2 Chronicles 13 4

2 Chronicles 13:4 kjv

And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;

2 Chronicles 13:4 nkjv

Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, and said, "Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel:

2 Chronicles 13:4 niv

Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Jeroboam and all Israel, listen to me!

2 Chronicles 13:4 esv

Then Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim that is in the hill country of Ephraim and said, "Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel!

2 Chronicles 13:4 nlt

When the army of Judah arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and shouted to Jeroboam and all Israel: "Listen to me!

2 Chronicles 13 verses

2 Chronicles 13 4 Meaning

This verse describes King Abijah of Judah taking a prominent and strategic position on Mount Zemaraim within the territory of Ephraim (which belonged to the northern kingdom of Israel) and issuing a direct, authoritative command to King Jeroboam and all of Israel to listen to his impending address. It signifies the commencement of a theological and historical confrontation, highlighting Abijah's bold challenge to the legitimacy of the northern kingdom's rule and worship, grounded in God's covenant with the house of David.

2 Chronicles 13 4 Context

2 Chronicles 13:4 is set during a time of bitter animosity and ongoing conflict between the divided kingdoms of Judah (under King Abijah) and Israel (under King Jeroboam). The immediate context (2 Chr 13:1-3) states that there was continuous war between the two nations. This verse precedes Abijah's pivotal address to Jeroboam and the Israelite army, where he defends Judah's legitimacy as the inheritor of the Davidic covenant and condemns Israel's apostasy under Jeroboam. Historically, the division of the kingdom occurred after Solomon's death, due to Rehoboam's harshness and God's judgment on Solomon's idolatry, with Jeroboam establishing golden calf worship to prevent his people from returning to Jerusalem for worship, thereby securing his own rule (1 Kgs 12). The Chronicler's perspective strongly emphasizes the enduring nature of the Davidic covenant, the sanctity of Jerusalem and the Temple, and portrays the northern kingdom as illegitimate and rebellious against God. Abijah's decision to speak from Mount Zemaraim in Ephraim is highly symbolic, as he stands in northern territory, confronting them directly on their own ground.

2 Chronicles 13 4 Word analysis

• Then: Hebrew "וַיַּעֲמֹד" (vayyaʿamōḏ) - a conjunctive waw with the verb "to stand." This introduces the next sequential action, signaling a decisive moment where Abijah takes a posture of authority and readiness to deliver a message.
• Abijah: Hebrew "אֲבִיָּה" (Avíyyāh) - "My Father is Yah" or "Yahweh is (my) Father." King of Judah, son of Rehoboam. His name itself points to Yahweh, contrasting with Jeroboam's paganism.
• stood: Hebrew "וַיַּעֲמֹד" (wayyaʿamōd) - "and he stood up" or "took a stand." This implies a deliberate and authoritative action, not merely being present. It suggests a public, declarative posture, as one would take when delivering an important proclamation or a speech to a multitude. This verb often denotes taking one's position for battle or for delivering a solemn pronouncement.
• on Mount Zemaraim: Hebrew "הַר־צְמָרַיִם" (har Tsĕmārâyim) - "Mount Zemaraim." "Har" means "mount" or "mountain." Zemaraim means "two fleeces" or "two woolly things," possibly related to sheep herding or a geographical feature. The mount itself (now Khirbet Zemaraim) was located within the tribal territory of Benjamin but very close to the border of Ephraim. Standing on a high place provided an excellent vantage point for addressing an army below and symbolized a place of prominence and authority. In biblical narratives, mountains are often sites of divine encounters, prophetic pronouncements, and strategic advantage.
• which is in the mountains of Ephraim: This clarifies the geographical location for the audience. Ephraim was the dominant tribe of the northern kingdom, so Abijah is explicitly noted as standing on the northern kingdom's territory, demonstrating his boldness and directly challenging their dominion on their own turf. This also underscores the strategic military context of his position, enabling his voice to carry.
• and said: Hebrew "וַיֹּאמֶר" (wayyoʾmer) - a common introductory verb for direct speech. It signals the beginning of an important oral declaration or message, here of a deeply theological and historical nature.
• Hear me: Hebrew "שִׁמְעוּנִי" (Shimʿūnî) - an imperative plural verb, "listen to me!" This is a direct command demanding attention. It's more than just hearing; it implies a command to heed and pay close attention to what is about to be said, acknowledging the authority of the speaker. It echoes calls to listen to divine pronouncements (Deut 4:1, Isa 1:2).
• O Jeroboam: Hebrew "יָרָבְעָם" (Yārāvʿām) - "The people contend" or "He multiplies the people." King of Israel, who led the secession and introduced idolatry. Addressing him directly highlights the personal and political confrontation between the two kings.
• and all Israel!: Hebrew "וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל" (wəḵol-Yisrāʾēl) - "and all Israel." This refers to the entire northern kingdom, including their assembled army and potentially representatives of the whole population. It indicates Abijah's intention to appeal to, or challenge, the entire nation, not just their king. The call is for a national reckoning.

• "Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim": This phrase highlights Abijah's active and purposeful posture. Standing on a mountain signifies a place of visibility and command. His physical positioning in Ephraim's territory emphasizes his courage and the directness of his challenge, a powerful symbol of Judah's claim to legitimate authority over all Israel, even while occupying northern land. It is a strategic move, allowing his voice to carry over the opposing army gathered below.
• "Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel!": This is a direct and forceful call for attention and acknowledgement. It is a demand to listen and consider the weighty pronouncements that follow. This is not merely a military address; it takes on the solemnity of a prophetic declaration or a legal pronouncement before the divided kingdom. By addressing "all Israel," Abijah intends for his words to resonate beyond Jeroboam to the very heart of the northern kingdom. It serves as a preamble to a divine and covenantal argument, underscoring that the coming war is not just political but deeply religious and rooted in the covenant.

2 Chronicles 13 4 Bonus section

The chronicler strategically places Abijah's speech, including this verse, to serve as a significant theological statement, emphasizing Judah's role as the legitimate heir to the Davidic covenant and the true worship of Yahweh. The focus is less on military strategy (though implied) and more on validating Judah's kingship and condemning Jeroboam's religious innovations as rebellion against God's established order. The very location, Mount Zemaraim, historically within Benjamin but now viewed as bordering Ephraim, represents the ancient covenant territory now divided, providing a vivid backdrop for Abijah's assertion of God's undivided promise to David. This specific detail of geographical positioning carries immense weight in reinforcing the Chronicler's polemic against the northern kingdom's schism from the Davidic dynasty and the Jerusalem Temple.

2 Chronicles 13 4 Commentary

2 Chronicles 13:4 acts as a powerful preamble to Abijah's historically and theologically significant address to the northern kingdom. By "standing" on Mount Zemaraim, Abijah assumes a posture of authority and resolve, signifying that he is about to deliver a pronouncement of great importance. His choice of location within the "mountains of Ephraim"—the heartland of the northern kingdom—underscores the boldness and directness of his confrontation. He is not just preparing for battle but is initiating a rhetorical challenge to Jeroboam and all Israel on their own perceived ground. The imperative "Hear me!" emphasizes that this is a solemn and weighty message, not a casual observation. It's an appeal for a critical assessment of the northern kingdom's spiritual and political state, framed within the Chronicler's overarching theological narrative concerning the faithfulness of God to the Davidic covenant and the apostasy of those who forsake the Jerusalem Temple and its priesthood. This verse sets the stage for Abijah's exposition of divine truth amidst a military conflict, revealing that the ensuing war is deeply spiritual and concerns the very nature of God's chosen kingdom.