(Rehoboam) humbled himself, the anger of Jahve was turned away from him.” להשׁחית ולא, and it was not to extermination utterly (לכלה, properly to destruction, i.e., completely; cf. Eze 13:13). And also in Judah were good things. This is the other motive which caused the Lord to turn away His wrath. Good things are proofs of piety and fear of God, cf. 2Ch 19:3.
Verses 13-14
The length of Rehoboam's reign, his mother, and the judgment about him. Cf. 1Ki 14:21 and 1Ki 14:22. ויּתחזּק here, as in 2Ch 13:21, can, in its connection with what precedes, be only understood to mean that Rehoboam, after his humiliation at the hands of Shishak, by which his kingdom was utterly weakened and almost destroyed, again gained strength and power. Cf. also 2Ch 1:1, where יתחזּק is used of Solomon in the beginning of his reign, after he overcame Adonijah, the pretender to the crown, and his party. - As to the age of Rehoboam, etc., see on 1Ki 14:21. הרע ויּעשׂ, 2Ch 12:14, is defined by the addition, “for he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.” For the expression cf. 2Ch 19:3; 2Ch 30:19; Ezr 7:10.
Verses 15-16
Close of his reign. On the authorities, see the Introduction, and in reference to the other statements, the commentary on 1Ki 14:29-31. מלחמות, wars, i.e., a state of hostility, was between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all days, can only be understood of the hostile attitude of the two rulers to each other, like מלחמה in Kings; for we have no narrative of wars between them after Rehoboam had abandoned, at the instance of the prophet, his proposed war with the Israelites at the commencement of his reign.
Chap. 13
Verses 1-2
The Reign of Abijah - 2 Chronicles 13
In the book of Kings it is merely remarked in general, that the hostile relationship between Jeroboam and Rehoboam continued during his whole life, and that between Abijah and Jeroboam there was war (2Ch 13:6 and 2Ch 13:7); but not one of his enterprises is recounted, and only his attitude towards the Lord is exactly characterized. In our chapter, on the contrary, we have a vivid and circumstantial narrative of the commencement, course, and results of a great war against Jeroboam, in which Abijah, with the help of the Lord, inflicted a crushing defeat on the great army of the Israelites, and conquered several cities.
2Ch 13:1-2
The commencement and duration of the reign, as in 1Ki 15:1-2. Abijah's mother is here (2Ch 13:2)
