriptive of moral conduct.
• The prosperity described in this verse (strength and numerous offspring) echoes promises of blessing for obedience found throughout the Law (e.g., Deut 28), reinforcing the Chronicler's primary message that adherence to God and His covenant leads to national flourishing and personal well-being.

2 Chronicles 13 21 Commentary

2 Chronicles 13:21 concisely concludes the narrative of Abijah's reign, summarizing his personal prosperity and the growth of his dynasty. It highlights that following a significant divine intervention which secured Judah's victory over Israel due to their reliance on God, Abijah "waxed mighty." This is not merely an incidental observation but a deliberate theological statement by the Chronicler: obedience and faith in Yahweh lead to tangible blessings. His accumulation of many wives and numerous children (thirty-eight in total) was a visible sign of royal power, prestige, and stability in the ancient world, interpreted here as direct divine favor. This stands in sharp contrast to the fragmented and unstable nature of the Northern Kingdom, continually plagued by regicide and dynastic collapse. For the Chronicler, this detail about Abijah's prolific family life serves to underscore the steadfastness of God's covenant with David, ensuring the continuity and strength of the Davidic line in Judah, regardless of individual kings' full fidelity. The emphasis is on God's sustaining grace for the lineage He promised.