2 Chronicles 13:20

Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20) Neither did Jeroboam recover strength.—And Jeroboam retained strength no longer. LXX. καὶ οὐκ ἔσχεν ἰσχὺν Ιεροβοαμ ἔτι. See 1Chronicles 29:14 (the same phrase).

And the Lord struck him, and he died.—All that is known of Jeroboam’s death is that it took place two years after that of Abijah (1Kings 15:8-9). The expressions of the text cannot mean, as Zöckler suggests, “visited him with misfortune till his death.” His death is regarded as a judicial visitation (compare the use of the same Hebrew phrase, 1Samuel 25:38). The verse, then, states that during the rest of Abijah’s reign Jeroboam remained powerless to injure his neighbour; and that the circumstances of his death were such that men recognised in them “the finger of God.” It is not likely that the reference is to the event of 2Chronicles 13:15 (Bertheau), nor to the death of his son (1Kings 14:1-8), as Keil supposes.

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 13:20. The Lord struck him — Either with vexation and horror of mind, or with some painful and lingering, but incurable disease, like that of Jehoram, which tormented him two years together, and at last killed him, 2 Chronicles 21:19. And he died — Not immediately, but a year or two after this time. He escaped the sword of Abijah; but there is no escaping God’s sword.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:1-22 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, 1Ki 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Jeroboam's death was a judgment upon him for his sins. Chronologically speaking, his death is here out of place, for he outlived Abijah at least two years (compare the marginal reference and 1 Kings 15:9); but the writer, not intending to recur to his history, is naturally led to carry it on to its termination.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah—The disastrous action at Zemaraim, which caused the loss of the flower and chivalry of his army, broke his spirits and crippled his power.

the Lord struck him, and he died—that is, Jeroboam. He lived, indeed, two years after the death of Abijah (1Ki 14:20; 15:9). But he had been threatened with great calamities upon himself and his house, and it is apparently to the execution of these threatenings, which issued in his death, that an anticipatory reference is here made.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

The Lord struck him, i.e. Jeroboam, as appears from the contrary condition of Abijah described in the next verse. Him God might strike, either with vexation and horror of mind; or with some painful and lingering, but incurable, disease, like that of Jehoram, which tormented him two years together, and at last killed him, 2 Chronicles 21:19.

He died; not presently, but a year or two after this time.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah,.... So as to bring an army into the field against him, and fight him:

and the Lord struck him; by some Jewish writers (a), this is interpreted of Abijah; and the reason of his being stricken, they say, was because he did not destroy the calf when he took Bethel; but it is best to understand it of Jeroboam, since Abijah is afterwards said to wax mighty:

and he died; not immediately, for he lived two years after Abijah, 1 Kings 14:20, but continued under a lingering disease he was smitten with, and which issued in his death.

(a) Bereshit Rabba, sect. 65. fol. 58. 8. Seder Olam Rabba, c. 16.

Geneva Study Bible

Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

20. the Lord struck him, and he died] The same phrase is used of the death of Nabal (1 Samuel 25:38); it implies suddenness or some other unusual circumstance (cp. Acts 12:13, the death of Herod Agrippa). In 1 Kings 14:20 it is simply Jeroboam … slept with his fathers.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 20. - The Lord struck him; and he died. The writer of Chronicles here, for brevity's sake, and not to recur to his name again, records the death of Jeroboam, which, however, did not happen till after Abijah's death, in the second year of Asa's reign (1 Kings 14:20; 1 Kings 15:25). That the Lord struck him, may glance at the fearful announcement conveyed to him through his wife by Ahijah (1 Kings 14:6-16). 2 Chronicles 13:20

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Jeroboam could not afterwards gain power (כּוח עצר, as in 1 Chronicles 29:14): "And Jahve smote him, and he died." The meaning of this remark is not clear, since we know nothing further of the end of Jeroboam's life than that he died two years after Abijah. ויּגּפהוּ can hardly refer to the unfortunate result of the war (2 Chronicles 13:15.), for Jeroboam outlived the war by several years. We would be more inclined to understand it of the blow mentioned in 1 Kings 14:1-8, when God announced to him by Ahijah the extermination of his house, and took away his son Abijah, who was mourned by all Israel.