been unknown to their contemporaries; and Abijah's unnamed sons may have been superior persons to Asa. V. Hxs REIGN. 1. Its sphere. Judah, the southern kingdom, Jeroboam still exer- cising sovereignty over the northern. 2. Its seat. Jerusalem, the capital of Israel being Samaria. 3. Its dwration. Three years, beginning in the eighteenth and ending in the twentieth year of Jeroboam. 4. Its character. Troubled. "There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam." VI. HIB END. 1. His death. "He slept with his fathers" (eh. xiv. 1). 2. His burial. "He was laid in the city of David." 3. His bi<igraphy. The story of his life, of his acts, ways, and sayings, was written by the Prophet Iddo. VII. His CHARACTER. 1. His ability. Undoubted. (1) A vigorous ruler (ver. 21); (2) an able speaker (ver. 4); (3) a powerful reasoner (vers. 8-12); and (4) a valiant leader. 2. His piety. Decided. Notwithstanding his polygamy, he was (1) sincere (vers. 10, 11), (2) lively (ve~. 12), (3) trustful (ver. 18), and (4) courageous (ver. 12), '1!ough (5) not perfect (1 Kmgs xv. 3). LESSONS. 1. Jehovah in the heart is better than Jehovah in the name. 2. A weak and wicked father may have a capable and good son. 3. The value of a man's life is not determined by the length of hie days. 4. One may have faults and yet be religious. 5. Every one should strive to live so as to be remembered for good after death.-W. Vers. 3-19.-.A great war in a short reign. I. THE CONTENDING ARMIES. (Ver. 3.) 1. Their leaders. Of the army of Judah, Abijah; of the host of Israel, Jeroboam- both capable generals, and each the inspiring spirit of his troops. 2. Their numbers. Of Judah, four hundred thousand men-one hundred thousand fewer than Joab num- bered to Judah; of Israel, eight hundred thousand--exactly the number Joab counted to Israel (2 Sam. xxiv. 9). 3. Their quality. (1) Abijah's troops were (a) heroes of war, veterans experienced in former campaigns under Rehoboam, and (b) chosen or picked men, literally," men of youth," whose powers were at their best (Jer. xviii. 31). (2) Jeroboam's soldiers were also (a) chosen men and (b) mighty men of valour. Thus both armies were well matched. 4. Their position. Over against each other, in the vicinity of Mount Zemaraim, near Bethel (Josh. xviii. 22)-"probably the large ruin Samrah, north of Jericho" (Conder, 'Handbook to the Bible,' p. 427), and perhaps at that timti the northern limit of Abijah's territory (Ewald) ; obviously so close to one another !-hat to them the words of Shakespeare (' King Henry V.,' act iv. chorus) may be fitly applied- " From camp to camp, thro' the foul womb of night, The hum of either army stilly sounds, That the flx'd sentinels almost receive The secret whispers of each other's watch: Fire answers fire: and through their pe.ly fie.mes Ee.eh battle sees the other's umber'd face: Steed three.tens steed, in high and boastful neighs Piercing the night's dull ear; and from the tents, The armourers, accomplishing the knights, With busy hammers closing rivets up, Give dreadful note of preparation."
IT. THE BPEE0H OF ABIJAH. (Vers. 4-12.) 1. Whence spoken. From Moun\ Zemaraim, in Ephraim, as Jotham had formerly spoken to the Shechemites from Mount Gerizim (Judg. ix. 7). 2. To whom addressed. 'l'o Jeroboam and all Israel. Generals commonly harangue their troops before going into action (1 Sam. iv. 9; 2 Sam. x. 11, 12; 2 Chron. xviii. 30; cf. 'King Henry V.,' act iv. sc. 3); Abijah directs his speech to bis foes, as David did to Goliath (1 Sam. xvii. 45), and Rabsha.keh to the envoys of Hezekiah (2 Kings xviii. 28-35 ; cf. 'Richard II.,' act iii. sc. 3). 3. OJ what composed. Of a long, earnest argument, dissuasive, and appeal, for the purpose of inducing Jeroboam and hie warriors to desist from their mad enterprise of attempting to conquer Judah. According to Abijah they could not succeed, for a variety ~f reas?ns. (1) Their rebellion was a sin against their own better knowledge (ver. 5)--a sm agamst the light. They knew, or might h~ve known, that Jehovah the God of Israel had II. CIIRONIOLES, ll 162 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [on. xm.1-22,