2 Chronicles 13 6

2 Chronicles 13:6 kjv

Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.

2 Chronicles 13:6 nkjv

Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord.

2 Chronicles 13:6 niv

Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled against his master.

2 Chronicles 13:6 esv

Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord,

2 Chronicles 13:6 nlt

Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, a mere servant of David's son Solomon, rebelled against his master.

2 Chronicles 13 verses

2 Chronicles 13 6 Meaning

This verse states that Jeroboam, who was formerly a servant of King Solomon, acted defiantly by rising up and rebelling against Rehoboam, his legitimate master and successor to Solomon. It highlights a critical historical event – the rupture of the united kingdom of Israel, viewed here as an act of insurrection from the perspective of the southern kingdom of Judah.

2 Chronicles 13 6 Context

This verse is part of King Abijah of Judah's powerful speech delivered to Jeroboam and the armies of Israel just before the Battle of Mount Zemaraim (2 Chron 13:4-12). Abijah’s objective is to assert the theological and political legitimacy of the Davidic dynasty in Judah against Jeroboam’s rule in Israel. From the Chronicler's perspective, deeply rooted in the Davidic Covenant and Jerusalem temple worship, Jeroboam's rise is portrayed not as a divine judgment on Solomon's sin (as found more explicitly in 1 Kgs 11), but primarily as an illegitimate rebellion against the house of David, God’s chosen line. The chapter itself focuses on Judah's victory over Israel, interpreted as God upholding His covenant with David.

2 Chronicles 13 6 Word analysis

• Yet (וְהִנֵּה, vehinnêh): This is a strong interjection, literally "And behold!" or "And indeed!" It serves to draw attention to what follows as surprising or unexpected, especially given Jeroboam's former status. It signals a dramatic turning point or an audacious act.
• Jeroboam (יָרָבְעָם, Yarāḇə‘ām): Meaning "the people will contend" or "he increases the people." He was the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The very name paradoxically speaks to contention despite a desire for increase or popular support.
• the son of Nebat (בֶן־נְבָט, ben-nəḇāṭ): Identifies Jeroboam by his lineage. This detail is consistent throughout Scripture when referring to him, marking him distinctly.
• the servant (עֶבֶד, ‘eḇeḏ): This Hebrew term signifies a bondman, a minister, or one who serves another. It denotes a position of subservience and implies a duty of loyalty. The emphasis on his previous status makes his subsequent rebellion even more grievous. Solomon himself elevated Jeroboam (1 Kgs 11:28).
• of Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה, šəlōmōh): Jeroboam's former master, signifying that his rebellion was against the continuation of the legitimate ruling house that had fostered him.
• rose up (וַיִּקּוֹם, wayyiqqōm): From the root קוּם (qum), meaning "to rise," "stand up." Here it indicates an active, assertive movement, an initiation of action, especially rebellion or defiance. It signifies taking a stand, often with hostile intent.
• and rebelled (וַיִּמְרָד, wayyimrāḏ): From the root מָרַד (mārad), meaning "to rebel," "to be rebellious." This is a strong verb indicating open defiance, a break from loyalty, or an insurrection against a higher authority. It directly labels Jeroboam's action as an act of treason.
• against his lord (עַל־אֲדֹנָיו, ‘al-’ăḏōnāw): "Against his master/lord." Here, the "lord" is Rehoboam, the rightful heir. This emphasizes that Jeroboam's rebellion was not a general uprising but a direct act of insubordination against the divinely established leadership structure of the kingdom.

• "Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon": This phrase encapsulates Jeroboam's identity and prior relationship. The "Yet" immediately introduces a stark contrast with his expected loyalty. His full designation serves to anchor him in the known history and highlights his transition from loyal service to open defiance, underlining the audacity of his act.
• "rose up and rebelled": These two verbs powerfully combine to describe a definitive, active, and unlawful overthrow. "Rose up" indicates initiative and assertiveness, while "rebelled" precisely defines the nature of that rising as treacherous and disloyal. It's a phrase of deliberate insurrection.
• "against his lord": This climactic phrase clarifies the specific target of the rebellion and emphasizes the violation of established authority and the bond of loyalty due to a superior. It elevates the act beyond mere dissent to an act of direct treachery against the king who held legitimate succession.

2 Chronicles 13 6 Bonus Section

• Abijah's speech in 2 Chronicles 13 is notable for its polemical nature, presenting Jeroboam's rise as pure rebellion without mentioning Ahijah's prophecy (1 Kgs 11) or Solomon's sin, which led to the kingdom's division according to 1 Kings. This reflects the Chronicler's theological agenda to legitimize the southern kingdom (Judah) as the true continuation of God's chosen line through David.
• The Chronicler emphasizes Jeroboam's initial act of rebellion as foundational to the spiritual decline of the northern kingdom, later referred to repeatedly as "the sin of Jeroboam, by which he sinned and made Israel to sin" (e.g., 1 Kgs 14:16; 15:30; 2 Kgs 3:3). This verse, by defining his origin as a rebellious act, further solidifies that negative legacy.
• The use of "servant" (‘eḇeḏ) implies a master-servant relationship that obligated loyalty. Jeroboam's action broke this societal expectation, framing him as a treacherous figure from a human-social and, by extension, a theological standpoint, as it implied rebellion against God's established order.

2 Chronicles 13 6 Commentary

This concise verse, found within Abijah’s impassioned speech, lays the groundwork for Judah's claim of divine right over Israel. By depicting Jeroboam as a mere "servant of Solomon" who "rebelled against his lord," Abijah downplays any divine hand in Jeroboam's ascent and frames it solely as a human act of disloyalty and usurpation. The Chronicler, reflecting the Judean perspective, views the schism not as an inevitable consequence of God's judgment on Solomon, but as a direct rebellion against the house of David. This emphasis sets the stage for the narrative's continued focus on the fidelity and ultimate divine vindication of Judah's kings who uphold the covenant. This perspective serves as a profound warning against insubordination to established authority, particularly when that authority is understood to be ordained by God, underscoring the spiritual danger of human will attempting to subvert divine design.