2 Chronicles 13:13

KJV

¶ But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment [was] behind them.

KJV (with Strong's)

But Jeroboam {H3379} caused an ambushment {H3993} to come {H935} about {H5437} behind {H310} them: so they were before {H6440} Judah {H3063}, and the ambushment {H3993} was behind {H310} them.

Complete Jewish Bible

But Yarov'am prepared to ambush them from behind, so that the main body was ahead of Y'hudah, while the ambush was behind them.

Berean Standard Bible

Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to ambush from the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah, the ambush was behind them.

American Standard Version

But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This pivotal verse from 2 Chronicles 13:13 details King Jeroboam I of Israel's cunning military maneuver against King Abijah of Judah. It describes Jeroboam's strategic deployment of an ambush force, positioning Judah's army between his main contingent and this hidden detachment, thereby creating a perilous pincer movement designed to encircle and overwhelm them. This tactical decision sets the stage for a dramatic turning point in the conflict, highlighting the immediate peril faced by Judah and foreshadowing the divine intervention that follows.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the narrative of a significant war between the divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel, specifically detailing the conflict between King Abijah of Judah and King Jeroboam I of Israel. Preceding this verse, Abijah delivers a powerful and theologically charged speech to Jeroboam and his army, emphasizing Judah's covenant loyalty to the Lord and the perpetual nature of the Davidic kingdom and the Aaronic priesthood ([2 Chronicles 13:4-12](/2-chronicles/13-4 "2 Chronicles 13:4-12 - Abijah's Address to Israel")). Abijah's speech contrasts Judah's reliance on God with Israel's idolatry, setting up the spiritual stakes of the battle. Despite Abijah's declaration of faith and the numerical disadvantage of Judah (400,000 men against Israel's 800,000, as noted in [2 Chronicles 13:3](/2-chronicles/13-3 "2 Chronicles 13:3 - Troop Numbers")), Jeroboam responds not with repentance but with a deceptive military strategy. Verse 13 immediately follows Abijah's speech, demonstrating Jeroboam's disregard for the divine warnings and his reliance on human cunning, directly leading into the desperate situation that prompts Judah's cry to God in [2 Chronicles 13:14](/2-chronicles/13-14 "2 Chronicles 13:14 - Judah Cries Out to the Lord").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The battle described in 2 Chronicles 13 takes place approximately two decades after the division of the united kingdom of Israel following the death of Solomon. This schism, detailed in [1 Kings 12](/1-kings/12 "1 Kings 12 - The Division of the Kingdom") and [2 Chronicles 10](/2-chronicles/10 "2 Chronicles 10 - Rehoboam's Folly"), resulted from Rehoboam's harsh policies and Jeroboam's subsequent establishment of alternative worship centers at Dan and Bethel with golden calves, diverting the Northern Kingdom from Jerusalem and legitimate Yahwistic worship ([1 Kings 12:25-33](/1-kings/12-25 "1 Kings 12:25-33 - Jeroboam's Idolatry")). This historical backdrop underscores the theological conflict inherent in the military confrontation. Militarily, the use of an "ambushment" (Hebrew: *ma'arav*) was a common and effective tactic in ancient Near Eastern warfare, designed to surprise and disorient an enemy, particularly when facing a numerically superior or equally matched force. It required careful planning, secrecy, and coordination, reflecting a sophisticated, albeit deceptive, military mind. Jeroboam's choice of this tactic highlights his reliance on human ingenuity rather than divine favor.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within 2 Chronicles 13 and the broader book. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty versus Human Strategy**. Jeroboam's cunning ambush represents the epitome of human military planning, yet the subsequent narrative demonstrates God's ability to overturn even the most meticulously laid human schemes. