13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.
13 Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush was behind them.
13 Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to come upon them from behind. Thus his troops
13 While Abijah was speaking, Jeroboam had sent men around to take them by surprise from the rear: Jeroboam in front of Judah and the ambush behind.
13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to go around behind them; so they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.
13 Meanwhile, Jeroboam had secretly sent part of his army around behind the men of Judah to ambush them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:13
Chapter Contents
Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.
Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1 Kings 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form of it. Many that have little religion themselves, value it in others. But it was true that there were numbers of pious worshippers in Judah, and that theirs was the more righteous cause. In their distress, when danger was on every side, which way should they look for deliverance unless upward? It is an unspeakable comfort, that our way thither is always open. They cried unto the Lord. Earnest prayer is crying. To the cry of prayer they added the shout of faith, and became more than conquerors. Jeroboam escaped the sword of Abijah, but God struck him; there is no escaping his sword.