2 Chronicles 13:12
New International Version
God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”

New Living Translation
So you see, God is with us. He is our leader. His priests blow their trumpets and lead us into battle against you. O people of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed!”

English Standard Version
Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now look, God Himself is with us as our head, and His priests with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!”

New American Standard Bible
Now behold, God is with us at our head, and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the war cry against you. Sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”

NASB 1995
“Now behold, God is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”

NASB 1977
“Now behold, God is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And behold, God is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to raise the shout of war against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against Yahweh, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”

Amplified Bible
Behold, God is with us at our head, and His priests [are here] with their signal trumpets to sound an alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.”

Christian Standard Bible
Look, God and his priests are with us at our head. The trumpets are ready to sound the charge against you. Israelites, don’t fight against the LORD God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Look, God and His priests are with us at our head. The trumpets are ready to sound the charge against you. Israelites, don’t fight against the LORD God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
That's why God is on our side and will lead us into battle when the priests sound the signal on the trumpets. It's no use, Israelites. You might as well give up. There's no way you can defeat the LORD, the God your ancestors worshiped.

English Revised Version
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 the LORD, the God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
God is with us as our leader. His priests will sound their trumpets to call [the army] to fight you. Men of Israel, don't wage war against the LORD God of your ancestors. You won't succeed."

Good News Translation
God himself is our leader and his priests are here with trumpets, ready to blow them and call us to battle against you. People of Israel, don't fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors! You can't win!"

International Standard Version
Now listen! God is with us to lead us, and his priests are about to sound their battle trumpets against you. Descendants of Israel, don't fight against the LORD God of your ancestors, because you won't succeed!"

Majority Standard Bible
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.?

NET Bible
Now look, God is with us as our leader. His priests are ready to blow the trumpets to signal the attack against you. You Israelites, don't fight against the LORD God of your ancestors, for you will not win!"

New Heart English Bible
Look, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper."

Webster's Bible Translation
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 will not prosper.

World English Bible
Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, don’t fight against Yahweh, the God of your fathers; for you will not prosper.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And behold, with us—at [our] head—[is] God, and His priests and trumpets of shouting to shout against you; O sons of Israel, do not fight with YHWH, God of your fathers, for you do not prosper.”

Young's Literal Translation
And lo, with us -- at our head -- is God, and His priests and trumpets of shouting to shout against you; O sons of Israel, do not fight with Jehovah, God of your fathers, for ye do not prosper.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And behold, with us God for head, and his priests and trumpets of loud noise to cry against you. O ye sons of Israel, ye shall not wage war with Jehovah God of your fathers, for ye shall not prosper.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore God is the leader in our army, and his priests who sound with trumpets, and resound against you: O children of Israel, fight not against the Lord the God of your fathers, for it is not good for you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, God is the commander of our army, with his priests, who sound the trumpets that ring out against you. O sons of Israel, do not choose to fight against the Lord, the God of your fathers. For it is not expedient for you.”

New American Bible
See, God is with us, at our head, and his priests are here with trumpets to sound the attack against you. Israelites, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed!”

New Revised Standard Version
See, God is with us at our head, and his priests have their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O Israelites, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors; for you cannot succeed.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But you have forsaken him and have gone after dead gods, and you serve them and worship them; and have forsaken the LORD God of your fathers, therefore you shall not prosper in the world.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But you, you have forsaken him and you have gone after dead gods and you have served them and you have worshiped them and you forsake LORD JEHOVAH, God of your fathers, also you shall not prosper in the world.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 the LORD, the God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And, behold, the Lord and his priests are with us at our head, and the signal trumpets to sound an alarm over us. Children of Israel, fight not against the Lord God of our fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Civil War Against Jeroboam
11Every morning and every evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the rows of showbread on the ceremonially clean table, and every evening they light the lamps of the gold lampstand. We are carrying out the requirements of the LORD our God, while you have forsaken Him. 12Now 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.” 13Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to ambush from the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah, the ambush was behind them.…

Cross References
Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Deuteronomy 20:4
For the LORD your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”

Joshua 23:10
One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised.

1 Samuel 17:47
And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

2 Chronicles 20:17
You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”

Psalm 46:7
The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Psalm 118:6
The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 1:19
They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).

Matthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.


Treasury of Scripture

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 you not against the LORD God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper.

God

Numbers 23:21
He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.

1 Samuel 4:5-7
And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again…

Isaiah 8:10
Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

for our captain

Deuteronomy 20:4
For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

Joshua 5:13-15
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? …

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

his priests

Numbers 10:8,9
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 31:6
And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.

Joshua 6:13-20
And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets…

fight ye

Job 15:25,26
For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty…

Job 40:9
Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

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?

ye shall not

2 Chronicles 24:20
And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.

Numbers 14:41
And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.

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.

