- 149-
(^238) As Maachah, the daughter (granddaughter) of Abishalom (Absalom) was the mother
of Abijah, she must have been the grandmother of Asa. She is designated as "Queen,"
or rather (in the original) as Gevirah, which is an official title.
(^239) It is needless to inquire into the nameless abominations connected with what the
original designates as a "horror," rendered in the Authorized Version "idol."
(^240) The numbers: 400,000 for Judah, 800,000 for Israel, and 500,000 killed, have
always seemed a difficulty. Bishop Kennicott and others have regarded these numerals
as a copyist's mistake. But it seems difficult to imagine three consecutive errors in
copying. Professor Rawlinson (in the Speaker's Commentary, vol. 3., p. 306) thinks,
that both the combatants and the slain represent those engaged throughout the whole
war. But this scarcely removes the difficulty. Two points may help our better
understanding of the matter, though we would only suggest them hypothetically. First,
comparing these numbers with more exact numerical details, as in 2 Chronicles 5-7,
and 12, they read rather like what might be called "round numbers" than as precise
numeration. Secondly, comparing these numbers with the census under King David (2
Samuel 24:9), we find that the number of the Israelites is exactly the same in both
cases, while that of Judah is larger by 100,000 in the census of David than in the army
of Abijah, though it included Benjamin. If we assume that Abijah invaded Israel with a
regular army - "began the war with an army of war-heroes," and that in defense
Jeroboam raised a levy of all capable of bearing arms, we can understand the use of
these "round numbers," derived from a previous census. In that case the number of the
slain would represent rather the proportion of those who fell during the war than a
numerically exact statement.
(^241) The Semaron of Josephus (Ant. 8. 11, 2), probably the modern Kharbet-es- Somera
(Guerin, La Samarie, vol. 1. pp. 226, 227; vol. 2. p. 175). But this localization is by no
means certain.
(^242) Such as the conditions of David's royalty (Psalm 132:12), the sin of Solomon, the
folly and sin of Rehoboam, and his own unfaithfulness to the LORD.
(^243) "A covenant of salt" - comp. Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19.
(^244) The localization of "Jeshanah" and "Ephrain" has not been satisfactorily made out.
But in all probability these towns were not at a great distance from Bethel.
(^245) The expression (2 Chronicles 13:21) "Abijah waxed mighty," or rather
"strengthened himself," may also refer to his league with Syria (2 Chronicles 16:3).
The notice of his wives and children includes, of course, an earlier period of his life.
(^)