2 Chronicles 13:3

2 Chronicles 13:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.
• New International Version (NIV)Abijah went into battle with an army of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Abijah went out to battle, having an army of valiant men of war, 400,000 chosen men. And Jeroboam drew up his line of battle against him with 800,000 chosen mighty warriors.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Abijah set the battle in order with an army of valiant warriors, four hundred thousand choice men. Jeroboam also drew up in battle formation against him with eight hundred thousand choice men, mighty men of valor.

Context of 2 Chronicles 13:3

1In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah. 2He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam [of Israel]. Abijah began the battle with an army of brave soldiers, 400,000 chosen men. Jeroboam drew up in battle formation against him with 800,000 chosen men, valiant men. 4Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel: 5Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel, gave rule over Israel forever to David and to his sons by a covenant of salt [a permanent pact, extending to each generation of Israel]?

2 Chronicles 13:3 word by word

וַיֶּאְסֹ֨ר אֲבִיָּ֜ה אֶת־הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה בְּחַ֙יִל֙ גִּבּוֹרֵ֣י מִלְחָמָ֔ה אַרְבַּע־מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֖לֶף אִ֣ישׁ בָּח֑וּר ס וְיָרָבְעָ֗ם עָרַ֤ךְ עִמּוֹ֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה בִּשְׁמוֹנֶ֨ה מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֛לֶף אִ֥ישׁ בָּח֖וּר גִּבּ֥וֹר חָֽיִל׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Abijahאֲבִיָּ֫הוּ, אֲבִיָּה'ăbîyâh 'ăbîyâhû · AbijahH29
• setאָסַר'âsar · to bindH631
• the battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• with an armyחַ֫יִלchayil · armyH2428
• of valiant menגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
• fourאַרְבַּע'arba‛ 'arbâ‛âh · fourH702
• hundredמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
• thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• chosenבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• Jeroboamיָֽרָבְעָםyârob‛âm · JeroboamH3379
• in arrayעָרַךְ‛ârak · to arrangeH6186
• against him with eightשְׁמֹנֶהshemôneh shemôneh shemônâh shemônâh · eightH8083
• of valourחַ֫יִלchayil · strengthH2428

Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 13:3

• 1 Samuel 17:1Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle and were assembled at Socoh, which belongs to Judah; and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.
• 2 Chronicles 11:1Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors to fight against [the ten tribes of] Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
• 2 Chronicles 14:8Now Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah, who carried large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, who carried shields and drew bows, all courageous men.
• 2 Chronicles 17:14This was the number of them by their fathers’ (ancestors’) households: of Judah, the commanders of thousands, Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 courageous men;
• 2 Chronicles 26:12The total number of the heads of the fathers’ households, of valiant men, was 2,600.
• 1 Chronicles 21:5Then Joab gave the total of the census of the people to David. And all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and in Judah 470,000 men who drew the sword.
• 2 Chronicles 14:9Now Zerah the Ethiopian (Cushite) came out against Judah with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came as far as Mareshah.

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 13:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Abijah set the battle in array - The numbers in this verse and in the seventeenth seem almost incredible. Abijah's army consisted of four hundred thousand effective men; that of Jeroboam consisted of eight hundred thousand; and the slain of Jeroboam's army were five hundred thousand. Now it is very possible that there is a cipher too much in all these numbers, and that they should stand thus: Abijah's army, forty thousand; Jeroboam's eighty thousand; the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3It has been proposed to change the numbers, here and in 2 Chronicles 13:17, into 40,000,80,000, and 50,000 respectively - partly because these smaller numbers are found in many early editions of the Vulgate, but mainly because the larger ones are thought to be incredible. The numbers accord well, however, with the census of the people taken in the reign of David 1 Chronicles 21:5, joined to the fact which the writer has related 2 Chronicles 11:13-17, of a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3The conflict between Rehoboam and Jeroboam (see 2 Chronicles 12:15) continued into Abijah's reign. Abijah might have tried to reunite the north and south, as suggested by his speech (2 Chronicles 13:5–12). The large number of soldiers on each side is similar to David’s census (2 Samuel 24:9). Israel's larger army highlights God's help for Judah (2 Chronicles 13:14–19).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Abijah set the battle in array--that is, took the field and opened the campaign. with ... four hundred thousand chosen men ... Jeroboam with eight hundred thousand--These are, doubtless, large numbers, considering the smallness of the two kingdoms. It must be borne in mind, however, that Oriental armies are mere mobs--vast numbers accompanying the camp in hope of plunder, so that the gross numbers described as going upon an Asiatic expedition are often…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Abijah
• Jeroboam
• Abia, Abiah, or Abijah
• Abijah or Abijam
• Four Hundred
• Bamah
• Chronicles, Books of
• Four
• Israel, History of
• Israel, Kingdom of

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings