131 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah,
131 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.
131 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.
131 In the eighteenth year of the rule of King Jeroboam, Abijah took over the throne of Judah.
131 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.
131 Abijah began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam's reign in Israel.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:1
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.