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Peril and Desperation**, as Judah is placed in a seemingly insurmountable position, surrounded by a numerically superior enemy. This dire circumstance serves to amplify the subsequent theme of **Divine Intervention and Deliverance**. The author of Chronicles frequently emphasizes that God acts powerfully on behalf of those who trust Him, especially when human resources are exhausted. This verse, therefore, functions as a crucial setup, creating the necessary conditions for God's miraculous intervention, which ultimately vindicates Abijah's earlier declaration of faith and Judah's reliance on the Lord, as seen in [2 Chronicles 13:15-18](/2-chronicles/13-15 "2 Chronicles 13:15-18 - God Delivers Judah").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ambushment (Hebrew, _ma'arav'_):** This term refers to a "lying in wait," "ambush," or "hidden force." It denotes a military tactic where a detachment of troops conceals itself to surprise an enemy from an unexpected direction. In this context, it emphasizes Jeroboam's deliberate strategy of deception and surprise, aiming to catch Judah unawares and create a pincer movement. The word highlights the element of hidden danger and the calculated nature of Jeroboam's plan.
* **Behind them (Hebrew, _'achareihem'_):** This seemingly simple phrase is crucial for understanding the strategic brilliance and danger of Jeroboam's maneuver. It specifies the location of the ambush, indicating that a portion of Jeroboam's forces had secretly moved around Judah's main army to attack from the rear. This created a classic pincer movement, trapping Judah between two forces and cutting off any potential retreat, thus maximizing their vulnerability and the likelihood of a decisive Israelite victory.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them:"** This clause introduces Jeroboam's strategic initiative. The conjunction "But" (וְ) signals a contrast to Abijah's preceding speech, indicating Jeroboam's practical, human-centric response to the theological challenge. "Caused an ambushment to come about" reveals Jeroboam's active and deliberate planning, deploying a hidden force to outflank Judah. The phrase "behind them" specifies the critical direction from which this surprise attack would originate, setting up the pincer.
* **"so they were before Judah,"** This part of the verse clarifies the initial positioning of Jeroboam's main army. It indicates that the bulk of Israel's forces remained in front of Judah's army, engaging them directly. This maintained the appearance of a conventional frontal assault, diverting Judah's attention and preventing them from detecting the flanking maneuver until it was too late.
* **"and the ambushment [was] behind them."** This final clause confirms the successful execution of Jeroboam's pincer strategy. It states unequivocally that the hidden force was indeed positioned at Judah's rear, completing the encirclement. Judah was now caught in a vise, facing a formidable enemy from two directions, a situation designed to induce panic, disorganize their ranks, and ensure their utter defeat.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs several literary devices to convey the gravity of the situation. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as Jeroboam's successful ambush sets the stage for the desperate cry of Judah and the subsequent miraculous divine intervention, building narrative tension. The strategic **Pincer Movement** itself is a vivid **Imagery** of entrapment and overwhelming odds, painting a clear picture of Judah's perilous predicament. There is also an element of **Dramatic Irony**, as the reader, aware of the Chronicler's theological emphasis, knows that despite Jeroboam's cunning, God will ultimately deliver Judah, making Jeroboam's seemingly brilliant strategy ultimately futile. The contrast between Abijah's faith-filled speech and Jeroboam's deceptive maneuver also highlights a thematic **Juxtaposition** between reliance on God and reliance on human cunning.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, detailing Jeroboam's cunning ambush, serves as a crucial theological setup. It portrays a moment of extreme human vulnerability and strategic disadvantage for Judah, emphasizing that human strength and cleverness, while potent, are ultimately limited and subject to divine will. The seemingly insurmountable odds created by Jeroboam's pincer movement are precisely what allow for a dramatic demonstration of God's power and faithfulness. It underscores the Chronicler's recurring theme that God delights in delivering His people when they are utterly dependent on Him, turning human schemes on their head. This situation is designed to strip Judah of any self-reliance, forcing them to look beyond their military capabilities and directly to the Lord for salvation.

