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for God's faithfulness to His covenant-promises (1 Kings 15:4, 5). But, although such
was the state of religion, Abijah not only made loud profession of the worship of
Jehovah, but even brought votive offerings to the Temple, probably of part of the spoil
taken in war (1 Kings 15:15; comp. 2 Chronicles 13:16-19).
Concerning the relations of Judah to the neighboring kingdom of Israel, it may be said
that the chronic state of warfare which had existed during the time of Rehoboam now
changed into one of open hostilities. Two reasons for this may be given. Abijah was a
much more vigorous ruler than his father, and the power of Egypt, on which Jeroboam
relied for support, seems at that time to have decreased. This we gather, not only from
the non-interference of Egypt in the war between Abijah and Jeroboam, but from the
fact that, when Egypt at length sought to recover its lost ascendancy, it was under the
rule of Zerah the Ethiopian (probably Osorkon II.), who was not the son, but the son-
in-law, of the preceding monarch (2 Chronicles 14:9); and we know the fate that
overtook the huge, undisciplined army which Zerah led.
The language of the sacred narrative (2 Chronicles 13:2, 3) implies, that the war
between Judah and Israel was begun by Abijah. On both sides a levy of all capable of
bearing arms was raised, though, so far as the numerical strength of the two armies was
concerned, the response seems not to have been so universal in Judah as in Israel.^240
But perhaps the seeming discrepancy may be explained by the necessity of leaving
strong garrisons in the south to watch the Egyptian frontier (comp. 2 Chronicles 14:9).
The two armies met at the boundary of the two kingdoms, though, as we judge, within
the territory of Israel. They camped in close proximity, only separated by Mount
Zemaraim,^241 a height to the east of Bethel and some distance north of Jericho, forming
part of the ridge known as "Mount Ephraim," which stretched from the plain of
Esdraelon southwards.
From this height Abijah addressed the army of Israel just before the battle began, in the
hope of securing their voluntary submission, or at least weakening their resistance.
Ignoring all that told against himself,^242 Abijah tried to impress on his opponents that
right was wholly on his side.^243
In language full of irony he set before them their weakness, as the necessary result of
their apostasy from Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and of their adoption of a
worship neither conformable to their ancient faith nor even respectable in the sight of
men. Lastly, he loudly protested that, since Judah had gone to war under the leadership
of Jehovah and in the manner appointed by Him, Israel was really fighting against
Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and could not expect success. Whatever hollowness
there may have been in this profession on the part of Abijah, it was at least the true
war-cry of Israel which he raised. It found an echo in the hearts of his followers. In
(^)