2Ch 13:4-12 | Clarke | STEP | Verse 4 Stood up upon Mount Zemaraim - "Which was a mount of the tribe of the house of Ephraim." - Targum. Jarchi thinks that Abijah went to the confines of the tribe of Ephraim to attack Jeroboam. It could not be Shomeron, the mount on which Samaria was built in the days of Omri king of Israel, .

2 Chronicles 13:4-12

Verse 4

Stood up upon Mount Zemaraim - "Which was a mount of the tribe of the house of Ephraim." - Targum. Jarchi thinks that Abijah went to the confines of the tribe of Ephraim to attack Jeroboam. It could not be Shomeron, the mount on which Samaria was built in the days of Omri king of Israel, 1Kgs 16:24. Verse 5

By a covenant of salt? - For ever. "For as the waters of the sea never grow sweet, neither shall the dominion depart from the house of David." - Targum. See my note on Num 18:19 (note). Verse 7

When Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted - Therefore he could not be forty-one when he came to the throne; see the note on 2Chr 13:3. Children of Belial here signifies men of the most abandoned principles and characters; or men without consideration, education, or brains. Verse 9

A young bullock and seven rams - He who could provide these for his own consecration was received into the order of this spurious and wicked priesthood. Some think he who could give to Jeroboam a young bullock and seven rams, was thereby received into the priesthood; this being the price for which the priesthood was conferred. The former is most likely. Verse 10

The Lord is our God - We have not abandoned the Lord; and we still serve him according to his own law. Verse 12

God himself is with us - Ye have golden calves; we have the living and omnipotent Jehovah.

With - trumpets to cry alarm against you - This was appalling: When the priests sound their trumpets, it will be a proof that the vengeance of the Lord shall speedily descend upon you.