* [Psalm 33:16-17](/psalms/33-16 "Psalm 33:16-17 - God's Deliverance, Not Human Might")
* [Proverbs 21:30-31](/proverbs/21-30 "Proverbs 21:30-31 - No Wisdom Against the Lord")
* [2 Chronicles 14:11](/2-chronicles/14-11 "2 Chronicles 14:11 - Asa's Prayer Before Battle")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene depicted in 2 Chronicles 13:13 resonates deeply with the human experience of facing overwhelming and unexpected challenges. Just as Judah found itself ambushed and surrounded from all sides, we too can encounter situations in life—be they financial crises, health struggles, relational breakdowns, or spiritual attacks—that feel like a sudden, inescapable pincer movement. These moments often leave us feeling vulnerable, without clear escape routes, and tempted to despair or rely solely on our own limited resources. Jeroboam's strategy was designed to ensure Judah's defeat by cutting off all hope. Spiritually, this verse reminds us that our adversary, like Jeroboam, often employs cunning and deceptive tactics to trap us, seeking to overwhelm us with fear and a sense of hopelessness. However, the immediate context of this verse, leading into Judah's desperate cry to the Lord and His subsequent miraculous intervention, provides a profound spiritual lesson: our greatest moments of vulnerability can become our greatest opportunities to witness God's power. It challenges us to shift our gaze from the "ambush" to the Almighty, recognizing that even when all human escape routes are cut off, God remains our ultimate deliverer, capable of turning the tide against impossible odds.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you currently feel "ambushed" or surrounded by overwhelming challenges?**
* **What is your initial, human tendency when faced with such a "pincer movement"—to rely on your own cunning, or to turn to God?**
* **How does the knowledge that God can overturn even the most sophisticated human plans (or spiritual attacks) encourage you in your current struggles?**
* **What practical steps can you take to "cry out to the Lord" when you feel trapped, much like Judah did?**

### FAQ
**What was the strategic significance of Jeroboam's ambush in this battle?**

Answer: Jeroboam's ambush was a highly significant and cunning military tactic designed to achieve a decisive victory over Judah. By sending a detachment of troops to circle around and attack Judah's army from the rear, while his main force engaged them from the front, Jeroboam created a classic "pincer movement." This strategy aimed to completely encircle Judah, cutting off any possibility of retreat, inducing panic, and disorganizing their ranks. The goal was to overwhelm Judah's forces, despite their numerical disadvantage, and ensure their utter defeat by trapping them between two fronts. It demonstrated Jeroboam's reliance on human ingenuity and deception rather than a direct confrontation, setting the stage for the dramatic divine intervention that follows in [2 Chronicles 13:14-15](/2-chronicles/13-14 "2 Chronicles 13:14-15 - Judah's Cry and God's Intervention").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Chronicles 13:13 describes a military ambush in ancient Israel, it powerfully prefigures the ultimate "ambush" that humanity faced: the entrapment by sin, death, and the forces of evil. Humanity, cut off from God, was surrounded by overwhelming spiritual enemies, seemingly without escape, much like Judah was caught between Jeroboam's forces. However, in the person of Jesus Christ, God Himself entered into this seemingly hopeless situation. Christ, the true King of Judah and the Son of David, did not avoid the "ambush" of the cross but willingly entered it, allowing Himself to be surrounded by the powers of darkness ([Luke 22:53](/luke/22-53 "Luke 22:53 - The Hour of Darkness")). Yet, through His death and resurrection, He utterly defeated those very forces that sought to ensnare humanity. The "ambush" of the grave became the triumph of life, as Christ disarmed the principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). Just as God delivered Judah from Jeroboam's cunning, so too has Christ delivered us from the ultimate ambush of sin and death, offering us true freedom and victory, demonstrating that no human or spiritual strategy can ultimately stand against the sovereign power of our God ([1 Corinthians 15:54-57](/1-corinthians/15-54 "1 Corinthians 15:54-57 - Victory Over Death")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 8:9

Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.

Joshua 8:4

And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, [even] behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

Jeremiah 4:22

For my people [is] foolish, they have not known me; they [are] sottish children, and they have none understanding: they [are] wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

2 Chronicles 20:22

And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

Proverbs 21:30

¶ [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.