2 Chronicles 13:7

2 Chronicles 13:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.
• New International Version (NIV)Some worthless scoundrels gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute and could not withstand them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then worthless rogues gathered to him, and strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and inexperienced and could not withstand them.

Context of 2 Chronicles 13:7

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]? 6Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord [the king], and worthless (unprincipled, unethical) men gathered around him, useless and wicked men, who proved too strong for Rehoboam the son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young and timid, and could not assert himself against them. 8“And now you intend to assert yourselves against the kingdom of the Lord which is in the hands of the sons of David, since you are a great multitude and have with you the golden calves (idols) which Jeroboam made for you as gods. 9Have you not driven out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? So whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, even he may become a priest of non-existent gods (idols).

2 Chronicles 13:7 word by word

וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ עָלָ֗יו אֲנָשִׁ֤ים רֵקִים֙ בְּנֵ֣י בְלִיַּ֔עַל וַיִּֽתְאַמְּצ֖וּ עַל־רְחַבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וּרְחַבְעָ֗ם הָ֤יָה נַ֙עַר֙ וְרַךְ־לֵבָ֔ב וְלֹ֥א הִתְחַזַּ֖ק לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And there are gatheredקָבַץqâbats · to gatherH6908
• unto him vainרֵיקrêyq rêq · worthlessH7386
• menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• the childrenבֵּןbên · son: type ofH1121
• of Belialבְּלִיַּ֫עַלbelîya‛al · BelialH1100
• and have strengthenedאָמֵץ'âmats · to strengthenH553
• themselves against Rehoboamרְחַבְעָםrechab‛âm · RehoboamH7346
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Solomonשְׁלֹמֹהshelômôh · SolomonH8010
• was youngנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• and tenderheartedלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
• and tenderheartedרַךְrak · tenderH7390
• and could not withstandחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: prevail overH2388
• themפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440

Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 13:7

• Judges 9:4And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and undisciplined men, and they followed (supported) him.
• Judges 11:3Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob; and worthless and unprincipled men gathered around Jephthah, and went out [on raids] with him.
• 1 Samuel 22:2Everyone who was suffering hardship, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. There were about four hundred men with him.
• Job 30:8They are the sons of [worthless and nameless] fools, They have been driven out of the land.
• Psalms 26:4I do not sit with deceitful or unethical or worthless men, Nor seek companionship with pretenders (self-righteous hypocrites).
• Proverbs 12:11He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows worthless things lacks common sense and good judgment.
• Proverbs 28:19He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows worthless people and frivolous pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
• Acts 17:5But the [unbelieving] Jews became jealous, and taking along some thugs from [the lowlifes in] the market place, they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and then attacking Jason’s house tried to bring Paul and Silas out to the people.
• Deuteronomy 13:13that some worthless and evil men have gone out from among you and have tempted the inhabitants of their city [to sin], saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’ (whom you have not known),
• 1 Kings 21:10and seat two worthless and unprincipled men opposite him, and have them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
• 2 Chronicles 10:16When all Israel saw that the king did not listen and pay attention to them, the people answered him, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel; Now, [Rehoboam, descendant of] David, see to your own house.” So all Israel went to their tents.
• 2 Chronicles 12:13So King Rehoboam established himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city in which the Lord had chosen from all the tribes of Israel to put His Name. And his mother was Naamah the Ammonitess.
• Ecclesiastes 10:16Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child and when your [incompetent] officials and princes feast in the morning.
• Isaiah 3:4And I will make mere boys their princes, And capricious (impulsive, unpredictable) children will rule over them.
• 1 Corinthians 14:20Brothers and sisters, do not be children [immature, childlike] in your thinking; be infants in [matters of] evil [completely innocent and inexperienced], but in your minds be mature [adults].
• Hebrews 5:12For though by this time you ought to be teachers [because of the time you have had to learn these truths], you actually need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God’s word [from the beginning], and you have come to be continually in need of milk, not solid food.

Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 13:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7When Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted - Therefore he could not be forty-one when he came to the throne; see the note on 2 Chronicles 13:3. Children of Belial here signifies men of the most abandoned principles and characters; or men without consideration, education, or brains.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7Abijah's speech criticized the northerners for not supporting David's kingdom.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-124-12. Abijah stood up upon Mount Zemaraim--He had entered the enemy's territory and was encamped on an eminence near Beth-el (Jos 18:22). Jeroboam's army lay at the foot of the hill, and as a pitched battle was expected, Abijah, according to the singular usage of ancient times, harangued the enemy. The speakers in such circumstances, while always extolling their own merits, poured out torrents of invective and virulent abuse upon the adversary. So did…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Chronicles 13:7

• Faithfulness
• Rebellion
• War

In the dictionaries

• Rehoboam
• Solomon
• Abijah
• Zemaraim
• Bamah
• Chronicles, Books of
• Israel, History of
• Jeroboam
• Judah, Kingdom of
• Shemaiah

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