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2 Chronicles 13
1. Abijah succeeding makes war against Jeroboam
4. he declares the right of his cause
13. Trusting in God, he overcomes Jeroboam
21. The wives and children of Abijah














Now behold, God Himself is with us as our head
This phrase emphasizes the presence and leadership of God among His people. In the context of 2 Chronicles 13, Abijah, the king of Judah, is addressing Jeroboam and the northern kingdom of Israel. The assertion that God is with Judah as their head reflects the covenant relationship between God and the Davidic line, which is central to the narrative of the Chronicles. This echoes the promise made to David in 2 Samuel 7:16, where God assures David that his throne will be established forever. The concept of God as the head also prefigures Christ, who is described as the head of the Church in Ephesians 5:23.

and His priests with their trumpets sound the battle call against you
The mention of priests and trumpets is significant in the context of ancient Israelite warfare. According to Numbers 10:8-9, trumpets were used by the priests to signal the presence of God and to call the people to battle, serving as a reminder that the battle belongs to the Lord. This practice underscores the theocratic nature of Israel, where religious and military activities were intertwined. The priests' involvement highlights the spiritual dimension of the conflict, suggesting that the battle is not merely physical but also spiritual.

O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers
Abijah's address to the "children of Israel" serves as a reminder of their shared heritage and covenant with God. By invoking "the God of your fathers," Abijah appeals to the historical relationship between God and the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This phrase calls the northern tribes to remember their roots and the covenant promises made to their ancestors. It also serves as a warning that opposing Judah is tantamount to opposing God Himself, as seen in the broader biblical narrative where rebellion against God's chosen leaders often leads to divine judgment.

for you will not succeed.
This statement is a prophetic declaration of the futility of fighting against God's will. Throughout the Old Testament, there are numerous instances where those who oppose God's plans face defeat, such as Pharaoh in Exodus or the Canaanite kings in Joshua. The assurance of failure for those who fight against God is a recurring theme, reinforcing the idea that God's purposes will ultimately prevail. This also foreshadows the New Testament teaching that victory is assured for those who align themselves with God's will, as seen in Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Persons / Places / Events
1. Abijah
The king of Judah who is speaking in this verse. He is addressing the northern kingdom of Israel during a time of conflict.

2. Jeroboam
The king of Israel, leading the opposing forces against Judah.

3. Judah
The southern kingdom, loyal to the Davidic line and the worship of Yahweh in Jerusalem.

4. Israel
The northern kingdom, which had broken away from Judah and often fell into idolatry.

5. Priests with Trumpets
The Levitical priests who were responsible for sounding the trumpets, a call to battle and a reminder of God's presence and power.
Teaching Points
God's Presence as Assurance
Abijah's confidence comes from knowing that God is with Judah. In our lives, recognizing God's presence can provide peace and assurance in times of conflict.

The Role of Spiritual Leaders
The priests with trumpets symbolize spiritual leadership and the importance of having godly leaders who remind us of God's promises and call us to action.

The Futility of Fighting Against God
Abijah warns Israel that opposing God is futile. This teaches us to align our actions with God's will rather than resisting His plans.

Historical Faithfulness
Abijah appeals to the "God of your fathers," reminding us of the importance of historical faithfulness and continuity in our faith journey.

Victory Through Obedience
Success is tied to obedience to God. Abijah's message is a call to trust and obey God for true victory.(12) God himself.--The (true) God. So in 2Chronicles 13:15. Literally, and behold there are with us at the head the God and his priests, and the trumpets of alarm to sound alarm against you. (See Numbers 10:9; Numbers 31:6.) The trumpets were "the divinely appointed pledges that God would remember them in war." The Syriac gives this verse thus: "But ye have forsaken him, and gone after dead gods, and worshipped and bowed down to them, and forsaken the Lord God of your fathers; and also ye shall not prosper in the world." Then there is a lacuna extending to 2Chronicles 13:15.

Verse 12. - The concluding utterances of Abijah certainly did not fall below what had preceded or the occasion in itself; and the echoes of them, while they died on the ear, must have lived, indeed, and stirred life in the hearts of many (Joshua 5:14; Numbers 10:9; Numbers 31:6; our ver. 14, and ch. 5:12, 13).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now behold,
וְהִנֵּה֩ (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

God Himself is
הָאֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀ (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

with us
עִמָּ֨נוּ (‘im·mā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

as [our] head,
בָרֹ֜אשׁ (ḇā·rōš)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head

and His priests
וְכֹהֲנָ֛יו (wə·ḵō·hă·nāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

with their trumpets
וַחֲצֹצְר֥וֹת (wa·ḥă·ṣō·ṣə·rō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 2689: (an ancient) trumpet

sound
לְהָרִ֣יעַ (lə·hā·rî·a‘)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7321: To mar, to split the ears, shout

the battle call
הַתְּרוּעָ֖ה (hat·tə·rū·‘āh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8643: Clamor, acclamation of joy, a battle-cry, clangor, of trumpets, as an alarum

against you.
עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם (‘ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

O children
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

fight
תִּלָּֽחֲמ֛וּ (til·lā·ḥă·mū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

against
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

the LORD,
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the God
אֱלֹהֵֽי־ (’ĕ·lō·hê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of your fathers,
אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם (’ă·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

for
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you will not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

succeed.”
תַצְלִֽיחוּ׃ (ṯaṣ·lî·ḥū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6743: To push forward


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 13:12 Behold God is with us at our (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 13:11
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