2 Chronicles 13:12

And, behold, God himself [is] with us for [our] captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

And, behold, God {H430} himself is with us for our captain {H7218}, and his priests {H3548} with sounding {H8643} trumpets {H2689} to cry alarm {H7321} against you. O children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, fight {H3898} ye not against the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of your fathers {H1}; for ye shall not prosper {H6743}.

"So look here! God is with us, leading us and his cohanim with the battle trumpets to sound an alarm against you. People of Isra'el! Don't fight against ADONAI, the God of your ancestors; because you will not succeed."

Now behold, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with their trumpets sound the battle call against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”

And, behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against Jehovah, the God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 13:12 delivers a powerful declaration from King Abijah of Judah to Jeroboam and the Northern Kingdom of Israel, just before a significant battle. This verse serves as a profound reminder of God's sovereignty and the futility of opposing His will.

Context

This verse is part of King Abijah's address to the armies of Jeroboam, who had led the ten northern tribes of Israel to secede from the house of David after Solomon's reign. The two kingdoms, Judah (faithful to God and the Davidic line) and Israel (which had embraced idolatry under Jeroboam), were on the brink of war. Abijah's speech, recorded in 2 Chronicles 13:4-12, is a theological and historical argument asserting Judah's righteous standing with God and warning Israel against their rebellion and idolatry. It sets the stage for a miraculous victory for Judah, despite being significantly outnumbered.

Key Themes

  • Divine Leadership and Presence: Abijah boldly declares that God Himself is Judah's "captain," signifying that the Lord is their ultimate commander and leader in battle. This emphasizes reliance on divine power over human strength or military might.
  • Priestly Role in Warfare: The mention of "priests with sounding trumpets" highlights the spiritual dimension of ancient Israelite warfare. Trumpets were used not only to signal battle but also in worship and to call upon God's presence and intervention, as seen in passages like Numbers 10:9 and the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:4-5).
  • Warning Against Opposing God: Abijah directly admonishes the Northern Kingdom, "fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers." This is a stark warning that their conflict is not merely against Judah but against the very God who established their nation and made a covenant with their ancestors.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The concluding phrase, "for ye shall not prosper," underscores the inevitable failure and judgment that await those who defy God. It serves as a prophetic declaration that divine opposition leads to certain defeat.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "captain" is sar (Χ©Χ‚Φ·Χ¨), which can mean chief, prince, ruler, or commander. Its use here powerfully conveys God's supreme authority and active leadership in the conflict.
  • The term "prosper" comes from the Hebrew tsalach (Χ¦ΦΈΧœΦ·Χ—), meaning to advance, be successful, or make progress. In this context, it implies that success and divine blessing are withheld from those who fight against God.

Related Scriptures

Abijah's declaration resonates with other biblical affirmations of God's active role in defending His people. Just as Judah relied on God as their captain, believers are assured that the Lord fights for them, as promised in Deuteronomy 20:4. The warning against fighting God is a timeless principle, emphasizing that rebellion against Him ultimately leads to futility, for the mind hostile to God cannot please Him, as articulated in Romans 8:7.

Practical Application

This verse encourages believers today to remember that God remains our ultimate Captain and guide in all of life's battles. When facing challenges, whether spiritual, personal, or communal, our primary reliance should be on His presence and leadership. It also serves as a potent reminder that opposing God's will or His established principles will ultimately lead to failure. For individuals and nations, true prosperity and success are found in aligning with God's purposes and acknowledging His supreme authority.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 5:39

    But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

  • Numbers 10:8

    And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

  • Numbers 10:9

    And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

  • Romans 8:31

    ΒΆ What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?

  • Zechariah 10:5

    ΒΆ And they shall be as mighty [men], which tread down [their enemies] in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD [is] with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.

  • Deuteronomy 28:29

    And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save [thee].

  • Isaiah 45:9

    Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
← Back